Photo: AP
By Michael Walters
The Anaheim Ducks continued their homestand against the St. Louis Blues. Lukas Dostal was in net against Jordan Binnington. John Gibson has been dealing with an upper-body issue.
Recap
Zack Bolduc scored off the opening face-off beating Dostal with a wrist shot just 11 seconds into the game.
Nikita Nesterenko answered with a goal about two minutes later. Gustav Lindstrom took a point shot that was blocked and Nesterenko put the rebound home to tie the game.
The Blues regained the lead with just over seven minutes to go in the period. Matthew Kessel beat Dostal with a wrsit shot from the slot. It was his first NHL goal.
Ryan Strome had a breakaway in the final moments of the period, but he was denied. The Blues held a 2-1 lead after the first period.
The Ducks tied the game at two early in the second period. Alex Killorn beat Binnington in close range and the puck laid on the ice behind him. Frank Vatrano tapped the puck, which Binnington then hit into the net with his glove. Vatrano got the credit for the goal.
The Blues answered with a pair of goals in about a two minute span. Robert Thomas scored on the power play after Ross Johnston was given a double minor for high-sticking. Johnston got punched in the face by the blocker of Binnington, who only received a two minute penalty.
Pavel Buchnevich then scored on a one-timer from the right face-off circle to make it 4-2. St. Louis led by two goals after two periods.
The Ducks pulled within one in the opening minute of the third as Leo Carlsson hit Isac Lundestrom‘s one timer into the net. Lundestrom fanned on the attempt and the puck came to Carlsson at the side of the net for the tap in score.
Brayden Schenn then scored on the power play to reclaim a two goal lead for St. Louis.
Vatrano scored his second goal of the game with a nice backhand shot from in close about eight minutes into the period. Trevor Zegras made a nice pass from behind the net to set up Vatrano for the score.
Carlsson then scored his second goal of the game with about four minutes left in regulation. He beat Binnington in the slot over the shoulder.
The teams battled to a regulation tie and headed to overtime. Both teams had chances in the extra session, but ultimately a shootout would be necessary to determine a winner.
In the shootout, Jordan Kyrou scored the only goal and the Blues beat the Ducks 6-5.
Analysis:
This was a highly entertaining contest despite the Ducks losing. The team was buzzing all night long creating chances and fighting for loose pucks. Ten different players registered points in this contest. Vatrano and Carsslon both led the way with two goals each. Lundestrom, Killorn, and Zegras each had two assists.
Special teams hurt Anaheim again as the Blues scored twice on their three power play attempts. The Ducks had two man advantages, but couldn’t convert. A power play goal in the third seemed like it might put the game out of reach, but the Anaheim fought back to force overtime. The Ducks were down by two goals twice in the third, but kept pushing and scored three time in the final frame.
Maybe this is a game the Ducks can hopefully build some momentum off of for their final four games. Anaheim will play LA twice, Calgary, and Vegas to finish the season. They will likely finish the season without Mason McTavish, Max Jones, and John Gibson.
What’s Next?
The Ducks host the Kings Tuesday at 7 PM.
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April 8th, 2024
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