ANAHEIM, Calif. — Frank Vatrano celebrated his recent three-year contract extension with a standout performance, scoring two goals and providing an assist as the Anaheim Ducks triumphed over the Tampa Bay Lightning with a 4-1 final score.
John Gibson, marking a significant milestone, secured his 200th win in the NHL by making 36 saves during the match. This achievement places him among a select group of active U.S.-born goaltenders to reach this milestone. Troy Terry also contributed significantly to the Ducks’ victory with one goal and one assist, while Jackson Lacombe sealed the game’s outcome with an additional goal at 16:26 in the third period.
For the Lightning, Jake Guentzel managed to find the net with a power-play goal in the second period, marking his 21st goal of the season. Teammate Nikita Kucherov recorded his 38th assist of the year, raising his overall point tally to 55, which currently ranks him fifth in the league. Goaltender Jonas Johansson recorded 22 saves; however, Tampa Bay has encountered a rough patch, dropping at least three consecutive games for the second time this season.
Vatrano showcased his skills effectively, converting a redirected shot from Jacob Trouba just before the end of the first period, allowing the Ducks to lead 2-0 with 2:57 left in the opening frame. He later added an empty-net goal with 1:32 remaining, bringing his season total to 11 goals and 23 points.
In other notable mentions, Ryan Strome of the Ducks played his 200th game with the team, assisting on two of the goals and extending his point streak to five games, which consists of two goals and five assists.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Troy Terry launched a shot from the outskirts of the right faceoff circle, swiftly bypassing Johansson’s glove and finding the net just inside the post to open the scoring at 5:24 in the first period.
With this win, Anaheim has now improved its record to 8-1-2 when leading after two periods, while Tampa Bay’s struggles are evident, holding a record of 2-9 when facing a deficit after 40 minutes of play.
Both teams are set for home games on Tuesday, with the Lightning squaring off against Carolina and the Ducks preparing to challenge Calgary.
