Leason gets his first 2-goal game in NHL, Drysdale ends goal drought in Ducks 5-2 win over Knights

By JOE REEDY
AP Sports Writer

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Brett Leason scored twice for the first time in his NHL career, Jamie Drysdale put in his first goal in nearly 21 months and the Anaheim Ducks used a four-goal first period to propel them to a 5-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday night.

Frank Vatrano and Troy Terry also had goals for Anaheim, which found the back of the net four times in the opening 12 minutes. It was the 16th time in franchise history they have scored at least four times in the first period and the first since March 16, 2021, against Colorado.

Mason McTavish had three assists, Cam Fowler had two and John Gibson stopped 30 shots.

Alec Martinez and Mark Stone scored for the Golden Knights, who have dropped four straight. Logan Thompson made 21 saves.

Leason opened the scoring at 3:23 of the first period with a redirect of Cam Fowler’s shot from the blue line. Leason then put in a rebound at 17:45 of the second to put the Ducks up by three goals.

Drysdale, the sixth overall pick in the 2020 NHL draft, got the puck just inside the right faceoff circle and ripped a snap shot past Thompson 8:23 into the first period to give the Ducks a 2-0 advantage.

The 21-year old defenseman missed most of last season due to a torn labrum in his left shoulder and was out for the first 29 games this season due to an upper-body injury.

The Ducks had 11 players with a point in the opening 20 minutes.

The four-goal onslaught included a pair within 40 seconds. Vatrano had a one-timer at 11:38 for his team-leading 16th goal of the season and Terry followed with a wrist shot that went between Thompson’s legs at 12:18 for his ninth.

After Martinez’s fourth goal of the season at 7:23 of the second period, Stone extended his point streak to five games with a power-play goal at 12:34. Stone has two goals and seven points during that span.

UP NEXT

Golden Knights: Host the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday.

Ducks: Host the Arizona Coyotes on Friday.

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