Ducks Can’t Slow Down The Wild

Photo: AP

By Michael Walters

The Anaheim Ducks closed out their homestand against the Minnesota Wild. Lukas Dostal was in net against Filip Gustavsson. Radko Gudas returned to the lineup after missing the last two due to an illness.

The Wild scored first on the power play just over five minutes into this contest. Quinn Hughes took a shot from above the right circle that hit traffic in front of the crease. Kirill Kaprizov got to the puck before Anaheim could clear it and scored. Minnesota held a 1-0 advantage after the opening 20 minutes.

Minnesota scored just over eight minutes into the second period. Hughes took a slap shot from the left point deflected off of Yakov Trenin‘s stick, then off the skate of Danila Yurov and into the net.

Beckett Sennecke got the Ducks on the board with just over six minutes to go in the period. After a face-off win Sennecke got the puck and skate to the top of the left face-off circle firing a wrist shot past Gustavsson.

The Wild answered back about one minute later. Hughes passed the puck to Trenin for a one-timer from the right circle and the shot was initially stopped by Dostal, but then slid through his pads for the score. Minnesota led 3-1 after two periods.

Yurov tipped in a shot by Hughes just over three minutes into the third to make it a commanding 4-1 Wild lead. Nico Sturm added to the lead scoring with about five minutes to go.

Troy Terry scored to get the Ducks back within three. Mikael Granlund found Terry at the side of the net and he beat Gustavsson glove side for the score. Anaheim pulled Dostal in the final minutes of the game, but couldn’t get any closer and lost 5-2.

Analysis:

The Ducks came out swinging early in this one, but they couldn’t get one past Gustavsson in the first period. The Wild led 1-0 after the first period and then added two more in the second to take a 3-1 lead. Minnesota scored twice more in third to build a 5-1 lead. Terry got one goal in the final minutes to make it a 5-2 final.

After playing a decent opening period, the Ducks were out shot in the second period and ultimately in the contest 34 to 28. The Wild controlled the possession of the puck better in this contest. The Ducks posted a CF% of 47.54% and FF% of 46.07% at even strength. In terms of special teams the Wild converted on one of their four attempts. The Ducks didn’t convert on their only man advantage.

Anaheim was able to keep Hughes from scoring a goal, but he assisted on the first four Wild goals. He was all over the ice and the Ducks didn’t have an answer for him.

Chris Kreider had a chance to end his scoreless streak during a 3-on-1 rush halfway through the first period, but Gustavsson made a quality save to deny him. Kreider hasn’t scored a goal in his last 15 games.

Dostal again didn’t have his best outing. He was the victim of a couple of deflections, but he also would have probably wanted the goal back against Trenin.

I know I sound like a broken record at this point, but defensive miscues and special teams have been subpar for this team for a while now. Add in the fact your elite goalie isn’t playing elite any more and you have a five game losing streak. The Ducks remain toward the top of the Pacific Division, but that won’t be for long if they keep playing the way they currently are.

Team Note/Stats:

Sennecke leads all NHL rookies in scoring with 13 goals. His 13th goals are the most by any teenager in team history.

The Ducks losing streak was extended to five games(0-4-1).

What’s Next?

The Ducks travel to Washington to play the Capitals Monday at 4PM.

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January 3rd, 2026