Ducks Earn Point In OT; Abbott Traded

Photo: AP/Kelvin Kuo

By Michael Walters

The Anaheim Ducks continued their homestand against their former coach Bruce Boudreau and the Minnesota Wild. John Gibson was in net for Anaheim and Devan Dubnyk went for Minnesota.

First Period

The Ducks went on the power play when Ryan Suter was called for interference. Anaheim didn’t convert with the extra man, but shortly after Kevin Roy was able to score to give the Ducks the early 1-0 lead. Roy was able to shoot the puck low as it squeezed between Dubnyk’s pads and in the net. Chris Wagner was called for hooking later in the period, but Anaheim was able to kill it off against the Wild’s top-ranked power play. Ducks led 1-0 after the opening frame.

Second Period

The teams exchanged power plays in the beginning of this period, but neither team could convert. Towards the end of the period, the Wild scored two goals in just over two minutes. Jason Zucker scored and then Zack Mitchell after him. The Wild turn the tables and took a 2-1 lead to the locker room.

Third Period

The teams again each had powerplay chances, but no one scored with the extra man. Towards the end of the period, a great individual effort by Corey Perry would lead to the Ducks tying goal. Perry crashed the side of the Wild net and got taken down by two Minnesota players. While lying down on the ice, Perry passed the puck off the boards to Adam Henrique who was standing just behind the far post. Henrique took the puck and quickly backhanded it into the net before Dubnyk could slide over.

Overtime

Mathew Dumba would break free, walk around Gibson, and score the game-winning goal to help the Wild earn the second point.

Analysis

The Ducks played a solid game except for the last five to six minutes of the second period. A misread on the first goal led to Zucker walking in all alone on Gibson. The second goal was a rebound that Mitchell beat Cam Fowler on. Anaheim was able to battle back and tie the game forcing overtime. The extra session continues to be problematic for the Ducks, however. Dumba scored an all too easy goal and the Ducks have now lost seven times in nine trips to an extra session(overtime or shootout).

Game Notes/Stats

Adam Henrique continues his hot streak in Anaheim with another goal. He has six points in five games with the Ducks(3 goals + 3 assists). His five-game point streak is the second longest for a player starting his career in Anaheim. Teemu Selanne holds the record point streak at 15 games back in the 1995-6 season.

The Ducks are 2-7 when the game goes beyond regulation. The Ducks are 1-2 in overtime and 1-5 in shootouts.

Trade

The Anaheim organization did make a minor league trade before last night’s game. They sent Spencer Abbott, who was playing with the San Diego Gulls, to the Binghamton Devils. The return from the Devils AHL affiliate is future considerations. Abbott led the Gulls with 20 total points(6 goals + 14 assists).

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December 9th, 2017