It was a game that all metrics pointed towards an Anaheim Ducks victory in Chicago on Sunday, except for the most important one–the scoreboard.

Frank Nazar put the Blackhawks ahead with just over 10 minutes remaining in a scoreless game, but Mason McTavish blasted home a power play goal with 35 seconds left to send it to overtime. 

Anaheim and Chicago traded chances until a three-on-one break that saw Lukas Dostal stretch right for an incredible save, but the Blackhawks collected the rebound for Ryan Donato to slide the game-winner into the empty cage, 2-1.

Dostal made 28 saves for Anaheim, but Spencer Knight was the star of the game stopping 38 of 39 shots.

The Ducks have given up the first goal in all five games played this season, but scored the tying or go-ahead goal in the final 90 seconds in three of the last four games.

Anaheim (2-2-1, 5 points) continues its five-game road trip at Nashville on Tuesday.

The Ducks were simply the better team through the regular 60 minutes on Sunday with nothing to show for it through the first 59:24.

In regulation per MoneyPuck, Anaheim held the expected goals advantage in all situations, at five-on-five and at five-on-five with score/venue adjustments. At points during the second period, the Ducks held a 2-1 advantage in those metrics.

Anaheim held a 16-10 shots on goal advantage after the first period and earned the first six shots on goal of the second period. Total shot attempts were in the Ducks favor at every stage of regulation.

The Ducks best chances may have been in that first period, when at the moment of truth they either just couldn’t find the back of the net or passed through for a better chance that couldn’t be collected.

It wasn’t until the Ducks were given a gift of a power play with 1:47 remaining, when Chicago sent the puck over the glass for a delay of game. Even before McTavish’s eventual strike–his first of the season–the Ducks rang the crossbar, and just like Chicago’s go-ahead goal, McTavish’s tally did not come off a clean play.

They all count the same if they hit the back of the net, and all in all, if Anaheim can replicate efforts like this every night, they’ll be on the right side of things more often than not.

Big Leo Carlsson Season Continues to Build

On Thursday when Carlsson scored the Ducks’ only goal by powering downhill and ripping a shot off the rust, I remarked how he’s been the Ducks best forward so far, and the analytics backed that up with shot share and scoring chance share.

On Sunday, Carlsson led all Ducks forwards with over 23 minutes of ice time, second only to Jackson LaCombe’s 25 minutes on the roster. Carlsson was fifth on the Ducks in expected goal share in all situations, with the Ducks earning 69.04% of expected goals with the 20-year-old Swede on the ice.

Beyond the numbers, Carlsson continued that assertive, downhill style that has paced his strong start to the season. He is the Ducks’ No. 1 centerman, and its showing more than ever.

Now, that style went against him in the overtime period, as a late solo rush was snuffed out and up-and-back he went with a two-on-one that also didn’t materialize. That last odd-man rush caught him and McTavish out completely gassed while Chicago raced back for the game-winning three-on-one attack.

The last goal wasn’t completely on him, and again, he’s creating far more than he’s giving up right now. It’s that “take hold of the game” nature that is setting him apart right now, even if he personally shrugs off that particular attitude.

Ian Moore Makes Season Debut in 11-7 Lineup

The first real shakeup to the lineup construction came in the pregame on Sunday, as the Ducks iced a roster of 11 forwards and seven defensemen in Chicago.

Before leaving for Chicago, Ducks coach Joel Quenneville said at practice on Saturday that Sam Colangelo would draw back into the lineup, and he did on the fourth line right wing.

What he didn’t say was that Ross Johnston would be dropped from the fourth line left wing, and recently recalled Ian Moore would be inserted as a seventh defenseman.

The Ducks broadcast said that Moore was going to be used to alleviate some minutes from No. 1 defenseman Jackson LaCombe, but LaCombe still led all Ducks with over 25 minutes on the ice.

Moore also took some shifts in that fourth-line forward spot for some different looks.

The 23-year-old Harvard grad ultimately acquitted himself well in just over 13 minutes, more than only Pavel Mintyukov among Ducks defensemen, and Anaheim posted a 58.08% expected goal share in all situations with Moore on the ice.

Moore was second on the Ducks in all situation shot attempt share, with Anaheim earning 65.53% of shot attempts with the young defenseman on the ice.