In a heart-stopping NHL showdown, rookie Leo Carlsson buried the overtime winner at 18:39 to propel the Anaheim Ducks past the Boston Bruins 3-2 Saturday night. The victory extends Anaheim's winning streak to four games while casting uncertainty over goalie John Gibson's trade value after his mid-game exit.
John Gibson, widely considered Anaheim's top trade chip before March 7's deadline, stopped 19 shots through two periods before leaving with an upper-body injury. Backup Lukas Dostal preserved the win with 10 saves, but all eyes now turn to Gibson's health ahead of crucial roster decisions.
We need our fans to respect the game officials,blared the TD Garden PA announcer after fans littered the ice following a controversial overturned Bruins goal.
The game swung dramatically in the final minutes:
- Frank Vatrano and Trevor Zegras built a 2-0 Anaheim lead
- Boston rallied on power-play goals from Elias Lindholm and Morgan Geekie
- Officials initially waved off Geekie's equalizer for goalie interference before video review reversed the call
With this overtime victory, Anaheim climbs above .500 for the first time since October, riding a 7-1 surge since returning from the 4 Nations Face-Off break. Meanwhile, Boston's slump deepens with three consecutive losses and five defeats in seven games.
Key implications moving forward:
• Ducks: Must assess Gibson's trade readiness while facing Detroit Sunday
• Bruins: Struggle without injured defenseman Charlie McAvoy (shoulder infection)
• Market Watch: 11 days until NHL trade deadline
As Anaheim's young core continues exceeding expectations, this statement win against a playoff-bound opponent raises intriguing questions about their deadline strategy. Can they capitalize on Gibson's value if healthy? Will Boston pursue goaltending insurance behind Jeremy Swayman (26 saves)? The hockey world awaits answers.
