Anaheim Ducks Dominate St. Louis Blues with 4-1 Victory: McTavish, Mintyukov, and Carlsson Shine
The Anaheim Ducks secured a 4-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues with goals from Mason McTavish and Pavel Mintyukov in the first period. Leo Carlsson also contributed a goal, while Chris Kreider sealed the win with an empty-net goal. Ville Husso made 22 saves for Anaheim, successfully defending against six St. Louis power plays.
Jordan Kyrou managed to score for St. Louis, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Ducks' lead. Joel Hofer stepped in for Jordan Binnington in goal, making 19 saves in relief. Carlsson's goal in the third period solidified Anaheim's victory, marking his third goal in the last four games.
Binnington struggled in the first period, allowing two goals on five shots before being replaced by Hofer. Mintyukov's goal gave Anaheim a 2-1 lead, setting the tone for the rest of the game. Kyrou responded quickly after McTavish's goal, but the Blues couldn't maintain momentum against the Ducks' strong performance.
The Ducks' Beckett Sennecke assisted on McTavish's goal, extending his points streak to eight games, matching a record set by Paul Kariya for the longest points streak by a Ducks rookie. St. Louis faced challenges with injuries to key players like Jimmy Snuggerud and Alexey Toropchenko, prompting the call-up of rookie forward Aleksanteri Kaskimaki from the AHL affiliate.
Looking ahead, the Ducks will face Utah at home in a three-game homestand, while the Blues will travel to Boston to kick off a three-game road trip. The game showcased Anaheim's resilience and skill, securing a well-deserved victory over St. Louis.