National Hockey League
Anaheim 3, New Jersey 2
When: 8:00 PM ET, Tuesday, December 31, 2024
Where: Honda Center, Anaheim, California
Referees: Tom Chmielewski, Brandon Schrader
Linesmen: Travis Gawryletz, Kiel Murchison
Attendance: 17174

Ryan Strome scored the tiebreaking goal with 3:24 remaining as the Anaheim Ducks earned a 3-2 victory over the visiting New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night after blowing a two-goal lead.

Troy Terry and Robby Fabbri scored the first two goals for the Ducks, who lost the lead in a span of nearly eight minutes in the third period. Strome wound up with two points, as did teammate Frank Vatrano (two assists).

Strome snapped the tie by getting a cross-ice pass from Jackson LaCombe and had ample time above the right faceoff circle. He released a slap shot that sailed through traffic, past a screened Jacob Markstrom, over the goaltender's right arm into the upper right corner of the net.

Strome scored after Jonas Siegenthaler and Timo Meier tallied for the Devils, who have dropped back-to-back games. The Ducks have won two in a row.

Anaheim goalie Lukas Dostal made 32 saves, including eight on two New Jersey power plays in the opening period and six apiece on Jack Hughes and Dougie Hamilton.

Dostal made back-to-back saves on Hughes shots during a power play. Dostal also stopped Hughes in the opening minute of the second after committing a turnover behind the Anaheim net.

The Ducks won for the fifth time in eight games and scored on their first shot against Markstrom, who stopped 23 shots and had a personal six-game winning streak end.

Midway through the first period, Vatrano pried the puck loose from defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic behind the net. He sent it to Terry, who leaned in to get the puck at the outer edge of the right circle and lifted a shot over Markstrom's glove.

Fabbri finished off a two-on-one with Cutter Gauthier 3:57 into the third period, moments after Brian Dumoulin pried the puck loose from New Jersey defenseman Brett Pesce.

Fabbri had been denied on a breakaway late in the second period.

Siegenthaler ended Dostal's shutout bid with a shot from the left point that caromed off Anaheim's Brett Leason and into the net at 5:31 of the third period.

Meier forged a 2-2 tie by converting Hamilton's feed while falling to the ice with 6:40 left, moments after Anaheim's Mason McTavish was stopped on a breakaway.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
New Jersey   Anaheim
Timo Meier 1 Points Ryan Strome 2
Timo Meier 1 Goals Ryan Strome 1
Dougie Hamilton 1 Assists Frank Vatrano 2
N/A Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Jacob Markstrom .885 Save Percentage Lukas Dostal .941
Jacob Markstrom 23 Saves Lukas Dostal 32
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
New Jersey 34 2 0-2 3-3 12 37
Anaheim 26 3 0-3 2-2 10 31
Upcoming Games
  • Anaheim will play their next game on the road against Winnipeg. The Ducks have a W/L % of .333 after a win and .476 after a loss.
  • New Jersey will play their next game on the road against Los Angeles. The Devils have a W/L % of .542 after a win and .688 after a loss.