Ducks turn back Canadiens for 3rd road win of season

MONTREAL — The Ducks have rarely done anything the straightforward way through the first 30 games of the season.

So why should Game No. 31 be any different?

One period away from securing their second win in regulation this season and inching toward their third road victory, the Ducks lost their lead in the third, scrambled and then regained it at the hands of defenseman John Klingberg. Klingberg scored his second goal of the game at 10:55 with a shot from above the circle, beating goaltender Jake Allen as the Ducks defeated the Montreal Canadiens, 5-2, on Thursday night at Bell Center.

Forward Adam Henrique sealed the win with an empty-netter with 1:28 remaining, and Frank Vatrano added another with nine seconds left.

It was their first victory in four games and they are now 2-7-2 in their last 11.

The Ducks (8-20-3) were sparked by first-period goals 28 seconds apart by forward Troy Terry on the power play and Klingberg at even strength. Trevor Zegras assisted on both goals.

They’ve only led after two periods three times this season, and the Canadiens fought back in the third with consecutive goals by Cole Caufield, one on the power play and another on a wraparound after a fluke bounce off the end boards.

Ducks rookie goaltender Lukas Dostal who faced 25 shots, had a strong bounce-back performance after giving up five goals in relief in Tuesday’s 7-0 loss to Toronto, but in his defense, teammates and Ducks coach Dallas Eakins noted that Dostal had been “hung out to dry” in that game.  It was Dostal’s second career victory.

More to come on this story.

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