CHICAGO — In a thrilling matchup on Tuesday night, the Anaheim Ducks secured their third consecutive victory by narrowly defeating the Chicago Blackhawks with a score of 3-2.
Alex Killorn was instrumental in the win, contributing a goal and an assist during the critical third period. He evened the score with a skillful backhand shot just 5:10 into the period and later set up Leo Carlsson for an easy tap-in goal with 10:22 remaining in the game.
Along with Killorn’s efforts, Pavel Mintyukov also found the back of the net for the Ducks, who have now won four out of their last five games. Trevor Zegras supported the offense with two assists, while goaltender John Gibson was solid in net, making 18 saves.
On the other side, the Blackhawks faced their fifth loss in six games. Young star Connor Bedard assisted on both of Jason Dickinson’s goals, while Arvid Soderblom handled 21 saves in goal.
Chicago initially took the lead with Dickinson’s one-timer at the 2:57 mark of the first period. He added another goal early in the second, netting his fourth of the season just 3:54 in.
Earlier in the season, the Blackhawks had secured a 4-2 victory against the Ducks when the teams met in Anaheim on November 3.
For the Ducks, who played away from home for the second consecutive night, the third period showcased their resilience, especially following a win against Dallas, 4-2, the night before.
The Blackhawks experimented with some new forward line combinations which showed promise, but they continue to struggle offensively, having scored just seven regulation goals over their last six outings.
A significant moment arose when Soderblom was withdrawn in favor of an extra skater with about 1:40 left in the game. However, Gibson was able to stop Ryan Donato’s attempt with around a minute to go, safeguarding the Ducks’ lead.
A noteworthy statistic from the night includes Bedard, who, at just 19 years old, reached 51 career assists in 87 games. He is now the fourth teenager in the franchise’s history to achieve this milestone, joining legendary players like Eddie Olczyk, Patrick Kane, and Bobby Hull.
Looking ahead, the Ducks will head home to face the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night, while the Blackhawks are set to host the Florida Panthers on Thursday evening.