Fowler's two assists lead Blues past Ducks in return to Honda Center

ANAHEIM, Calif. – On a night where the Anaheim Ducks honored one their longest-tenured players in his return to Honda Center, prodigal son Cam Fowler led the charge to take down his former club on Friday night.

Fowler registered two assists, and the St. Louis Blues held off a late Ducks charge to emerge with a crucial two points, 4-3, as both teams continue to battle for the final wild card spot in the Western Conference.

St. Louis (31-27-6, 68 points) stuck within one point of the last playoff spot in the West. Anaheim (27-28-7, 61 points) fell eight points behind Vancouver (29-22-11, 69 points) for that final slot with 20 games to play.

“It's an urgent group,” Ducks forward Sam Colangelo said. “I don't think it was a lack of effort. I think it was a bit of a disconnected game kind of all around for both teams, and they're fortunate enough to capitalize on their bounces. Urgent group that we have in here, and I know we won't quit.”

Colangelo scored a goal for a third consecutive game, and Frank Vatrano and Alex Killorn put in the late markers. Lukáš Dostál made 18 saves.

After 991 games in a Ducks sweater–second-most in team history–Fowler made his return to Anaheim following a trade in December. Fowler, who earned a video tribute and raucous standing ovation in the first period, picked up a secondary assist on St. Louis’ third goal, and sprung the breakaway third-goal with a primary assist.

“A lot of emotion, obviously,” Fowler said. “I just wanted to make sure I embraced everything, just took it all in as best as I could, but I appreciate all the support that everyone gave me. It was a big two points for our team, too, so I tried to focus on that as much as I could once all the emotion all kind of settled down.”

Fowler received gifts from Ducks owners Henry and Susan Samueli before the game and entertained visits from Ducks legends and former teammates Ryan Getzlaf and Scott Niedermayer.

“It was amazing,” Fowler said of the pre-game reception. “I mean, Getzy is a true, dear friend of mine, so for him to take the time to come in and support me meant the world to me. I can’t say enough about Henry and Susan, the whole organization and just making me feel welcomed and special in my return. So very grateful to everybody for making it a pretty special night for me.”

The Ducks look to keep pace in the Western wild card race hosting the New York Islanders on Sunday. The Islanders (28-26-7, 63 points) are four points out of the Eastern Conference wild card.

“It just starts with one game at a time,” Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe said. “We're not gonna put any pressure on ourselves to feel that anymore than we do right now, but obviously we gotta know how important these games are, and we just go from there.”

St. Louis got on the board early with help from the former Ducks defenseman.

Fowler picked up an assist, as Alexey Toropchenko ripped a shot that squeaked through Dostál’s arm and body for a lead just over two minutes in, 1-0.

Anaheim came up empty on an eighth straight power play midway through the period, but the luck finally turned five minutes later.

After the Blues took their second delay of game penalty for a puck over the glass, Jackson LaCombe lofted a shot that barely grazed off the glove of Sam Colangelo and in to tie the game, 1-1.

Colangelo scored a goal for the third straight game, and it was the Ducks’ first power play goal in five games. Anaheim has three power play goals in its last 29 man-advantages.

“I'm a pretty big guy,” Colangelo said. “Just try to get to the front of the net and find ways to score. I think I have a pretty good shot, but if I can find any way to score, I'll take it in this league. It’s a hard league to score in, and ultimately, I just wish we could've got the win there.”

St. Louis pounced on a miscue midway through the second period, as Radko Gudas couldn’t handle a pass from the boards back into Anaheim’s slot. The puck deflected to the boards, and while Gudas stumbled in chase, Jordan Kyrou fed Dylan Holloway in the middle, who in turn fed Brayden Schenn at the far post.

The Ducks couldn’t fill back in quick enough following the turnover, and Schenn finished to retake the lead, 2-1.

“There were just some really strange bounces,” Ducks coach Greg Cronin said. “Their second goal, we had it. We had full possession, and we lost it. We were all heading out for a breakout thinking it was a clean exit, and then all of a sudden three seconds later, it's in the back of our net. 
It was like that type of night. It was just strange.”

Anaheim couldn’t score on either of its second period power plays, generating just one shot.

Fowler picked up his second assist of the night, as the Blues jumped ahead by two early in the third period.

Fowler threaded a pass to Zack Bolduc in stride, which allowed Bolduc to split the defensive pair of Pavel Mintyukov and Jacob Trouba. Bolduc, then in alone, trickled a shot through Dostál and over the line, 3-1.

The third period became a grind, where the Ducks were simply unable to generate shots on goal. Frank Vatrano gave Anaheim a short-lived spurt of energy late in the third period.

Troy Terry seemingly passed up a golden shot attempt and held into the slot, where he backhand flipped it to Frank Vatrano charging into the zone. Vatrano buried it high blocker to cut the lead back to one, 3-2.

St. Louis would seemingly ice it on the next shift, however, as Schenn found the empty net, 4-2.

The Ducks continued to push forward with their late life, as Alex Killorn put home a Terry feed on top of the crease to cut the deficit again to one goal, 4-3, with 42 seconds left.

Anaheim got one last surge and piled into the crease in the dying seconds. Mason McTavish thought he put the game-tying goal over the line, but the horn had sounded well before the puck crossed the line. Despite the review, the game was over.

Game Notes:

• Ducks forward Ross Johnston and newly acquired defenseman Oliver Kylington were the healthy scratches for Anaheim.

• Goaltender John Gibson remained out with a lower-body injury. Anaheim recalled Ville Husso from San Diego to back-up Lukáš Dostál. Husso was acquired from the Detroit organization last week.

• Sam Colangelo was quickly sent up and down to AHL in a paper transaction before the NHL trade deadline to make sure Colangelo would be eligible for the AHL playoff roster, if San Diego qualifies in the race for the Calder Cup. The Gulls are seven points behind the Tucson Roadrunners (Utah affiliate) for the last Pacific Division playoff spot.