Blues defeat Ducks behind 4-point night from Buchnevich
Anaheim Ducks’ Dmitry Kulikov (29) controls the puck from St. Louis Blues’ Robert Thomas (18) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)
St. Louis Blues’ Torey Krug (47) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Anaheim Ducks during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)
Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson (36) eyes the puck against St. Louis Blues’ Alexey Toropchenko (13) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)
Anaheim Ducks’ Trevor Zegras (11) blocks a shot from St. Louis Blues’ Pavel Buchnevich (89) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)
Anaheim Ducks’ Isac Lundestrom (21) controls the puck from St. Louis Blues’ Calle Rosen (43) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)
St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) and Tyler Tucker (75) defend the net from Anaheim Ducks’ Mason McTavish (37) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)
St. Louis Blues’ Pavel Buchnevich (89) celebrates with teammates after scoring against the Anaheim Ducks during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)
St. Louis Blues’ Pavel Buchnevich (89) celebrates with Robert Thomas (18) after scoring a goal against the Ducks during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)
ST. LOUIS – There is such a familiar plotline to (most) Ducks games in the first quarter of this season.
Take an early penalty. Give up a ton of shots. Allow a power-play goal.
Again, their issues were all on full display in a 6-2 loss to Blues on Saturday night at Enterprise Center as St. Louis scored twice in the first period, added three goals in the second and one more in the third. Ducks goalie Anthony Stolarz played the third period in relief of John Gibson.
The Ducks have played 18 games and have yet to win in regulation. They’ve won three times in overtime and twice in a shootout. The Arizona Coyotes were the first NHL team to go 20 games at the start of the season without a win in regulation, doing so in the 2017-18 season.
Staying on brand, the Ducks (5-12-1) took an early penalty a mere 12 seconds into the game (not costly, this time), were outshot by the Blues 10-1 in the first 10 minutes and would later give up a power-play goal in the second period as Blues defenseman Torey Krug made it 5-1.
The primary damage came from the Blues’ Pavel Buchnevich, who had a hand in four of the six goals, scoring twice and adding two assists. The four points in a game matched a career high. He also had four points against the Philadelphia Flyers on March 17. 2021 when he was with the New York Rangers.
Scoring for the Ducks were defenseman Cam Fowler, on the power play at 6:43 of the second period and Adam Henrique at 8:41 of the third. Fowler had the primary assist on Henrique’s goal and now has six points in his past three games.
