Ducks get past Blue Jackets in shootout

COLUMBUS -- The Anaheim Ducks extended their point streak to six games with a 2-1 shootout win against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on Thursday.

John Gibson made 33 saves, and Rickard Rakell scored the deciding goal for the Ducks (15-8-5), who are 4-0-2 during the streak. Trevor Zegras also scored in the shootout.
"We're playing for each other," Gibson said. "We're playing together. We're having fun. I think that's what it's all about. You want to have fun, you want to win, you want to have success. Maybe it wasn't our best night as a team, but anytime you come away with two points on the road is huge."

Elvis Merzlikins made 25 saves for the Blue Jackets (13-11-1), who have lost six of seven and had won four in a row at home. Jakub Voracek scored in the shootout.
"We ran into pretty good goalie and we had some good looks, but you know they're going to be tight games," Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen said. "We've got to try and find a way to squeak out that other point, but the effort was good. I thought we cleaned up some areas and it was better."
Alexandre Texier gave Columbus a 1-0 lead 8:02 into the first period on a one-timer off a cross-ice pass from Eric Robinson. Texier has scored an NHL career-high nine goals in 26 games.
Robinson and his older brother, Anaheim forward Buddy Robinson, played against each other for the first time at any level.
Buddy, who at age 30 is four years older than Eric, had four hits in 9:57 of ice time with their parents in attendance.
"It was a pretty special night for the two of us," Eric said. "With the age gap we're never able to play together against each other. So for it to happen at this level is obviously pretty special and something we'll be able to look back on and enjoy forever.
"I always looked up to him I always admired him, and I wanted to be just like him and watched him work and what it took to get to each level."

Isac Lundestrom tied it 1-1 on a breakaway at 10:23 of the first, scoring on the backhand through Merzlikins' pads.
"The one good thing that's happened, it's been rare where we've had more than two guys having an off night," Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said. "Tonight, we had seven or eight. When that's happening, that puts a lot of pressure on our goaltender. But thankfully we have a world-class one in [Gibson]. That was just an unbelievable performance.
"Columbus did a [heck] of a job. They threw everything to the top of the paint. They just kept coming and coming and coming, but he was outstanding."
Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski had a goal overturned 52 seconds into second period after the Ducks challenged for offside.
Each goalie made one save in overtime.
"We deserved to win that game. That was our game," Werenski told Bally Sports Ohio. "… If we go even longer in overtime, we probably win that game."
Texier, who missed the net on his shootout attempt, said he realized when he shot that his stick was broken.
"I couldn't shoot, but I didn't know [that it was broken]," he said. "That's how it is. You have to know that before."
NOTES:Blue Jackets defenseman Adam Boqvist sustained an upper-body injury and ended his last shift at 3:31 of the second period. There was no update. … Eric Robinson has four scored points (goal, three assists) in a four-game point streak. … Werenski had four shots in a game-high 30:33. … Ducks forward Sonny Milano was held without a shot and played 16:52 in his first game against the Blue Jackets since they traded him to Anaheim on Feb. 24, 2020. He scored 42 points (20 goals, 22 assists) in 116 games for Columbus from 2015-20.