Wilson completes his first career hat trick with a goal in the final six minutes of the third period as the Ducks lose 5–4. Wilson scores twice during Washington’s four-goal first period.
The Washington Capitals defeated the Kings 3-1 on Wednesday, but the Ducks lost 5-4 at Honda Center on Thursday night due to friction in their forecheck. This is the team’s eighth consecutive regulation loss.
The Ducks had the lowest point total in the NHL the previous season, but they didn’t have a slump this bad until the final 13 games of the season, when they lost nine games in a row in regulation.
The Ducks, who had won eight of ten games prior to the losing run, were led by rookie Tristan Luneau and former Capital Brett Leason, who each contributed one goal and an assist on Brock McGinn’s goal. John Gibson made 21 saves, and Frank Vatrano added another goal. The Ducks killed a five-on-three and scored two goals in the third period, but they also gave up a power play goal and picked up five minor penalties, four of which forced them to play with fewer players in the final minute.
In his 700th game, Tom Wilson recorded his first-ever hat trick, and Washington also had goals from Nic Dowd and Anthony Mantha. Darcy Kuemper made 28 saves, while Alex Ovechkin and John Carlson each had two power-play assists.
Once again, the Ducks were formidable in faceoffs, possession, and some territorial conflicts, but they were ultimately defeated by turnovers and penalties.
“In the third period, we took four penalties—five if you include (Radko) Gudas.” It’s nonsensical. Coach Greg Cronin, who shared Leason’s criticism of the team’s puck management, stated, “We take one at the end of the game when we’re pressing.”
“Afterward, I told them, ‘I’m at a loss for words. We continue to do it. It’s known as insanity,” he continued.
The Ducks had a six-goal burst in the first 20 minutes, leading, trailing, and leading again.
When the two teams traded unassisted goals in the second minute of play, many fans were still making their way through the parking lot and into the arena.
Pavel Mintyukov gave in to forecheck pressure, allowing Mantha to score his second goal and earn his third point in as many games at just 87 seconds in. Mantha slid the puck off his stick and danced all the way across the crease to score on the backhand.
22 seconds later, the Ducks scored their own version of a football “pick six,” as Evgeny Kuznetsov misplayed a pass in the middle of his own zone, giving them the lead back. Luneau was so open that he could have fired one menacing shot and then, in the next moment, converted his threat into a promise.
“He was excellent. About Luneau, Cronin remarked, “You can see how dynamic he is offensively and how confident he is with the puck.” “At the age of 19, he’s consistently improving with each game.”
After Luneau scored his first goal of the season, the Ducks created one of the most exquisite setups for Leo Carlsson, the No. 2 overall pick and another rookie. At 7:51 in the game, he created a rebound for Leason’s game-winning goal by skating through all three zones and dekeing two opponents with his reach to get to the net. It was his best Mario Lemieux impression.
All of that childish happiness was short-lived as the Caps scored three goals in a row at 15:54, 18:39, and 18:59.
For his first goal, Wilson broke out of the penalty area after a futile Ducks power play and snatched the puck before it reached Mason McTavish. Wilson sprinted off to score a goal on the run.
Then, from his preferred spot, the left faceoff circle, came perhaps Ovechkin’s most devastating shot in league history during a Caps power play. Gudas, who was sidelined due to a knee injury on Tuesday night against Vancouver, stooped to block the shot with his leg. Gudas looked visibly disappointed as the puck caromed to Wilson, who scored easily from the doorstep, negating his effort.
With pressure up the wall and Dowd’s tip of Rasmus Sundin’s point shot, Washington increased its lead.
The Ducks dominated possession statistics in the second period, but they didn’t get any closer on the scoreboard until the very end of the game.
With 8:15 remaining in the game, the Ducks scored a goal to energize the crowd. After the Ducks had killed a two-man disadvantage, Leason continued the play to send a shot fluttering toward the net that McGinn deflected, halving the deficit.
Wilson’s hat trick goal, another power play marker, however, delivered the death kiss to Washington after at least four shots at goal from point blank range.
With 27 seconds left, Vatrano crashed the net to stuff a rebound past Kuemper, giving the Ducks a chance to tie the score, but it was little more than a spectacular finish to a disastrous attempt.
“It is unrealistic to expect to win games, regardless of the score; we will take as many penalties as we need to at the end of the game,” Cronin remarked.
For the Ducks, Trevor Zegras missed his eleventh straight game.