Frank Vatrano scored a pair of first-period goals in a three-point outing to lead the host Anaheim Ducks to a 4-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Sunday.
Mason McTavish and Radko Gudas also scored for the Ducks, who snapped a two-game home losing streak. Goaltender John Gibson made 25 saves and Ryan Strome collected two assists.
Luke Kunin replied for the Sharks, who have lost two straight games and have only two victories in 15 games this season. Goalie Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 40 shots.
Vatrano, who is having a fantastic start to his season, opened the scoring at the 4:49 mark of the first period when he deflected a point shot while he zipped across the front of the net.
Kunin answered at the 13:05 mark of the period with his second of the season. He was on the doorstep when a long shot was sent on net, was stopped and bounced up. Kunin batted the puck out of the air and into the net.
However, Vatrano put the Ducks ahead for good thanks to a power-play goal with 98 seconds remaining in the opening frame. He was set up at the top of the right circle and blasted a one-timer home for his 11th of the campaign.
McTavish added another power-play goal nearly two minutes into the third period to make it 3-1. He played give-and-go with Leo Carlsson while driving the net and redirected the return feed for his seventh goal of the season.
Gudas extended the edge 49 seconds later with his second of the season. His point shot was partially blocked by the outstretched stick of Mike Hoffman, went up into the air and over Blackwood before he had a chance to react on the floating puck.
–Field Level Media
