Ducks overcome 3-goal deficit to beat Blue Jackets 5-3
By NICOLE KRAFT
Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Cam Fowler, Trevor Zegras and Adam Henrique each had a goal and an assist and the Anaheim Ducks overcame a three-goal deficit to beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-3 on Thursday night and snap a five-game losing streak.
The Ducks scored three times in the second period before putting in the third-period winner. It was Anaheim’s fifth multi-goal comeback this season, tying it with New Jersey for the NHL lead.
Simon Benoit and Max Jones also scored and Isac Lundestrom and Troy Terry each had two assists. Anthony Stolarz stopped 12 shots before being replaced by John Gibson, who stopped all 18 shots he faced.
“I think it was good resiliency by our group,” Fowler said. “Obviously, we didn’t get off to the start that we wanted to, but at this point in the season, how tough things have gone for us, we still continue to fight and claw our way back in the game and then a big third period. It’s something we should be proud of.”
Mathieu Olivier, Jack Roslovic and Nick Blankenburg scored for Columbus and Elvis Merzlikins stopped 28 shots. The Blue Jackets have lost three straight and seven of their last eight, including three in a row at home.
Both teams remained last in their divisions.
Columbus scored on its first two shots of the game from Olivier, for his first goal since Nov. 23, and Roslovic. Blankenburg made it 3-0 with 2:17 left in the period, seconds after a hit that buried Lundestrom into the Columbus bench.
By the second period, Anaheim, had enough.
Twenty-two seconds after swapping Stolarz for Gibson in net, Henrique beat Merzlikins stick side. Fowler and Benoit then drew the Ducks even. Zegras’ goal at 5:07 that proved to be the winner and left Merzlikins banging his stick on the ice in frustration. Jones added an insurance goal at with 4:29 remaining.
“This is a hard league,” Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen said. “You can’t give an inch. They’ve got some skill and you give them some room and that’s what happens.”
MINDING THE NET
Gibson’s victory carried him past Guy Hebert for second on Anaheim’s all-time wins list with 174. He trailed only Jean-Sebastien Giguere with 206. “It’s an honor,” he said. “Obviously, there were a lot of great goalies who played here in the past. To be able to pass some names is an honor.”
TWICE AS NICE
Anaheim won for just the second time this season after trailing through one period, improving to 2-19-1.
MARKING 100
Patrik Laine recorded his 100th point as a Blue Jacket with the primary assist on Blankenburg’s goal.
QUITE THE KILL
The Blue Jackets have killed off all 29 Anaheim power plays across 12 games, dating back to Feb. 11, 2016,
INJURY UPDATE
Ducks rookie Mason McTavish missed the game due to a lower-body injury. Isac Lundestrom, who missed 21 games with a finger injury, returned to the Anaheim lineup and recorded three assists, his first points since Nov. 21.
FINDING THEIR FOURTH
Henrique scored for the fourth straight game, adding his team-leading 16th goal. Terry has five assists his last four games.
UP NEXT
Ducks: At Buffalo on Saturday night.
Blue Jackets: Host San Jose on Saturday night.
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