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Lukas Dostal’s first career shutout lifts Ducks over Blackhawks

Mar 21, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA;  Anaheim Ducks right wing Brett Leason (20) is congratulated by center Ben Meyers (39) and defenseman Pavel Mintyukov (34) after scoring a goal in the second period against the Chicago Blackhawks at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Alex Killorn scored twice and goaltender Lukas Dostal recorded his first career shutout as the host Anaheim Ducks snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 4-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night.

Brett Leason netted one goal and one assist while Frank Vatrano added a single for the Ducks, who last tasted victory on March 6. Dostal made 29 saves for his milestone moment.

Goalie Arvid Soderblom stopped 21 shots for the Blackhawks, who have lost two straight games and three of four, and sit at the bottom of the Central Division. Chicago has one victory in its last 26 road games.

Killorn kicked off Anaheim’s three-goal second period when he opened the scoring 3:10 into the middle frame. Gustav Lindstrom sent a point shot that Killorn deflected just in time to elude the goaltender’s glove.

Leason doubled the Ducks lead just before the game’s midway point when he used a defender as a screen as he drove down the wing and fired a wrist shot just inside the far post for his 11th of the season.

Killorn notched his second of the game and 14th of the campaign with 94 seconds remaining in the second period. With the screen set, Killorn wired a top-corner shot to make it 3-0.

Vatrano’s power-play goal extended the lead 10:31 into the third period. Given all kinds of time, Vatrano unloaded a high shot for his 30th goal of the season, the first time in his career he has reached that standard.

The victory came at a price for the Ducks. Rookie Leo Carlsson, the second overall pick at last year’s draft, left the game in the second period after an accidental knee-on-knee collision with Chicago’s Alex Vlasic. Carlsson has twice before missed several games due to injury during his rookie season, including a sprained knee ligament that sidelined him 10 games from late-December into mid-January.

–Field Level Media

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