In just one period of hockey, the Anaheim Ducks recorded half of their season goal total through eight games. However, those three goals in 20 minutes would be the only ones Anaheim would get. The Ducks folded in the final two periods of a 4-3 loss to the Dallas Stars.
NHL Scores 2015: Bruce Boudreau likely gone after Ducks squander 3-0 first period lead
Twenty minutes does not a full hockey game make.
David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
To say the road loss is devastating to Anaheim would be an understatement. The Ducks were flying during the first 20 minutes, despite losing captain Ryan Getzlaf to an appendectomy for up to a week and a half. Anaheim had the Stars on their heels, pressing play and breaking through on offense where it couldn't through the first eight games of the season. Three straight goals in under six minutes of play looked to be the spark Anaheim needed against a streaking Dallas team.
Then the Stars found their legs as the Ducks collapsed back into themselves. In the final period alone, Dallas outshot Anaheim 17-2. Antoine Roussel picked up the tiebreaker with a minute and a half to play. Two shots in a tied game is unacceptable for any professional team, and it may have just cost head coach Bruce Boudreau his job.
Boudreau: "It's a 3-0 lead. You should not lost a game like that. We won't sugarcoat it - it's demoralizing." #ANAvsDAL
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) October 28, 2015 Sure, Anaheim was on the last leg of a back-to-back, but there’s no excuse for that performance, Captain Getzlaf out or not. Boudreau is probably not the only reason for the Ducks’ failures so far this season, but he will be the first piece to go if Anaheim GM Bob Murray has had enough.
The Ducks are off to a franchise-worst 1-6-2 start to the season with only nine goals scored in nine games. Tuesday night was the culmination of their struggles this year. A good coach in Boudreau will probably take the fall for a failure that has been earned across the board. Who knows how long Murray will let it spiral from here.
Scores
Blue Jackets 3, Devils 1
Hurricanes 3, Red Wings 1
Stars 4, Ducks 3
3 things we learned
1. The Columbus Blue Jackets are streaking!
Winning two games in a row might not be a normal cause for celebration, but for the Blue Jackets and new head coach John Tortorella, it's a step in the right direction. Sure, their 3-1 win came over the lowly New Jersey Devils, but a win's a win, and Columbus has looked better in its most recent two games than the entirety of the rest of its season. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky lost the shutout late, but the Russian netminder has made strides after an abysmal start to the year, including this incredible save.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Booooone ⭐️⭐️ Hartnell ⭐️ BOBROVSKY pic.twitter.com/F2jbf8K7Ep
— NHL Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) October 28, 2015 2. The Montreal Canadiens are no longer perfect
It had to happen some time, but the Canadiens are no longer undefeated in the 2015-16 season. One win shy of tying the longest win streak to start an NHL season, Montreal found its match in the Vancouver Canucks, losing 5-1. A three-goal first period doomed the Canadiens, who were flat out outplayed by the Canucks. Rookie Jared McCann had two goals, giving the Canucks more reason to keep the young forward past the eight game entry level cutoff.
3. Sam Gagner is cursed on OT breakaways
Sam Gagner clearly has ticked off one of the hockey gods. After he missed an overtime breakaway goal against the New York Rangers over the weekend thanks to a spectacular play by Henrik Lundqvist, it might have just been bad luck. Now, with another OT breakaway on his stick, Gagner had no chance to finish the play as Buffalo Sabres netminder Chad Johnson stoned the forward with a swipe of a glove. Don't worry, Gagner, the full moon has passed.
Chad Johnson with a spectacular save moments before the OT winner by Girgensons pic.twitter.com/3f3jwQqKZg
— Stephanie (@myregularface) October 28, 2015 Impact Moment
Dumba hit on Korpikoski pic.twitter.com/XQydV2h9XM
— Stephanie (@myregularface) October 28, 2015 Mathew Dumba might be getting a call from the Department of Player Safety for this hit. Lauri Korpikoski did end up returning to the ice after half a period in the locker room.
Stat of the Night
Tonight marked the first time all season the Blue Jackets have allowed fewer than three goals in a game.
— Lori Schmidt (@LoriSchmidt) October 28, 2015 Post to post
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