Mason McTavish helps Ducks fight past Sharks in OT – Orange County Register
ANAHEIM — The most productive night of Mason McTavish’s NHL career began when he went to the Honda Center with Ducks teammate Trevor Zegras, who had to face the music and wear a Team Canada jersey.
It’s all about the never-ending ice hockey rivalry between Canada and the United States – the gift that keeps on giving. Canada defeated the Czech Republic to win the World Junior Championship in overtime on Thursday after reaching the gold medal match with a 6-2 win over the United States. In 2021, Zegras helped the United States win the WJC.
“I loved it,” McTavish said with a big smile. “It was looking good for him. It was nice to see him wearing it.”
A few hours later, McTavish, the WJC hero for Canada in August in Edmonton, had another right to show off with a four-point performance in the Ducks’ 5-4 overtime win over the San Jose Sharks on Friday. He scored two goals and added two assists, including the second assist for defenseman John Klingberg’s game-winner after 1:08 of overtime. Klingberg has seven game-winning goals in OT, and this was his first with the Ducks.
For McTavish, it was his first multiple-goal performance in 49 NHL games played, 40 this season and nine in 2021-22. The scoring brought him 26 points (nine goals, 17 assists), just two points behind Matty Beniers, the league’s leading rookie top scorer, of the Seattle Kraken.
“It sure is something special,” said McTavish. “It’s pretty cool every time you score in this league. It’s the best league in the world. A league you grew up with. So it’s always very special when you score a goal and being able to make the difference in the game is pretty good.”
McTavish, 19, is the third teenager to record a multi-goal game with the Ducks. The other two were defenders – Cam Fowler and Hampus Lindholm. McTavish has been onward and upward (three goals, three assists in two games) since moving up to the top tier earlier this week, putting Adam Henrique and Troy Terry in the spotlight.
“I think the confidence was always kind of there,” he said. “I believe in myself… pretty creative and stuff like that. Also working with the coaches and making videos and gaining their trust and understanding what they want from me. I think that was really big.
“Playing with Terry and Henrique, there is something special about playing with these guys, how smart they are and how well they see the ice. Troy is an all-star, back to back, and I’m just trying to give him the puck.”
McTavish rises to the challenge each time he is given more responsibility.
“He runs with it,” said injured defender Jamie Drysdale. “I’m not surprised. He’s literally always last in practice, him and Z. He’s just working on stuff at the end. I’m just glad he finally has a chance at that top line. It wouldn’t surprise me if if he keeps it up.”
It was a night when the Ducks, who have won two games in a row, fought back from a one-goal deficit three times. McTavish had equalized and sent the game into overtime with a shot from the middle of the slot and the Ducks faced a lengthy review after that was the Sharks’ unsuccessful offside challenge.
The game was the first start for Ducks goaltender Anthony Stolarz since he sustained a lower body injury against the Sharks on December 9 after coming on to help starter John Gibson. Stolarz faced 41 shots and improved his career record to 8-1-0 against the Sharks.
Strikers Kevin Lebanc and Timo Meier each scored once for the Sharks and provided an assist. The Ducks’ other goals came from Ryan Strome (10th of the season) and Zegras (No. 11). It was the first goal in 12 games for Zegras, who last scored against the Sharks on December 9.
McTavish’s career night also took place in front of his family. His father and brother have been in town since Christmas, but his mother and grandmother arrived on Thursday, a well-timed arrival.
“It’s always cool to play in front of them and to have such a solid night is definitely something special,” he said. “I said it’s the best league in the world. I grew up watching TV three or four years ago, even last year.”
BLADES 🦆 @johnklingberg make no mistake and bury them @ energizer Overtime winner for the @AnaheimDucks! pic.twitter.com/xxi71l1zDn
— NHL (@NHL) January 7, 2023
🚨 Mac-T Snipe!
We’re tied at four! pic.twitter.com/7FFHCkvX8Y
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) January 7, 2023
Mason McTavish, John Klingberg and Coach Eakins broke up our win tonight. #Fly together pic.twitter.com/JBj8ViDvPw
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) January 7, 2023
🚨Zegras!
He goes to the top of a feed from Klinger. #Fly together pic.twitter.com/I8HRUKPTpw
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) January 7, 2023
This piece was ALL Mason McTavish. 😳
📺: @ESPNPlus ➡️ pic.twitter.com/oSMxL6duCP
— NHL (@NHL) January 7, 2023
🚨Mac-T!!
We’re taking that jump! pic.twitter.com/LOuKXWQ3KN
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) January 7, 2023
https://www.ocregister.com/2023/01/06/mason-mctavish-helps-ducks-rally-past-sharks-in-ot/ Mason McTavish helps Ducks fight past Sharks in OT – Orange County Register