Recap: Ducks Lose Overtime Thriller, 5-4, Against Sharks

IRVINE, Calif.-- In a back and forth overtime that featured multiple breakaways and odd-man rushes, it was the San Jose Sharks that would come out victorious with a 5-4 OT win at FivePoint Arena on Sunday night. Jacob McGrew scored the game-winning goal with 23.4 seconds remaining in the extra frame, moments after Brayden Tracey was denied on a breakaway chance. Isac Lundestrom also had a chance to win it in sudden death, but his breakaway was thwarted by Sharks goaltender Zachary Sawchenko.
Like last night's opener against the LA Kings, tonight's game was played in front of another capacity crowd of 2,105. The edge-of-your-seat overtime had the crowd roaring. "It's unbelievable," said Ducks defenseman Hunter Drew, on the turnout for the first two games. "Looks really good on the organization. For us, as players, we use it as fuel. You saw it last night in the win, and tonight was a nail biter. It's always good to look up and have people supporting you."

The Ducks received goals from Drew, Tracey, Max Jones and Kiefer Sherwood, and rallied from a two-goal deficit in the third period to force overtime. Roman Durny went the distance in goal for Anaheim, stopping 24 shots.
Tracey's goal at the 9:45 mark of the third period was a big one, as it tied the game, 4-4, and erased a two-goal deficit. Even though these games won't count in the standings, it was a big moment for the 18-year-old Calgary native, who was drafted in the first round by the Ducks less than three months ago. "To tuck one in there is special," said Tracey, who would've brought the house down had he converted on his breakaway in OT. "Hearing that crowd, it's words you can't describe. Going on that breakaway in overtime, I heard them. It would've been nice to get that one in, too."
Tracey earned Western Hockey League Rookie of the Year honors last season after posting 81 points (36g/45a) and a +33 rating in 66 games with the Moose Jaw Warriors. He led WHL rookies in points, goals, power-play goals (12), assists, power-play points (15) and plus-minus in his first full season. Tracey was selected with the 29th overall pick in the June draft.
"Putting on that jersey is something unbelievable," Tracey said. "You can't describe it. Getting drafted two and a half months ago and coming in here, it's a quick turnaround. You need to take in the moment and go hard."
Sasha Chmelevski, Artem Ivanyuzhenkov, Jeffrey Viel and Lean Bergmann tallied goals for the Sharks in regulation, while Sawchenko finished with 26 saves.
The Sharks opened the scoring at the 2:50 mark when Chmelevski banged home a loose puck in the slot that snuck under Durny's pads.
The Ducks answered back less than three minutes later when Drew unloaded a wrist shot from the right faceoff dot that caught the far corner of the net. Drew put up big numbers last season - his final season in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League - with 50 points (16g/34a) in 61 games. He set career highs in goals, assists, points and plus-minus (+14).
Anaheim made it 2-1 when Jones found space just inside the blueline and snapped a shot past Sawchenko for his second goal in as many games.
San Jose evened the score before the period ended with Ivanyuzhenkov raced to a loose puck at the right dot and shoveled a backhander into an open net.
The Sharks made it 3-2 when Viel scored on spinning shot in the slot that snuck underneath Durny's pads.
San Jose struck again at the 3:13 mark of the third period when Bergmann's shot beat Durny to make it 4-2.
The Ducks answered with two unanswered goals from Sherwood and Tracey, both on the power play. Sherwood's shot came from between the circles for his second goal of the tournament, while Tracey's came from the left circle in his rookie tournament debut.
Anaheim will finish off the tournament on Tuesday at 3 p.m. PT against the Vegas Golden Knights.