In Calgary, Alberta, the Anaheim Ducks staged a comeback victory over the Calgary Flames with a final score of 4-3 on Sunday night. Rookie Beckett Sennecke delivered a historic performance by scoring his first NHL hat trick, including the game-winning goal in overtime at 2:54, when he controlled the puck on a 2-on-1 and shot past Dustin Wolfe just inside the post.
Chris Kreider also contributed a goal for Anaheim (now 28-21-3), extending their winning streak to seven games. Mikael Granlund and Alex Killorn each recorded two assists, and Lucas Dostal made 32 saves, improving his record to 19-12-2. Sennecke’s three goals brought his season total to 18 points and his career total to 41 points, placing him second among rookies behind Montreal’s Ivan Demidov, who has 11 goals and 32 assists for 43 points.
The Ducks are now just one point behind the second-place Edmonton Oilers in the Pacific Division, with one game in hand, as they prepare to meet in Edmonton on Monday. Calgary (21-25-6), which has lost four consecutive games (0-2-2), saw goals from Jonathan Huberdeau, Matt Coronato, and Hunter Buzstewicz, who scored his first NHL goal. With 17 saves, Dustin Wolfe’s record moves to 15-21-2. Huberdeau’s ninth goal ended a 10-game scoring drought, and Buzstewicz’s first NHL goal came in his 18th game.
Calgary entered the evening having scored only one point in each of their past three games following the trade of defenseman Rasmus Andersson. The Flames took an early 2-0 lead, with goals from Huberdeau and Buzstewicz less than two minutes apart in the first period. The game remained tied at 2-2 entering the third, after Coronato put Calgary ahead at 4:50, but Kreider equalized at 13:08, forcing overtime.
This marks the second time this season that the Ducks have won seven consecutive games, a feat they haven’t achieved multiple times since their impressive run in the 2014-15 season.
Upcoming games include the Ducks traveling to Edmonton for the fourth of five matchups on Monday, while Calgary will face Minnesota on Thursday.
Fan Take: This thrilling comeback demonstrates the unpredictable excitement that makes hockey so captivating for fans, highlighting the rise of young stars like Sennecke. Such games could signal a shift in team dynamics and fresh talent making their mark, adding more unpredictability and passion to the sport.
