Vatrano scores on a breakaway in OT, Ducks snap 3-game skid with 3-2 win over Blue Jackets 3-2
Anaheim Ducks' Frank Vatrano, right, and Columbus Blue Jackets' Damon Severson vie for the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023, in Columbus, Ohio. Credit: AP/Jay LaPrete
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Frank Vatrano scored on a breakaway 2:40 into overtime and Lukas Dostal stopped 34 shots as the Anaheim Ducks snapped a three-game skid with their first road win of the season, rallying to beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2 on Tuesday night.
The Ducks twice erased one-goal deficits and pulled even with goals by Ryan Strome and Brett Leason on the way to their fifth straight win over Columbus.
In the overtime, Benoit-Olivier Groulx picked up a loose puck in his own zone and sent a pass to a streaking Vatrano near center ice, and the 29-year-old winger beat Columbus goaltender Elvis Merzlikins on the stick side.
Adam Fantilli had a goal and an assist, his first multi-point NHL game, and Emil Bemstrom scored for the Blue Jackets, who had a two-game wins streak halted. Merzlikins stopped 24 shots.
After squandering a pair of power-play chances in the first period, the Blue Jackets capitalized on a third when Bemstrom scored his first of the season from the left circle at 16:49. Ivan Provorov set up the goal with his fifth assist in five games.
The Ducks got the equalizer when Strome scored off an odd-man rush, burying the rebound of a shot by Pavel Mintyukov at 15:49 of the second, his first goal of the season.
The score remained tied until Columbus' Fantilli beat Dostal from the left circle at 9:13 for his second career goal and second in as many games.
Anaheim Ducks' Lukas Dostal (1) makes a save as teammate Ilya Lyubushkin, right, and Columbus Blue Jackets' Boone Jenner, left, and Kirill Marchenko look for a rebound during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023, in Columbus, Ohio. Credit: AP/Jay LaPrete
That lead held until Leason beat Merzlikins between the pads at 16:13 of the third.
Vatrano secured two points for Anaheim with his overtime winner off a breakaway.
UP NEXT
Ducks: Visit Boston on Thursday.
Anaheim Ducks' Sam Carrick, left, and Columbus Blue Jackets' Sean Kuraly vie for the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023, in Columbus, Ohio. Credit: AP/Jay LaPrete
Blue Jackets: Visit Montreal on Thursday.
