VIDEO: Ducks Bend, But Don’t “Krak”

Photo: AP

By Michael Walters

The Anaheim Ducks started the 2022-23 campaign at home against the Seattle Kraken. John Gibson got the start against Philipp Grubauer. The Ducks went with the same lineup as they had against Los Angeles in the preseason finale.

First Period

The Ducks would strike first just under a minute into the game. Mason McTavish would get to the puck behind the net and find Troy Terry in the slot for the opening score.

Anaheim then got called for two penalties and Seattle had a two man advantage for 37 seconds at one point. The Ducks were able to survive the 5-on-3 power play, but the Kraken scored during the 5-on-4 part of the man advantage. Jared McCann beat Gibson just over the shoulder to tie things up.

Late in the period, the Ducks had a power play chance of their own, but they couldn’t convert. The period ended with Seattle on a power play.

Second Period

The Ducks started the period down a man and Seattle was able to score to make it a 2-1 game. Andre Burakovsky scored with a quick shot over Gibson’s left shoulder and under the cross bar. Seattle would then make it 3-1 with another power play goal by Oliver Bjorkstrand.

Anaheim would get a power play late in the period and Ryan Strome would score to cut the Seattle lead to one goal at the end of the period. McTavish flipped a pass over a downed defender to Strome, who scored at the side of the net.

Third Period

Max Comtois an Will Borgen dropped the gloves early in the period.

Seattle would make it a 4-2 lead when Matty Beniers got to a rebound and beat Gibson.

It looked like the Kraken where on their way to earning two points, but the Ducks had other plans. Just over five minutes later, Frank Vatrano would answer back for Anaheim with a nice shot from the point that beat Grubauer in the top corner. Trevor Zegras then tied things up on the power play. He took a quick wrist shot that hit Grubauer’s arm and went in.

The Ducks then survived a late power play by the Kraken and headed to overtime.

Overtime

Troy Terry started the scoring in this game and he would finish it with a goal as well. After the Kraken nearly scored, Gibson made a save and then made a great outlet pass which sprung Terry the other way. Troy was able to get just behind the defender and then backhand the puck past Grubauer for the game winner.

Analysis:

The Ducks started out quickly scoring in the opening minute, but then it was all Kraken after that in the first period. They were able to tie up the game on the power play and had 20 shots in the opening period. If not for the play of Gibson, the Ducks could have been down by much more early on in this contest.

Anaheim really struggled on defense and while being shorthanded. The Ducks gave up three power play goals in the five opportunities the Kraken had. The Ducks were able to answer with two power play goals of their own in three attempts.

Despite the shaky start and being down by two goals in the third period, the Ducks never said die and were able to rally to win. Zegras had the key game tying goal to force overtime and Terry completed the comeback in overtime thanks to Gibson’s quick pass.

There is plenty for Anaheim to work on after this contest, but for now they will take the two points.

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October 12th, 2022