Ducks rallied from two-goal deficit to defeat Maple Leafs in overtime

ANAHEIM — Finally, a ray of sunshine in a dark month for the Ducks.

The Ducks rallied from a 3-1 third-period deficit to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs, 4-3, on Sunday at Honda Center. Trevor Zegras scored twice, including a highlight reel game-winner at 2:15 of overtime, converting under pressure, in what was a wild back-and-forth OT.

Seconds earlier, Ducks goalie John Gibson saved the day with a sprawling save against Leafs’ Mitch Marner.

It ended a seven-game losing streak for the Ducks that had dated back to opening night.

It had appeared as though the Ducks had scored the go-ahead goal in regulation, via Frank Vatrano, with 4:45 remaining. But the Leafs challenged – for goalie interference – and were successful.

The Ducks’ comeback, ostensibly, started with Zegras’s goal, on a breakaway, to cut Toronto’s lead to 3-2 at 7:24. Zegras went forehand to backhand and flipped it, top shelf, past Maple Leaf goaltender Erik Kallgren. And defenseman Dmitry Kulikov’s wraparound tied it at 3 with 6:59 remaining, beating Kallgren short side.

What happened earlier, however, was the Ducks using their emotion over a penalty-shot call against them to storm back against the Maple Leafs, who had played (and lost) the previous day against the Kings,

Their momentum surge started after Toronto forward Alexander Kerfoot’s penalty shot attempt went wide at 6:57 of the third with the Maple Leafs leading 3-1. The Ducks had argued the call – long and hard – to no avail.

Before the spirited comeback, the story had been the Ducks’ special team woes. They’ve floundered on special teams all season and Sunday was no exception.

Toronto opened the scoring with a power-play goal (Auston Matthews) and added an even strength goal (Denis Malgin) in the first period to make it 2-1 and expanded the lead with Calle Jarnkrok’s shorthanded goal just 45 seconds into the third period.

It is the second straight game the Ducks have allowed a shorthanded goal, having also done so in a 4-0 loss to Vegas on Friday.

Lisa Dillman is the beat writer covering the Anaheim Ducks for the Orange County Register and the Southern California News Group. Previously Dillman has covered the NHL for the Los Angeles Daily News, the Los Angeles Times and the Athletic.