SAN JOSE, Calif. — Isac Lundestrom’s pivotal goal in the third period broke the tie and propelled the Anaheim Ducks to a 2-0 victory over the San Jose Sharks in their season opener on Saturday evening.

Lundestrom found the net with a wrist shot from the slot after receiving an assist from Brock McGinn, finding the back of the net with just nine minutes left on the clock.

Trevor Zegras later added an insurance goal, capitalizing on an empty net with 1:35 remaining to finalize the score.

In goal, Lukas Dostal was impressive for the Ducks, recording 30 saves to secure a shutout, while Sharks’ netminder Vitek Vanecek repelled 28 shots on his end.

Key insights from the match reveal that despite providing relentless pressure on Dostal, the Sharks struggled to convert their chances into goals. The absence of promising rookie Macklin Celebrini—a top pick in the 2024 draft who was placed on injured reserve earlier in the day—was felt significantly by the team.

In Dostal’s opening-night debut, he exhibited remarkable skill and composure, proving instrumental in securing the clean sheet.

A critical moment in the game came when Sharks forward Fabian Zetterlund scored a power-play goal early in the first period, only for it to be negated following a coach’s challenge that ruled he was offside. This ruling set the stage for an extended period of scoreless action that lasted until well into the third period.

Statistically, it took an entire 51 minutes for either team to break the deadlock on the scoreboard, emphasizing the defensive battle that characterized the contest.

Looking ahead, the Ducks will face the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday night, while the Sharks are set to embark on a three-game road trip starting Tuesday against the Dallas Stars.