Recap: Ducks Earn First Road Victory on Vatrano Game-Winner in OT

The power may have gone out in Columbus, but it was the Ducks who ultimately provided the electricity in a dramatic 3-2 overtime victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena.

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A challenging four-game road trip got off to a triumphant start when Frank Vatrano's breakaway goal 2:20 into the extra session gave Anaheim its first road victory of the season. The Ducks improved to 2-4-0 and 1-2-0 away from home ice.

The puck drop for tonight's game was delayed two hours because of a power outage in downtown Columbus that lasted into the late afternoon, as the original 6:30 p.m. local start time was moved to 8:30.

Meanwhile, a highly anticipated matchup between 2023 NHL Draft second overall pick Leo Carlsson and third overall pick Adam Fantilli didn't materialize when the 18-year-old Carlsson was held out for a second straight game as part of the development plan focusing on managing the schedule of the early portion of his season.

And lamentably for Anaheim, it was Fantilli who temporarily gave Columbus the lead midway through the third period, though it was erased by a timely Brett Leason goal with 3:47 left in regulation. Leason snuck a shot under Columbus goalie Elvis Merzlikins from left wing to quiet the home crowd and make it a 2-2 game.

The Ducks would ultimately win it halfway into 3-on-3 overtime when Bo Groulx made a beautiful headman pass to a streaking Vatrano, who buried the shot on the breakaway to clinch the victory.

Lukas Dostal, who had a big save in OT, earned his seventh career win, his second against Columbus, turning aside 34-of-36 Blue Jackets shots.

Columbus took the first lead late in the opening period on the third of three consecutive power plays for the home side, with Bemstrom beating Dostal on a one-timer from the left circle.

The Ducks had killed nine of their opponents' last 10 power plays prior to Bemstrom's goal.

Ryan Strome got Anaheim even late in the middle frame, converting the rebound off Mintyukov’s shot on a 2-on-1 rush. With the goal, Strome now has five points in his first six games of the season. Mintyukov’s assist marked his third career NHL point.

The Ducks weathered the storm on a number of Columbus power plays before Fantilli broke through at even strength, sniping a wrister from the top of the left wing circle for his second of his rookie season.

But it didn't stand up as the game-winner after Leason's timely equalizer followed by Vatrano playing the hero in OT on his fifth goal of the season.

The Ducks continue their four-game road trip Thursday in Boston.