Ducks strike with a pair of late power-play goals to defeat Canadiens

By Merry On Mar 4, 2023

Mason McTavish and Jakob Silfverberg scored power play goals in the third period and the Ducks extended their point streak to five games, beating the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 on Friday night.

Jayson Megna also scored for Anaheim, who are 4-0-1 on their streak. John Gibson stopped 26 shots.

Jonathan Drouin had a goal and an assist while Nick Suzuki also scored for Montreal. Sam Montembeault made 30 saves. The Canadiens have dropped two in a row and three of their last four.

Anaheim came last in the league in power play with a 15.6% conversion rate and was 1 for 17 in the past five games.

But the Ducks finally found their way with the man advantage midway through the third period. McTavish scored on a one-time timer from the right throw-in circle on a pass from Cam Fowler to make it 2–1. It was McTavish’s 14th goal of the season and his team-leading seventh on the power play. He has a point in three games in a row with a goal and four assists.

Silfverberg scored what would prove to be the decisive goal with five minutes remaining when he fired a wrist shot past Montembeault in heavy traffic in front of the net.

Suzuki brought the Canadiens within goal with 30 seconds left after pulling the goaltender.

Montreal scored 76 seconds into the game when Drouin tapped the loose puck into the crease after Mike Matheson’s shot went through Gibson’s legs. The goal was Drouin’s first in 45 games, dating back to last season.

Megna leveled the score three minutes later with a wrist shot in front of the net after a pass from Max Comtois. Montreal defender Johnathan Kovacevic partially got his stick on the pass but was unable to clear it, leading to Megna’s second goal of the season.

Remark: Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said forward Adam Henrique (MCL sprain) could potentially return for the final two weeks of the season. Second on the team with 19 goals, Henrique was injured against Tampa Bay on February 21.

Next for the ducks: Tuesday night in Seattle to open a three-game trip.