National Hockey League
Anaheim 4, Tampa Bay 1
When: 8:00 PM ET, Sunday, January 5, 2025
Where: Honda Center, Anaheim, California
Referees: Trevor Hanson, Dan O'Rourke
Linesmen: Scott Cherrey, Ryan Gibbons
Attendance: 14208

Frank Vatrano celebrated a new contract with two goals and an assist and the Anaheim Ducks continued a strong stretch of play by beating the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning 4-1 on Sunday night.

Signed to a three-year extension earlier in the day, Vatrano scored during a two-goal first period and sealed the win with a third-period empty-netter.

Troy Terry found the back of the net for the fifth time in six games and added an assist and Jackson LaCombe scored in the third period for the Ducks. Ryan Strome posted two assists in his 200th game for Anaheim.

A winner in Winnipeg Thursday, goaltender John Gibson totaled 36 saves for his 200th NHL win.

The Pacific Division club won for the fourth time in five games (4-1-0) with the three previous ones against the Edmonton Oilers, New Jersey Devils and Jets.

Tampa Bay's Jake Guentzel tallied his ninth power-play goal of the season. Jonas Johansson made 22 saves for the Lightning, who were swept on a three-game California road trip while being outscored 8-3.

Defenseman Erik Cernak played in 400th NHL game, all with Tampa Bay, which has lost four straight.

Beginning a stretch of eight games in 14 days, the Ducks came out with jump in the first period and took the lead behind a wicked snipe by Terry, the club's leader in goals and points.

On helpers from Vatrano and Strome, the top-line right winger blistered the top right-hand corner above Johansson for his team-leading 14th goal at 5:24.

A night after failing twice on the power play in Los Angeles without a shot on goal, Tampa Bay got its first of the match when Vatrano committed a holding the stick infraction. However, the visitors again failed to put the puck on Gibson.

Vatrano, who tallied 37 times and had 60 points last season, got his redemption and made it 2-0 by tipping Jacob Trouba's shot into the net at 17:03.

On their third power play, the Lightning finally did put a shot on Gibson as Guentzel ripped a one-timer from the right circle at 9:12 of the second.

Tampa Bay picked up its pace in the period, and Johansson kept it a one-goal game with a stop on Terry's breakaway attempt with 2:16 left.

In the third, the Ducks caught the pressing Lightning in a two-on-one break, and LaCombe one-timed a pass from Alex Killorn with 3:34 remaining in regulation before Vatrano potted one into an open cage.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Tampa Bay   Anaheim
Jake Guentzel 1 Points Frank Vatrano 3
Jake Guentzel 1 Goals Frank Vatrano 2
Nikita Kucherov 1 Assists Ryan Strome 2
Jake Guentzel 1 Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Jonas Johansson .880 Save Percentage John Gibson .973
Jonas Johansson 22 Saves John Gibson 36
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Tampa Bay 37 1 1-2 1-1 2 29
Anaheim 26 4 0-1 1-2 4 30
Upcoming Games
  • Anaheim will play their next game at home against Calgary. The Ducks have a W/L % of .353 after a win and .500 after a loss.
  • Tampa Bay will play their next game at home against Carolina. The Lightning have a W/L % of .550 after a win and .529 after a loss.