Ducks close to snapping skid but no cigar in overtime loss to Lightning

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ANAHEIM, Calif. – Anaheim Ducks coach Joel Quenneville is a known cigar aficionado, but when the ball drops later this New Year’s Eve, he may not be able to light a celebratory stogie, as his club was close but no cigar on Wednesday.

The Ducks eliminated three separate one-goal deficits to earn their first standings point in three games, but the Tampa Bay Lightning continued to stay one step ahead of Anaheim. Darren Raddysh netted the overtime strike in a 4-3 win at Honda Center.

Anaheim has now lost four in a row and six of its last seven games. The Lightning swept the season series with a similarly paced game in Florida on Oct. 25.

“It was really tight checking. Q said it kind of felt like a playoff game,” Mason McTavish said. “Very tight checking, not many chances. So every mistake really mattered. It's fun to play in those games, and obviously, would have been better if we came out on top.”

McTavish scored his second power play goal in three games–Anaheim’s only two power play strikes in their last 20 extra-man opportunities–to tie the game for a third time with seven minutes remaining.

Jansen Harkins and Beckett Sennecke scored the first and second game-tying goals, respectively, and Lukáš Dostál stopped 25 of 29 shots.

Raddysh had a two-point night with an assist on JJ Moser's opening goal, and Nikita Kucherov collected two points, including a power-play blast in the third period. Brayden Point also scored on a net-front deflection. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 25 saves.

“There wasn't much free ice out there,” Harkins said. “They're a really experienced team and I think their forwards, obviously, are super talented. So, I think we did a great job. I think we were tight on the pressure and limiting their chances and skating well. Battled to the end there.”

The overtime point for Anaheim (21-16-3, 45 points) and a regulation loss for Vegas (17-10-11, 45 points) again tightened up the Pacific Division standings. Edmonton (20-14-6, 46 points) hosts Boston tonight with a chance to extend their lead, and San Jose (20-17-3, 43 points) won in a shootout to inch closer to the pack in a wild card spot.

The Ducks close out a three-game homestand against Minnesota (24-10-7, 55 points) on Friday. The Wild, who lost to San Jose tonight, shutout the Ducks in St. Paul back in November.

Close to a Break Through

Where the Ducks had mostly been able to hang around .500 over the last 20 games and hold its early position thanks to a hot start to the season, Anaheim is more than officially in a downtrend with this recent losing skid–its longest of the season.

Wednesday was the 26th time in 39 games that the Ducks have allowed the first goal and the sixth time in the last seven games. Anaheim is tied for the league lead in games trailing first and is 9-14-3 in those games.

The Ducks are now 10-6-2 in games following a loss.

However, with a 42-13 advantage on the shot clock in a 5-4 loss to San Jose on Monday and the continual fighting back against Tampa Bay on Wednesday, the Ducks feel closer to snapping back to form.

“I think we have more pace in our game, and when you're in (a slump), you just gotta stay diligent, knowing that eventually you get through it,” Quenneville said. “I always find here, in the course of the season, you're gonna go through stretches where it seems like it's hard to get two points.”

“We got to take care of business, and it's our own business we got to worry about. There's some things we got to clean up still. That's gonna be an everyday thing, but we competed like that was important game. The crowd was great. We're into it and didn't get discouraged when they did take the lead.”

Broken Skate Provides Power Play Chance for Mintyukov

It’s no secret the Ducks power play has been unplugged for a long stretch now, but a broken skate of all things may have given it a necessary spark.

On Anaheim’s third opportunity of the game, Jackson LaCombe was left with a flat tire, as the skate blade popped out of his boot. When LaCombe hopped and hobbled back to the bench, Pavel Mintyukov jumped over the boards in his place.

It was then Mintyukov that made a daring play to hold the puck in at the blue line with two Tampa Bay killers side-by-side looking to charge up ice. The 22-year-old Russian found McTavish wide open in the slot for an absolutely wicked wrister to tie the game.

The Ducks’ power play personnel has remained largely unchanged over 40 games this season, particularly on defense with LaCombe logging over 142 minutes on the first unit and Olen Zellweger tracking over 54 minutes on the second unit. Jacob Trouba (22:52) has come in and out when needed.

“You got options, and I think you don’t really make changes, if you're liking it,” Quenneville said, and I think we're liking (it). But at the same time, I think everybody wants to be in that situation, and the results-oriented type of rewards around here, and that's competitive. We got some guys that can push for that opportunity. We're just not gonna go as is, if we're not being productive. You earn your way, and you get what you deserve sometimes.”

Mintyukov has played just 14:27 on the power play, but with two goals in his previous three games and three goals in his previous six, could Wednesday’s moment of brilliance open the door for a shake-up?

It’s a unit that could use one, as McTavish’s strike was just the second in the last 20 opportunities over the past seven games. The Ducks power play has scored just seven power play goals in its last 70 chances in a 25-game stretch.

Injury Updates

Anaheim announced during the game on Wednesday that forward Frank Vatrano would be out six weeks due to a fractured shoulder. Vatrano fell shoulder-first into the boards in Los Angeles on Saturday.

It’s been a tough season for Vatrano with just three goals and three assists in 38 games, averaging 12:21 of ice time. This is the first season of a three-year, $18 million contract, but the deal only holds a $4.57 million salary cap hit due to its deferred salary structure.

Ducks captain Radko Gudas missed his second straight game due to an illness.

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