McTavish Leads Ducks Against Kraken After Scorching Week

Anaheim’s Mason McTavish looks to extend his scoring streak as the Ducks face Seattle in a key Pacific Division showdown.

McTavish Hits His Stride for Anaheim

Mason McTavish is finding his groove. The 22-year-old forward, who was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, has been on fire, scoring five goals over his past three games. He enters Tuesday night’s game against the Seattle Kraken fresh off being named the NHL’s second star of the week, trailing only Boston’s David Pastrnak.

“It’s nice to see them going in for him,” Ducks teammate Trevor Zegras said, praising McTavish’s recent performances.

McTavish recorded back-to-back two-goal games in Anaheim’s victories over Pittsburgh (5-1) and Nashville (5-2) last week. Though he narrowly missed empty-net opportunities for a hat trick in both games, Zegras remains confident. “We’re gonna get him the third one. It’s coming. I feel it.”

The center credits the Ducks’ improved chemistry for his recent success. “At the start of the year, I think our team was kind of disjointed,” McTavish said. “Now, we’re more connected, and everything flows better.”

The Ducks may be without goaltender John Gibson, who left Saturday’s game after the first period due to an upper-body injury. Lukas Dostal stepped in and stopped 32 of 33 shots, providing stability in net. Head coach Greg Cronin expressed optimism about Gibson’s recovery, saying, “I think he’s going to be fine.”

Kraken Look to Bounce Back at Home

Seattle, coming off a 4-2 loss to Edmonton on Monday, aims to rebound against Anaheim. Despite leading 2-1 early, the Kraken allowed goals by Connor McDavid and Corey Perry, ultimately faltering on special teams. Seattle went 0-for-4 on the power play, including a missed two-man advantage spanning the first and second periods.

“It just wasn’t good enough,” Kraken coach Dan Bylsma said. “You want your power play to provide a goal or a spark, but it didn’t. That was a dent in the game.”

Eeli Tolvanen and Vince Dunn scored for Seattle, and Joey Daccord made 27 saves in the loss. The Kraken will need to rediscover their form to regain momentum, having won three of their previous four games before Monday.

Key Matchups to Watch

Mason McTavish vs. Kraken Defense: With five goals in his last three games, McTavish is the Ducks’ offensive centerpiece. Seattle’s defense must contain him to avoid another high-scoring game.

Special Teams Battle: Seattle’s power play struggles cost them in Edmonton. Anaheim’s penalty kill will look to maintain its form against the Kraken’s inconsistent unit.

Goaltending Questions: With Gibson’s status uncertain, the Ducks may turn to Dostal in net. For Seattle, Daccord will look to build on his strong performances in relief.

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What’s at Stake

The Ducks are aiming to ride McTavish’s hot hand and extend their winning streak, while the Kraken look to rebound from their power play woes and stay competitive in the Pacific Division standings.