Ducks Rally To Beat The Blue Jackets

Photo: AP

By Michael Walters

The Anaheim Ducks continued their road trip against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Ducks would be without Mason McTavish, who was out with a lower body injury. Isac Lundestrom did return to the lineup after breaking his finger. Anthony Stolarz was in net against Elvis

Recap

The Blue Jackets scored just over two minutes in the game. Mathieu Olivier scored shooting the puck over Stolarz’s shoulder.

The Ducks got a power play and a chance to tie the game, but they didn’t convert. The Blue Jackets scored shortly after to make it 2-0. Columbus scored on their first two shots on goal of the game.

Sam Carrick and Mathieu Olivier dropped the gloves.

The Blue Jackets Nick Blankenburg would add one more goal before the period ended. Columbus was up 3-0 after the opening 20 minutes of the game.

John Gibson came in to start the second period and the Ducks started to rally. The Ducks got on the board right away early in the middle frame. Troy Terry would find Adam Henrique on a 2-on-1 and he beat Merzlikins to the far post for the score.

Max Comtois would then find Cam Fowler in the slot for the Ducks next score. Anaheim cut the Columbus lead to one goal with just under seven minutes to go in the period.

Simon Benoit would then tie things up about two minutes later. He took a point shot that Merzklikins through traffic. After being down 3-0, the Ducks found themselves tied up at the end of the second period.

In third period, the Ducks took the lead on a goal by Trevor Zegras. He took a shot between the circles, which Merzlikins got a glove on, but it still got past him for the score.

The teams exchanged power plays in the third period, but neither team converted with the extra man. Max Jones then got an insurance marker with about four and half minutes left to go. Jayson Megna almost beat Merklikins, but he was stopped and the puck laid in the crease. Jones jumped on the loose puck and shot it in to make it 5-3.

Columbus pulled their goalie in the final minutes of the game, but they couldn’t score and the Ducks held on to win.

Analysis:

The Ducks had a horrible start to this game going down 3-0 in the first period. Anaheim could have packed in it and folded, but they didn’t. They were able to rally in the second period and tie things up despite the poor start. Dallas Eakins put Gibson in net to start the second period and he shut the door on Columbus stopping all 18 shots on goal.

Anaheim was also able to win with McTavish. Lundestrom came back and filled in his spot between Henrique and Zegras. He had a solid net as he picked up two assists in his game back in several months.

In a lost season, the Ducks displaced character in this contest. They know that they can comeback and win a game despite the big hold they dug themselves in the first period. Overall a really feel good for the Ducks, who had five different places score in this one.

Team Stats/Notes:

This was the first time the Ducks rallied down by three since 2018 against the Washington Capitals.

Trevor Zegras now has 12 points in his last 11 games.

John Gibson earned his 174th win as a Duck passing Guy Hebert for 2nd all time in franchise history. J. S. Giguere holds the record with 206 wins.

What’s Next?

The Ducks take on Buffalo Saturday at 9:30 AM.

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January 20th, 2023