Frank Vatrano scored a goal with 53 seconds remaining in overtime and the Anaheim Ducks entered the All-Star break by rallying for a 3-2 victory Wednesday over the visiting San Jose Sharks.
Troy Terry scored the game-tying goal with 1:01 remaining in regulation and then delivered an assist on Vatrano’s winner as the Ducks won for the third time in four games while extending their point streak to four games.
Isac Lundestrom added a goal and John Gibson made 26 saves for Anaheim.
Anthony Duclair and Marc-Edouard Vlasic scored for the Sharks, who had won four of their past five games, all since Logan Couture made his season debut after recovering from hip and groin injuries.
Kaapo Kahkonen made 31 saves as the Sharks, who earned a 5-3 victory over the Ducks on Jan. 20 in San Jose.
The Ducks jumped out to a 1-0 lead 2:12 into the game when Mason McTavish put the puck on net and Lundestrom delivered on the second of two rebounds off Kahkonen from point-blank range for his second of the season.
The Sharks got even 1-1 on a power play at 6:59 of the first period when Duclair skated through the top of the crease and forced the puck past Gibson and just across the line for his ninth of the season.
Vlasic scored the go-ahead goal at 17:57 of the second period when he ripped a shot from the left point through traffic and past Gibson. It was the defenseman’s fifth of the season, with four of those coming in the past six games.
Terry increased his point streak to six games when he tied the score with just over a minute remaining. Anaheim’s Leo Carlsson plucked the puck out of traffic from in front of the Sharks goal to find Terry, who scored his 15th of the season and fourth in three games.
Tomas Hertl missed his second consecutive game for San Jose with a lower-body injury but is expected to play in Saturday’s All-Star Game at Toronto. Vatrano will represent the Ducks.
The Ducks return to action Feb. 9 at home against the Edmonton Oilers, while the Sharks won’t play again until Feb. 14 at Winnipeg.
–Field Level Media