Vatrano scores twice in Ducks win against Sharks

ANAHEIM -- Frank Vatrano had two goals and an assist for the Anaheim Ducks in a 4-1 win against the San Jose Sharks at Honda Center on Sunday.

Mason McTavish and Radko Gudas scored, Ryan Strome had two assists, and John Gibson made 25 saves for the Ducks (8-6-0), who had lost two in a row following a six-game winning streak.

"We were committed for the full 60 minutes," Vatrano said. "I think we played a simple game. We got in on the forecheck, limited turnovers and just played a good team game."

Luke Kunin scored, and Mackenzie Blackwood made 40 saves for the Sharks (2-12-1), who have lost two in a row (outscored 9-1) following a two-game winning streak.

"I don't think we played bad," San Jose forward Tomas Hertl said. "We were right there the whole game, a pretty good start. I think the special teams have to be better, especially the power play. We have to change momentum, we have to score some goals."

Vatrano gave the Ducks a 1-0 lead at 4:49 of the first period, redirecting Ilya Lyubushkin's point shot five-hole on Blackwood. It was his 10th goal of the season.

"When we're breaking the puck out and we're going up the ice as a group, I think that's when we're creating our offense," Vatrano said.

Kunin tied it 1-1 at 13:05. Gibson stopped Hertl's initial backhand in front, but Kunin batted the rebound into the net from the edge of the crease.

Kunin said he's been benefitting from playing on the same line as Hertl and William Eklund.

"Those guys are obviously great players, create a lot of offense," Kunin said. "Just trying to get to the net, create space for them."

Vatrano responded for Anaheim to make it 2-1 at 18:22 of the first, scoring with a one-timer from the top of the right circle on a power play.

"Frankie is an easy guy to coach because he's a high-energy guy. He's got a very high standard for self-accountability, so when you're trying to coach players to a level they're not comfortable playing at, he's an easy guy to push himself to those zones," Ducks coach Greg Cronin said. "Frankie's DNA is to play at that level all the time."

McTavish pushed it to 3-1 at 1:52 of the third. He scored from in front off a feed from Leo Carlsson during a 4-on-3 power play.

Defenseman Pavel Mintyukov had the secondary assist on the play. He has 10 points (one goal, nine assists) in 14 games this season, which is third among NHL rookies.

"It's fun to watch them," Cronin said of McTavish, Carlsson and Mintyukov. "[McTavish] is getting better every game. He's a real student of the game. He's always trying to find ways to get better, and (Mintyukov) is just a quiet guy that contributes every night. He's stronger than most people think defensively, so those three guys are great cornerstones for the organization."

Gudas made it 4-1 at 2:41 when his slap shot deflected high in the air off the stick of Mike Hoffman, fluttered over a jumping Marc-Edouard Vlasic, and landed behind Blackwood, who had lost sight of the puck.

"It's kind of tough because that was probably the killer for us," Hertl said. "Sometimes the goals come in like that, but if you don't shoot you never know. ... We  have to put more pucks on the net, too, so we can get some bounces."

San Jose was 0-for-2 on the power play. Anaheim was 2-for-5.

"Our power play has got to be better," San Jose coach David Quinn said. "I thought for a stretch we were playing at the tempo and the pace that we wanted to, and then they get the power-play goal late in the first to make it 2-1, and then we get our power plays and it really deflated us."

NOTES: The Sharks have been outshot in every game this season. ... Sharks forward Anthony Duclair missed his second straight game with an illness. ... Ducks forward Trevor Zegras missed his second consecutive game with a lower-body injury. ... Anaheim is 15-for-15 on the penalty kill in its past five games. ... Vatrano has three multigoal games this season, including two hat tricks.