Rickard Rakell scored the Ducks' first goal to give them the lead halfway through the opening period, his first tally January 24. And Adam Henrique, playing his first game since being places on waivers (and clearing) the week prior, earned a workmanlike goal to tied the game 11:05 into the third.
The score remained 2-2 until the frequent thorn in Anaheim's side (and former Duck) William Karlsson notched his second goal of the game 3 1/2 minutes into OT to win it.
Henrique, who led the Ducks in goals (26) and points (43) last season, said he was pleased with his performance. He also won 11 of 12 face-offs (92 percent).
"I put it on myself to play well," said Henrique, who has struggled to score this season after leading the Ducks in goals (26) last year. "Everything else is out of my hands, so I just focused on my game, what I needed to do."
Head coach Dallas Eakins said of Henrique's insertion back into the lineup, "We just thought as an organization it was time to give him another shot. He didn't mope. He wasn't all 'poor me.' He was all business and he worked his butt off.
"When players are going through adversity, I'm not a big fan of shunning them and saying nothing to them. I always think through adversity comes great success. When you're in the adversity, it really sucks. It's terrible to be in, but eventually you're going to come out the other side. You're going to be able to look back on that adversity and take some great lessons."
Rakell had addressed his scoring drought earlier in the week and emphasized his patience to get back on track. "It's easy to get very frustrated, and it has been a frustrating time, especially since I felt that I've had the scoring chances and had the shots on net, but just not that final touch to make the puck go in," Rakell said. "But I can either look at the past and be really frustrated about it, or just try to take it game by game and try to improve."
The Ducks can only hope both players can spark some scoring throughout the entire Ducks lineup, as they remain last in the league in goals per game at 1.95. More scoring opportunities will be vital as Anaheim faces the start of a two-game set vs. St. Louis tonight at Honda Center.
The Blues are a second straight formidable foe, with a 7-2-0 road record and memories of having beaten down the Ducks by a combined 10-2 in back-to-back games at the end of January.
Anaheim got a boost on its blue line Saturday night with the long-awaited return of Hampus Lindholm from injury, as he had two hits and two blocked shots in 18:03 of ice time. Eakins said Lindholm is out tonight and listed as day-to-day and will be replaced in the lineup by Josh Mahura.
Veteran Josh Manson remains out with an oblique injury but could be poised to return soon as he has been skating with the team. Forward Carter Rowney remains on injured reserve with a lower body injury and a timetable for his return has not been indicated.
