VIDEO: Drysdale Lifts Ducks In OT
By Michael Walters
The Anaheim Ducks hit the road for the first time this season in Calgary. John Gibson would get the start after missing the last game with a lower body injury. Jacob Markstrom would go in net for the Flames.
The Calgary Flames struck first in this one as Blake Coleman was able to get to a bouncing puck and then broke in on Gibson, beating him low for the opening goal of the game.
The Ducks earned the first power play of the game, but then Jakob Silfverberg was called for hooking. Calgary had a short power play, but did not convert. Anaheim would score later on another power play chance, as Cam Fowler beat Markstrom down low.
The Flames started the second period with tremendous pressure and Elias Lindholm would score to give Calgary a 2-1 lead.
Nicolas Deslauriers would then drop the drops with Milan Lucic to try to get the momentum back for Anaheim. The Ducks did respond, but still trailed 2-1 after two periods.
Mason McTavish wasn’t able to finish the game and left sometime during the second period. The Ducks also lost Max Jones at the beginning of the third period.
The Ducks would tie up the game as Rickard Rakell would take a pass from Adam Henrique and then beat Markstrom glove side.
The Flames got a late power play in the third period. The Ducks were able to kill off the penalty, but Hampus Lindholm had to go to the locker room after blocking a shot with his left skate.
The game would need overtime to determine a winner. Troy Terry would break out of the zone and find Jamie Drysdale next to the Calgary net, who slammed the pass home for the game winner.
Team News/Stats:
Jamie Drysdale(19 years 193 days) became the fifth youngest defensemen to score an overtime goal during the regular season.
Mason McTavish left the game in the second period with a lower body injury and did not return.
Max Jones(upper body) and Hampus Lindholm(foot) also left the game with injuries in the third period and did not return.
The Ducks have scored a power play goal in all three games so far this season. They are 4-for-11 on the power play this season, good for 36%.
Analysis:
The Ducks got down early, but were able to respond to tie the game in the opening period despite being outshot 16 to 7. In the middle frame, the Flames dominated the play for most of the period. Anaheim only allowed one goal despite the lackluster play.
Anaheim looked tired in this contest. They appeared down and out, but a late goal forced overtime. John Gibson was outstanding in net or else the Ducks would have been blown out of the arena early in this one. The Ducks continue to produce on the power play. Now if they can just get the scoring going during even strength.
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October 18th, 2021