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The Anaheim Ducks fell 4-2 against the New Jersey Devils tonight, marking their third straight loss.
Jakob Silfverberg returned to the Ducks’ lineup after missing yesterday's game with an illness, with Pavol Regenda sitting out as a healthy scratch. Simon Benoit was also in the lineup instead of Colton White, while Anthony Stolarz got his first start of the season.
The Devils had some opportunities early, with Nico Hischier and Dawson Mercer getting some chances in-close that they couldn't capitalize on. Midway through the frame, however, Jakob Silfverberg ripped a shot past Mackenzie Blackwood off a faceoff, opening the scoring for the Ducks. Then as the period went on and the Devils continued to get chances, Silfverberg struck once again for Anaheim, taking a quick pass from Mason McTavish off the boards and burying a shot past Blackwood. The Devils had another chance on a shorthanded breakaway in the last seconds of the period but Stolarz made a good save to preserve the two-goal lead through 20 minutes, despite the Ducks being outshot 11-6.
New Jersey was able to cut Anaheim’s lead to a single goal about four minutes into the second frame, with Ondrej Palat burying a rebound at the side of the net. Then later in the period, Stolarz wasn’t able to track a shot that took a strange bounce and Hischier was at the side of the net to score, tying the game at 2-2. The Ducks were under siege for the rest of the frame and couldn’t get out of their own end as New Jersey had all the momentum after tying it, but Anaheim managed to escape the period with the game still tied.
The Devils scored to take the lead under a minute into the third period, with Jesper Bratt spinning away from Adam Henrique and then feeding Dougie Hamilton with a great one-timer pass, who beat Stolarz to give New Jersey their first lead of the game. Despite a few power play opportunities, the Ducks struggled to get much offense going and then later in the frame, Dawson Mercer took a pass in front and managed to chip the puck past Stolarz, extending the lead. The Ducks registered just four shots in frame, losing 4-2.
The Ducks were outplayed through a lot of the game and were once again outshot by a huge margin, giving up 41 shots while registering only 20 shots. While they did manage to kill off all three of the Devil's power plays, which was a good sign, they also went 0-for-4 on the man advantage themselves.
Despite giving up four goals, Anthony Stolarz played really well for most of the game, but there’s only so much he can do when Anaheim is giving up 20 shots in a single period.
It’s a really worrisome start for the Ducks, given they’ve now been outplayed pretty badly in all four of their games to start the season. Their next game comes on Thursday, as they continue their Eastern road trip against the Boston Bruins.
OTHER ARTICLES FROM OCTOBER
Trevor Zegras listed as day-to-day, Ducks sign Nathan Beaulieu
Ducks announce opening night roster, Josh Mahura claimed by Panthers
Ducks mount comeback in season opener to defeat Kraken in overtime
Ducks allow seven goals in blowout loss to Islanders
Ducks outmatched by Rangers, lose 6-4 
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