Carlsson Scores First Hat Trick In Loss To Flyers

Photo: AP

By Michael Walters

The Anaheim Ducks continued their homestand against the Philadelphia Flyers. The Ducks would be without Trevor Zegras, who was out with a lower-body injury. Lukas Dostal was in net against Samuel Ersson.

Recap

The Flyers scored first about five minutes into this contest. A point shot came in and was blocked, but Sean Couturier was at the side of the net for the easy score. Cam Atkinson scored the Flyers second goal with a tip goal with just over six minutes to go in the first period. The Flyers took a 2-0 lead to the locker room.

Philly made it a 3-0 early in the second period. The Ducks would break up a passing play in their own zone, but the puck would go right to Louie Belpedio, who roofed the puck for the score. On the next shift, the Flyers scored again and it appeared to be a 4-0 game. The play was reviewed and it was determined that Sean Walker had kicked the puck in. The game remained 3-0 Flyers.

The Ducks finally scored on the power play with less than seven minutes to go in the middle frame. Leo Carlsson scored from the right face-off circle with a wrist shot that beat Ersson on his stick side. Anaheim trailed 3-1 at the end of two periods.

In the beginning of the third period, Carlsson nearly made it a one goal game. He got the puck right in front of the Flyers net and tried to backhand it, but Ersson made a big glove save robbing Carlsson. It would have been a 3-2 Philly lead, instead Travis Sanheim would score a few minutes later making it a 4-1 Philly lead.

Carlsson would bring the Ducks back within two halfway through the period. Alex Killorn would find Carlsson in the slot on an odd man rush and Carlsson would beat Ersson glove side to make a 4-2 game.

Philly would answer a few minutes later as Owen Tippett got around Frank Vatrano and took a quick wrist shot to beat Dostal.

The Ducks would go on a power play in the final minutes of the game and Carlsson would complete the hat trick. With Dostal pulled, the Ducks crashed the Flyers net and Troy Terry found Carlsson at the side of the net for a tap in goal. Things got interesting as the Ducks were down 5-3 with about 92 seconds left, but the Flyers would get an empty goal and go on to win 6-3.

Analysis:

The Ducks had a decent start to this one, but once the Flyers scored they had the momentum. The Flyers had 19 shot attempts in the first period and scored twice. They also had the momemtum to start the second period and nearly had a 4-0 lead. Anaheim did show life at the end of the second period and beginning of the third, but it wasn’t enough to complete another comeback.

Overall it was a rough night for the Ducks during even strength play. Anaheim only posted a 39.56 CF% and 40.63 FF%. The Flyers had 55 shot attempts and the Ducks had 36. The Ducks did win the special teams battle. Anaheim scored twice on the power play and kept the Flyers off the board in their three man advantages.

The bright spot in this one was, you guessed it, Leo Carlsson. He was flying all over the ice scoring a hat trick on five shots. Two of the goals he scored were on the power play, which has been improving for Anaheim. He could have had four goals if not for Ersson stopping him at point blank range early in the their period. Carlsson is a tough kid as well. Early in the third period he took a slap shot off his foot and was seen standing in the bench area for a while trying to shake off the pain. He eventually sat down on bench and then stayed in the game scoring two more goals. It’s going to be difficult to continue following the development plan with the way he is playing.

Team Notes/Stats:

Leo Carlsson (18 years, 319 days) became the youngest player in Ducks franchise history to score a hat trick.

Carlsson is the 6th youngest player in the NHL to score a hat trick in the last 30 years.

He is the third rookie in team history to score a hat trick(Bobby Ryan 2008-09 and Sam Steel, 2018-19).

What’s Next?

The Ducks host the Sharks Sunday at 5PM.

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November 11th, 2023