Ducks vs Blues RECAP: Ducks Drop Their Seventh Straight

The Anaheim Ducks returned to action after losing in overtime on Saturday night against the Vegas Golden Knights to take on the St Louis Blues, a team that has shown very little problem beating John Gibson so far this season. The Blues came into the game 6-0-0 in their last six games while the Ducks sat at 0-4-2 in their last six prior to this contest, so expectations weren’t high.

Good that they weren’t because the Blues once again lit up the scoreboard with a big second period and buried the Ducks into a hole they would be unable to overcome. Despite a valiant effort late in the 3rd, the Blues would just hang on for a close 5-4 win and force the Ducks to lose their seventh consecutive game.

1st Period

The first minute and a half of this game was very hectic, as both goaltenders looked very uncomfortable settling into the game. John Gibson found himself in an awkward spot trying to prevent Jordan Kyrou from banking in a shot off him from behind the net, while Ville Husso had a puck fall out of his glove right in front of the net and barely managed to scramble and get the puck away before the Ducks pounced on it.

ISAC LUNDESTROM OPENS THE DUCKS ACCOUNT WITH A BEAUTY! Post and in and with 14:56 left in the opening frame, the Ducks held a 1-0 lead, but man, that shot was absolutely perfect.

The Ducks continued adding pressure and Cam Fowler nearly had a fantastic look but his shot was blocked away. A good start is always welcome, but can the Ducks keep the foot on the pedal, unlike their week in Arizona last week?

The first penalty of the game would be a four-minute double-minor on Jordan Kyrou for high sticking Max Jones. The Ducks power play would have about six shots on goal, but unfortunately, none would be able to beat Husso. Zegras even tried the lacrosse move from behind the goal, but unfortunately, it just went off the outside of the post.

The Blues would get on the board late in the period via Jordan Kyrou, with a great feed from Ryan O’Reilly. 1-1 with 56 seconds left. A disappointing end to an otherwise great period from Anaheim, but 1-1 with shots 12-11 in favor of St Louis after 20 minutes.

The tl;dr version, per Jake: Lundestrom scores because Husso sucks, and Kyrou scored because Hutton sucks.

2nd Period

The Ducks would take a penalty very early in the second period and after a lengthy delayed penalty shift, Jakob Silfverberg would finally sit for holding and the Blues were on their first power play of the evening.

The Ducks made the kill, but it was not the prettiest penalty kill, and the Blues had plenty of good looks on it. John Gibson did some John Gibson stuff to keep the puck out, but you know, we just call that Monday around here.

A perfect pass from Brayden Schenn followed by a perfect shot from David Perron and the Blues have the lead 2-1 with 13:25 left in the middle frame. Welp.

Isac Lundestrom would take the next penalty in the game, an interference penalty just past the halfway point in the game. Big kill needed from Anaheim to not fall behind by multiple goals in this one. And they don’t get it. A tip in front of the net from Zach Sanford extended the Blues lead to 3-1.

Dakota Joshua would get his first NHL goal on the very next shift right off the faceoff as Kyle Clifford drove into the zone, hit Gibson with a shot, and the puck deflected off Joshua’s thigh into the net. 4-1 and this one is pretty much over with 7:02 to go in the second period.

The Ducks would get another power play with 1:58 left in the second after David Perron sat for high sticking.

The Ducks power play would not do anything useful and the second period ended 4-1 in favor of the Blues. Any chance of the Ducks scoring three in the third without allowing any further damage to come back in this one?

no, at least not all of that.

3rd Period

Isac Lundestrom added a second goal for the night just 34 seconds into the period with a wraparound stuff into the near post. Husso nearly got there with the leg pad but was just a half second too slow. 4-2.

Jani Hakanpaa tripping penalty with 12:21 left in regulation. Lundestrom nearly had a hat trick with a shorthanded chance, but Husso was able to deny him, as well as Cam Fowler’s follow up shot.

The Ducks got the kill but the Ducks weren’t able to use the kill to generate a ton of forward push.

Isac Lundestrom would complete the hat trick with 4:43 left in regulation to pull the Ducks within a goal. 4-3 and hope existed, even if only briefly.

Ducks would get a power play after Oscar Sundqvist slashed the stick out of Zegras’ hands with 2:06 left in regulation. A power-play goal would complete the comeback and force the tie….

The Blues would take advantage of the ability to shoot at the empty net from anywhere while on the penalty kill and Zach Sanford would ice it and hit the empty net to extend the lead. 5-3 Blues.

Ryan Getzlaf would get a power-play goal immediately after to cut it right back down to a one-goal lead. 5-4 Blues….and this game all of a sudden is a goal-fest.

Time would, unfortunately, run out and the Blues hang on for a 5-4 win.

3 Stars

1. Isac Lundestrom

2.Isac Lundestrom

3.Isac Lundestrom

Final Thoughts

I’m not mad, just disappointed.

Up Next

The Ducks’ next game will once again be against the St Louis Blues, a rematch on Wednesday night.