Ducks Edge Golden Knights In Shootout

Photo: ESPN

By Michael Walters

The Anaheim Ducks came out of the holiday break and continued the homestand against the Vegas Golden Knights. Anaheim got Urho Vaakanainen and John Gibson back, who started in net. Adin Hill went in net for Vegas.

Recap

Adam Henrique started off the scoring for the Ducks. He took a shot in close range, which was stopped and the puck laid in the crease. Henrique was able to skate around the net and then tap the puck into the net before it could be cleared out.

The Ducks then got into penalty trouble by taking two within nine seconds of each. The Golden Knights had a 5-on-3 power play for 1 minute and 51 seconds, but could not convert.

Henrique scored again to make it a 2-0 lead for Anaheim. He took a wrist shot from the slot and beat Hill stick side over the shoulder. Hill was pulled from the game and Logan Thompson replaced him in net.

Anaheim went on the power play with a chance to extend the lead, but Mark Stone had other ideas. After a turnover at the blue line, Stone rushed in alone on Gibson and scored to cut the Ducks lead to one goal.

The Golden Knights had two power plays early in the second period, but couldn’t convert. The Ducks had one power play and also did not cash in.

Later in the period, Vegas crashed the Ducks net and after a few shots the puck eventually went off Vaakanainen’s skate and in. The teams headed to the third period tied up at two.

In the third period the Ducks had two power play chances to get the go ahead goal, but they weren’t able to convert with the extra man. The game would need bonus hockey in order to determine a winner. In the overtime, Anaheim was awarded a power play with 1:47 left, but the Ducks couldn’t score.

A shootout was needed to determine a winner in this contest. Trevor Zegras and Troy Terry both scored for the Ducks and Gibson shut the door on the Golden Knights. The Ducks picked up the extra point and won 3-2.

Analysis:

The Ducks had a strong start to this game building a 2-0 just until 13 minutes into this game. Anaheim had a chance to make the lead even bigger, but a shorthanded goal by Stone made it a close contest at the end of the first period. The second period was extremely problematic for the Ducks as they were outshot 20 to 5. Gibson only allowed one goal in the middle frame to keep it a tie game.

Special teams were good and bad tonight. The good was the penalty, which stopped all five power plays for Vegas, including almost a full two minute 5-on-3 in the first period. The Ducks came up empty on the power going zero for five and also gave a up a shorthanded goal.

The Ducks had chances to win this game in regulation and overtime with a few power plays, but eventually took the game in the shootout. Zegras and Terry both delivered quality goals that helped lifted the team to victory.

Team Notes/Stats:

Troy Zegras earned his 100th career point when he assisted on Henrique’s first goal. It was Zegras’ 135 game in the NHL. In team history, only Paul Kariya(98) and Bobby Ryan(126) reach 100 points faster.

Henrique has 228 careers goals and no hat tricks, which leads the league among active players.

What’s Next?

The Ducks host the Nashville Predators Friday at 2 PM.

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December 29th, 2022