Shohei Ohtani getting on track with season-high 5 RBIs in Dodgers' rout of Angels

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — A few days off seems to have helped Shohei Ohtani get on track as the Los Angeles Dodgers slugger drove in a season-high five runs against his old team Saturday night.

Ohtani went 2 for 4 with two walks and scored two runs in the Dodgers’ 15-2 win over the Angels — and even had a Little League home run in the eighth inning.

“We were hoping to get a reset with a couple days off," manager Dave Roberts said, “and I think that’s what happened.”

With another large contingent of Dodgers fans in attendance for the second game of the three-game Freeway Series, Ohtani got back to his highlight-reel self late in the game.

He ripped a ball into the right field corner in the eighth and it took an awkward bounce off the netting down the first-base line. Jo Adell didn't play the ball at first, calling for a ground-rule double. But when no ruling was made, Adell was left trying to play catchup. His throw into the infield wasn't on target, allowing Ohtani to score on the error after a two-run triple.

The netting down to both foul poles is a new addition to Angel Stadium this season and was not here when Ohtani won two American League MVP awards in six seasons with the Angels from 2018-23.

“I just kept running,” Ohtani said through a translator in a postgame television interview.

Angels manager Kurt Suzuki challenged the play in vain, hoping a fan had touched the ball when it hit the net before going back into play.

Ohtani then cracked a double with the bases loaded in the ninth, drawing “MVP" chants while notching his first game with five RBIs since June 22, 2025. It was his third extra-base hit in two games, including a double in the fifth inning on Friday, after getting one in the first 12 games in May.

The loss of power started during an 0-for-17 slump from April 29-May 4.

“Just happy to be performing in front of both Dodger fans and Angels fans," Ohtani said. “I'm really happy I was able to contribute a lot today.”

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani, right, scores on a sacrifice fly by Will Smith as Los Angeles Angels catcher Logan O'Hoppe stands at the plate during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 16, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani stands in the dugout prior to a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Saturday, May 16, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani, center, scores on his two-run triple after a throwing error as Los Angeles Angels catcher Logan O'Hoppe, right, stands at the plate and third baseman Vaughn Grissom picks up the ball during the eighth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 16, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) CORRECTION: After official review, changed from three-run inside-the-park home run to two-run triple after a throwing error

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani, right, scores on his two-run triple after a throwing error as Los Angeles Angels catcher Logan O'Hoppe stands at the plate during the eighth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 16, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) CORRECTION: After official review, changed from three-run inside-the-park home run to two-run triple after a throwing error

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani hits a two-run triple during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Saturday, May 16, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) CORRECTION: After official review, changed from three-run inside-the-park home run to two-run triple after a throwing error

MONTREAL (AP) — Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 18 saves after starter Alex Lyon stopped only one of the four shots he faced, and the Buffalo Sabres roared back to beat the Montreal Canadiens 8-3 on Saturday night and force a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference semifinal series.

The winner Monday night in Buffalo will face Carolina for the conference title and a chance to play for the Stanley Cup. The Hurricanes swept both of their series, last playing May 9.

“I think if you would have asked every guy in here in September if they would have taken being in Game 7 in Round 2, we all would have signed up for that,” Buffalo forward Tage Thompson said. "So, we’re in a great spot. Now it’s just one game. That’s all that matters.”

Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin had a goal and four assists for a team playoff-record five points.

Buffalo came back after trailing 3-1 midway through the first period.

“We believed in it from the beginning and (Luukkonen) came in and gave us a little boost,” Dahlin said. “It was a mix of everything, but I’m super happy with the character from today’s game.”

Jack Quinn scored twice and added an assist, Thompson had three assists and an empty-net goal, and Zach Benson and Jack Quinn each had a goal and an assist. Konsta Helenius and Zach Metsa also scored.

Arber Xhekaj, Ivan Demidov and Jake Evans scored for Montreal, which won a Game 7 at Tampa Bay in the first round. Jakub Dobes stopped 27 of 33 shots, and Jacob Fowler made a save and allowed a goal in relief.

“Pretty shocked,” Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki said. “We’re up 3-1 in the first period and we lose 8-3."

After Dahlin opened the scoring 32 seconds in, Montreal chased Lyon with the three-goal burst.

Xhekaj tied it at 1:40, Demidov scored on a power play at 8:12 and Evans made it 3-1 on a short-handed break with 9:46 left. Luukkonen then took over in goal, and Zucker got one back for Buffalo on a power play with 6:04 to go in the period.

Benson tied it a minute into the second, slipping in a short backhander from the left side. Quinn put Buffalo ahead on a power play with 9:06 left in the second, slapping a one-timer from the top of the right circle past Dobes. Helenius made it 5-3 with 7:01 remaining in the period, striking from short range.

“We did have control of it,” Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson said. “They made a push, they made some good plays, and we didn’t really fight back hard enough for whatever reason.

Quinn added his second of the night on a power play midway through the third. Thompson scored into the empty net, and Metsa capped the scoring on a late power play.

Buffalo was 4 for 6 on the power play. Montreal was 1 for 3.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Buffalo Sabres' Jason Zucker (17) celebrates a goal by teammate Konsta Helenius in front of Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) during the second period in Game 6 in a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series in Montreal, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

Buffalo Sabres' Konsta Helenius (94) scores against Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) as Canadiens' Arber Xhekaj (72) defends during the second period of Game 6 in a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series in Montreal, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes is scored against by Buffalo Sabres' Konsta Helenius during the second period of Game 6 in a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series in Montreal, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Buffalo Sabres' Zach Benson, left, scores against Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) during the second period of Game 6 in a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series in Montreal, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon (34) touches gloves with fellow goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, left, after being pulled during the first period of Game 6 in a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens in Montreal, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Buffalo Sabres' Konsta Helenius (94) celebrates with teammates after scoring against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period of Game 6 in a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series in Montreal, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)