Ducks Take Down The Bruins

Photo: AP

By Michael Walters

The Anaheim Ducks continued their homestand against the Boston Bruins. John Gibson was in net against Joonas Korpisalo.

Recap:

Leo Carlsson got Anaheim on the board first late in the opening period. Alex Killorn found Carlsson in the slot and he beat Korpisalo high for the score. The Ducks were shorthanded at the time as Nikita Nesterenko was called for tripping. Anaheim led 1-0 after the first period.

Nesterenko made it 2-0 at about the six minute mark of the second period. He brought the puck in close to the right side of the net and his shot was stopped, but it then hit Michael Callahan‘s skate and went in. Callahan high-sticked Jansen Harkins on the play and the Ducks went on a power play.

The Ducks didn’t score with the man advantage, but Boston cashed in on their own power play about two minutes later. David Pastrnak scored to pull Boston within on goal. Boston had a 5-on-3 power play after Troy Terry was call for high sticking and Frank Vatrano was called for roughing.

Jackson LaCombe put the Ducks back up by two goals with about two minutes left in the period. He got to the puck behind the net and flipped it over the net towards the crease. The puck hit Pavel Zacha in the arm and then it hit the crossbar and Korpisalo’s back before going in.

Cutter Gauthier then scored bout 45 seconds later. He shot the puck from a severe angle to the left of the net and it beat Korpisalo low. The Ducks led 4-1 after two periods.

Carlsson scored his second goal early in the third period to make it a 5-1 score. He took quick shot that hit the upper right corner of the net for the score.

On the next sequence Harkins dropped the gloves with Callahan. Both received five minutes for fighting.

Mason McTavish then made it 6-1 halfway through the period scoring on the rush from the left circle.

Morgan Geekie scored about 20 seconds later to make it a 6-2 contest. Boston wouldn’t score again and Anaheim went on to win 6-2.

Analysis:

The Ducks got off to a good start outshooting the Bruins 15-5 in the first period. Anaheim was up only 1-0 after the first period, but then continued to pour it on scoring three times in the second period. The Ducks had outshot the Bruins 27 to 9 through two periods. Boston tried to push back in the third, but it was too little too late.

Anaheim really controlled the play posting a CF% over 65% in the first two periods and a FF% over 70% while at even strength. The Bruins are a depleted team, but the Ducks played how you should against a struggling team that is dealing with injuries as well.

In will be interesting to see if the league does take a look at the high sticking by Callahan to Harkins neck. A penalty was called on the play, but it was completely unnecessary high stick. Also Parker Wotherspoon took a run at Vatrano from behind and wasn’t called for a penalty. It’s not a reviewable play for the league, but they need to address these cheap shots from behind in the future.

Team Notes/Stats:

Carlsson scored his first career shorthanded goal. He became the third youngest player in franchise history to goal a shorthanded goal. Oleg Tverdovsky was the youngest at 18 years and 259 days and second was Devante Smith-Pelly at 19 yers and 278 days.

LaCombe scored his 13th goal which is the most by a Ducks defensemen since Hampus Lindholm had 13 in the 2017-18 season.

All six goals by Anaheim were scored by players that are 24 years old or younger.

What’s Next?

The Ducks host the New York Rangers Friday at 7 PM.

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March 26th, 2025