Ducks Struggle Again, Suffering Eighth Straight Loss to Hurricanes
RALEIGH, N.C. — A pivotal goal from Jalen Chatfield and a much-needed victory for Frederik Andersen marked the Carolina Hurricanes’ 5-2 triumph over the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night. This win snaps Andersen’s nine-game winless streak, which included seven losses and two overtime games.
In a milestone game for Chatfield—his 300th career appearance—the defenseman scored the tiebreaker during a high-scoring second period for the Hurricanes, contributing to a surge that saw the team net three goals in the span of 10 minutes. Chatfield also recorded an assist, showcasing a strong performance alongside his teammates.
Logan Stankoven and Taylor Hall added goals and assists to their tallies, while Mark Jankowski and Jackson Blake found the back of the net for Carolina (27-14-3), extending their winning streak to three games. Andersen made 11 saves to secure his first victory since November 6.
On the opposing side, the Ducks (21-20-3) are struggling, currently mired in an eight-game losing streak that includes seven consecutive losses. Ryan Poehling and Mikael Granlund were the scorers for Anaheim, highlighting efforts to maintain leads in the first two periods despite the eventual outcome. Goalie Ville Husso turned away 30 shots but could not prevent the defeat.
Poehling opened the scoring with a goal at 6:42 of the first period. The Hurricanes responded when Jankowski equalized at 8:56 of the second, after a deflected shot off Ducks defenseman Drew Helleson. Granlund regained the lead for Anaheim, tapping in a pass from Mason McTavish after a near-miss at an open net. However, Stankoven’s quick response, assisted by Hall, leveled the score again shortly after.
Chatfield’s goal at 3:52 left in the second period propelled the Hurricanes ahead, in a period where they outshot the Ducks 18-3. In the third, Blake and Hall each added a goal, with Hall’s being an empty-netter.
Notably, Troy Terry, who co-leads the Ducks with 42 points, missed the game due to an upper-body injury, marking his first absence this season.
The Ducks will look to regroup as they conclude a four-game road trip against Buffalo on Saturday.
