Frank Vatrano scored on a breakaway 2:20 into overtime to fuel the visiting Anaheim Ducks to a 3-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday.
Elvis Merzlikins denied Troy Terry on a breakaway early in overtime, but he wasn’t as fortunate on the Ducks’ next opportunity as Vatrano beat Merzlikins over the blocker for his team-leading fifth goal of the season.
Anaheim’s Ryan Strome scored in the second period and fourth-liner Brett Leason tallied in the third. Lukas Dostal made 35 saves for the Ducks, who have won five in a row against Columbus and five consecutive encounters in the series at Nationwide Arena.
Blue Jackets rookie Adam Fantilli had an assist on Emil Bemstrom’s power-play tally in the first period before scoring a goal in his second straight game. Columbus native Jack Roslovic started a rush by Fantilli, who skated up the left wing before wiring a shot from the left circle that beat Dostal to give Columbus a 2-1 lead at 9:13 of the third period.
Tuesday’s game was slated to feature the Nos. 2 and 3 picks of the 2023 NHL Draft, but Anaheim forward Leo Carlsson sat out due to the team’s workload management plan. Carlsson (No. 2) and Fantilli (No. 3) were selected after the Chicago Blackhawks made Connor Bedard the first pick of the draft.
Columbus defenseman Ivan Provorov notched his fifth assist in his last five games. Merzlikins made 24 saves for the Blue Jackets, who were thwarted in their bid to record three straight wins for the first time since March 11-16, 2022.
Columbus cashed in on its third power-play opportunity to open the scoring with 3:11 remaining in the first period. Fantilli fed Provorov just inside the blue line before the defenseman set up Bemstrom, who unleashed a one-timer from the left circle that beat Dostal. The goal was the first of the season for Bemstrom.
Strome cleaned up a rebound following a two-on-one rush from defenseman Pavel Mintyukov to forge a 1-1 tie with 4:11 remaining in the second period. Strome’s goal was his first of the season.
Leason converted a give-and-go with Ross Johnston before solving Merzlikins to level the contest at 2-2 with 3:47 left in the third period. The goal was Leason’s first of the season.
The game started two hours later than its scheduled time due to a power outage in downtown Columbus.
–Field Level Media
