Ducks hold off Hurricanes to give Cronin 1st win

Terevainen’s incredible goal at 13:52 of the second period gave the team a 3-1 lead. With his quick reflexes, he skillfully swatted down a stray shot with his stick and then buried it with a precise short-side shot from the right circle, leaving Dostal stunned.

Vatrano answered the call for the Ducks, extending their lead to 4-1 at 16:44. Positioned at the right circle, he unleashed a powerful shot that beat the goaltender on the blocker side. Strome, positioned below the goal line, delivered a well-timed pass to set up Vatrano’s goal.

In a thrilling power play opportunity, Teravainen hammered a blistering slap shot from just inside the blue line, scoring his fourth goal of the season. This brought the score to 4-2 in favor of the Ducks at 3:01 of the third period.

Martin Necas then closed the gap to 4-3 at 15:29 with a spectacular power-play goal. He received an exquisite backdoor pass from Michael Bunting and gently tapped it into the net.

However, in the final minutes, Fowler (18:03) and Vatrano (18:41) capitalized on the Hurricanes’ empty net, sealing the 6-3 victory for the Ducks.

“We were well aware of the Hurricanes’ strong third-period performance,” Cronin commented. “Despite their relentless attacks, we successfully defended the outer perimeter and executed numerous blocked shots. Ultimately, we were able to secure the win, which sets a positive precedent for future challenges in the NHL.”

NOTES: The Ducks have enjoyed a triumphant streak against the Hurricanes, winning three consecutive games and boasting an impressive 16-4-1 record in their last 21 matchups. Additionally, Anaheim holds the NHL’s longest active streak of eight consecutive home opener victories, matching the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins. Strome’s assist on Mintyukov’s goal marked a remarkable milestone, as he reached 400 NHL points. LaCombe’s assist on Mintyukov’s goal joins a rare group in NHL history, as it marks the fifth occurrence where a defenseman scored their first NHL goal off an assist from another defenseman recording their first NHL point.