Ducks Lose 6-4 To The Maple Leafs

By Michael Walters

The Anaheim Ducks continued their road trip in Toronto against the Maple Leafs. Lukas Dostal was in net against Joseph Woll. Ross Johnston was injured in the last game and is listed as day-to-day.

Right off the initial puck drop Jeffrey Viel and Michael Pezzetta dropped the gloves.

The Maple Leafs scored first when Matias Maccelli scored on a wrist shot which appeared to be deflected.

The Ducks then answered with two quick goals. Cutter Gauthier scored in close as the time expired on the power play. Ian Moore then scored from the slot about two minutes later to make it a 2-1 Anaheim lead.

The Leafs finished the period on the power play trailing by one goal.

The Ducks killed the penalty off and then Pavel Mintyukov scored a few minutes later to make it a 3-1 lead. He would beat Woll with a one-timer from the left circle.

Auston Matthews would score on the power play halfway through the period to get the Leafs within one goal. He one-timed a pass from the right face-off circle past Dostal.

With just less than five minutes to go Radko Gudas kneed Matthews. Gudas was given a five minute major and a game misconduct. John Tavares scored on the power play. The teams were tied at three after two periods.

William Nylander then scored in the opening seconds of the third to make it a 4-3 Toronto lead. He got to a rebound and knocked it before Dostal could cover the puck.

The Ducks would go on the power play just before the halfway point of the period and Benoit-Olivier Groulx would score shorthanded beating Dostal glove side.

Anaheim pulled Dostal in the final minutes and Matthew Knies scored in the empty net.

Alex Killorn scored in the final minute with a shot that hit Woll and then trickled past him into the net. Anaheim dropped with one by a 6-4 final.

Analysis:

The Ducks were scored on first again, I know shocker. Anaheim then responded well with the next three goals to build a 3-1 lead early in the second period. Halfway through the middle frame the Leafs scored on the power play to get back within one.

Then Radko Gudas kneed Auston Matthews and received a five minute major penalty and game misconduct with just over four minutes left in the period. Toronto would score twice on that man advantage and have a 4-3 lead early in the third. Former Duck Bo Groulx scored shorthanded and the Leafs got an empty net goal to make it 6-3. Ducks got one back in garbage time.

Anaheim was in control of this game through the first 30 minutes and then the wheels fell off with the major penalty to Gudas. Chris Kreider also took an unnecessary penalty early in the third period. Special teams were a complete disaster for Anaheim they gave up three power play goals in seven attempts. The Ducks had three of their own and didn’t convert. They also gave up a shorthanded goal.

This was a tale of two teams as in the first half they played solid defense and were discipline. The majority of the penalties were taken in the second half of this contest and most were unnecessary. Anaheim lost their focus and their special teams weren’t so special down the stretch.

The Ducks are going to have to just flush this one down the toilet and move on.

Team Notes/Stats:

Ian Moore played on the fourth line with Johnston out. Drew Helleson came in to play on defense.

John Carlson was not ready yet in this contest, but could play on Saturday or Sunday.

Gauthier scored his team leading 33rd goal of the season.

What’s Next?

The Ducks travel to Ottawa and play the Senators Saturday at 10 AM.

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March 12th, 2026