VIDEO: Rakell Returns; Skid Continues
By Michael Walters
The Anaheim Ducks continued their homestand against the Ottawa Senators. John Gibson was in net against Anders Nilsson. Rickard Rakell was activated off the IR after having missed several weeks.
First Period
In the opening moments of the game, Jakob Silfverberg would break into the Ottawa zone and blast a shot at Nilsson that would just miss over the crossbar. Silfverberg would get another chance close to the net, but Nilsson would make the save. Halfway through the period, Silfverberg would finally beat Nilsson as he ripped the puck above his glove and into the net. Anaheim took a 1-0 lead into the intermission.
Second Period
The Ducks would go on the power play early in the period. Ryan Kesler had a golden opportunity in front of the net, but he couldn’t find the handle on the puck. A turnover during the power play gave Zack Smith a partial breakaway, but Gibson made the save. Anaheim would get a second power play in the period. The Ducks were able to create scoring chances on both power plays, but they couldn’t convert. The Ducks crashed the net at the end of the period, Nilsson kept the puck out. Anaheim held a 1-0 lead heading into the third period.
Third Period
Right of off the opening face-off, the puck came back to Gibson behind the net and he made an errant pass that was almost put right back into the net by Ottawa. A few minutes later Bobby Ryan would tie the game as he would tap a loose puck in front of the net past, Gibson. Magnus Paajarvi then had a breakaway and Gibson made a great save to keep it a tie game. Ondrej Kase would get a chance in the slot in the final moments of the regulation, but he couldn’t get it past Nilsson.
Overtime
In the extra session, Ottawa would break out on a 2-on-1 and Colin White would slide the puck past Gibson’s leg pad for the game-winning score.
Analysis
The losing streak has hit an all-time franchise-worst nine games. It looked like the Ducks had a good chance to prevail early in the third period in this contest, but then they appeared to run out of steam. Ottawa kept pushing in the final period and was eventually able to get the game-tying score. The Ducks had chances to make this a 2-0 game with three power plays, but they couldn’t convert with the extra man. In overtime, the Ducks again got burned on a 2-on-1 which has seemed to be the norm in their recent overtime losses.
At the time of this article being published Randy Carlyle is still the head coach. If a franchise-worst losing streak doesn’t signal a coaching change, then Carlyle may remain until the end of the season when his contract expires.
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January 10th, 2019