The Ottawa Senators visited the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night as part of the Senators’ seven-game road trip and the Ducks’ six-game homestand. The home team was in its second game of a back-to-back series and was coming off a win against the Boston Bruins. On the other hand, the visitors had not played since Saturday, a four-day break to rest, recover and practice. Goalkeepers Linus Ullmark and Petr Mrazek were between the pipes for their respective teams.
First period
After a holding penalty on Jake Sanderson, the Ducks had a power play in the early period during which they failed to score. Later in the period, the Senators also had a failed power play – despite a handful of good looks – after Beckett Sennecke fumbled.
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Shortly after their man advantage, Ottawa took a 1–0 lead when Nick Cousins fired a shot past Mrazek, assisted by Nick Jensen and Dylan Cozens. Ottawa was dominant throughout the first period, leading in shots on goal (nine), faceoff wins (58.8%) and goals (13). Anaheim had four shots on goal, eight hits and no goals heading into the first intermission.
Second Period
The Ducks had their second power play of the game early in the second period after Cousins took a high-stick penalty. They did not score during the two minutes. The Senators got their second power play opportunity after a tripping call on Leo Carlsson, which the Ducks were able to kill.
Sennecke leveled the match with a goal from the striker with just under seven minutes left in the second period. Cutter Gauthier and Carlsson assisted. Minutes later, the Ducks took a 2-1 lead on a pass from Chris Kreider to Mason McTavish, who fired the puck past Ullmark. Troy Terry recorded the secondary assist on that goal.
The Senators had a chance to answer with a power play after a McTavish trip, and they acted accordingly. In the dying seconds of the man advantage, Shane Pinto scored, assisted by Stephen Halliday and David Perron. Pinto and his team ended the period with 10 shots on goal to the Ducks’ 12, and they were once again in a bind.
Third Period
The first half of the final period went without penalties or goals, although the Ducks registered six shots on goal and the Senators two. The period continued to pass as such, with multiple shots on target and good looks from each team. Finally, Sanderson was able to poke the puck past Mrazek with less than two minutes to go. Drake Batherson and Jordan Spence assisted. Despite withdrawing their goalkeeper and having an extra attacker, the Ducks were unable to make a last-ditch effort this game and the Senators took the 3-2 victory.
The Ducks play the Vegas Golden Knights at home on Saturday and the Senators visit the San Jose Sharks the same day.
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