Ducks players and fans celebrate after Leo Carlsson scored the game-winning overtime goal during their home opener against the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday night at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Utahs Barrett Hayton (27) scores past Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal (1) during the first period of the Ducks home opener on Wednesday night at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Utah Hockey Club center Barrett Hayton (27) scores past Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal, right, during the first period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
From left, the Utah Hockey Clubs Mikhail Sergachev, Dylan Guenther and Nick Schmaltz congratulate Barrett Hayton after his goal during the first period of their game against the Ducks on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Ducks center Ryan Strome (16) reacts to a goal by right wing Troy Terry (19) during the first period of their home opener against the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Ducks players celebrate a goal during their home opener against the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday night at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Ducks’ Radko Gudas, left, controls the puck in front of Utahs Michael Carcone during the Ducks home opener on Wednesday night at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks right wing Troy Terry, left, and Utah Hockey Club defenseman Mikhail Sergachev vie for the puck during the first period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
The Ducks’ Olen Zellweger (51) and Utahs Alex Kerfoot, left, pursue the puck during the Ducks home opener on Wednesday night at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks right wing Brett Leason, left, and Utah Hockey Club defenseman Juuso Valimaki vie for the puck during the first period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
The Ducks Tristan Luneau, left, and goaltender Lukas Dostal, right, defend against Utahs Jack McBain as he scores on a deflection during the first period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Utahs Jack McBain celebrates after scoring a goal on a deflection as Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal, right, looks on during the first period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Utah Hockey Club center Jack McBain, right, celebrates his goal during the first period of their game against the Ducks on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Utah Hockey Club center Jack McBain celebrates his goal as he skates past the bench during the first period of their game against the Ducks on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
The Ducks’ Olen Zellweger (51) and Utahs Kevin Stenlund (82) and Michael Carcone (53) chase the puck during the Ducks home opener on Wednesday night at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Utahs Josh Doan, left, battles the Ducks Isac Lundestrom for a loose puck during the first period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Ducks celebrate a goal during their home opener against the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday night at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Ducks Troy Terry is congratulated at the bench after scoring a goal during the first period of their game against the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Mason McTavish, left, controls the puck ahead of Utah’s Juuso Valimaki during the Ducks home opener on Wednesday night at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Utahs Nick Schmaltz, right, defends against the Ducks Olen Zellweger during the first period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal, right, defends his net as teammate Tristan Luneau, center, cross checks Utahs Michael Carcone, left, during the first period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Tristan Luneau, right, and Utahs Logan Cooley (92) battle for the puck during the Ducks home opener on Wednesday night at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Utah goaltender Connor Ingram, right, defends against the Ducks Mason McTavish during the second period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Olen Zellweger, front, breaks his stick as he chases after the puck with Utahs Logan Cooley during the Ducks home opener on Wednesday night at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Utahs Ian Cole, left, and goaltender Connor Ingram, right, defend against the Ducks Frank Vatrano (77) during the second period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Olen Zellweger, left, and Utahs Lawson Crouse chase after the puck during the Ducks home opener on Wednesday night at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks center Robby Fabbri, right, celebrates his goal with center Trevor Zegras (11) during the second period of their game against the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
The Ducks Olen Zellweger, left, Trevor Zegras (11) and Mason McTavish (23) congratulate Robby Fabbri (13) after his goal during the second period of their game against the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Utah goaltender Connor Ingram, right, and teammate Ian Cole, center, defend against the Ducks Mason McTavish during the second period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Radko Gudas, front, and Utahs Barrett Hayton (27) battle for the puck during the Ducks home opener on Wednesday night at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks defenseman Pavel Mintyukov, right, celebrates after scoring a goal during the second period of their game against the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
The Ducks Mason McTavish (23), Brian Dumoulin (6) and Robby Fabbri (13) congratulate Pavel Mintyukov (34) after his goal during the second period of their game against the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Ducks Mason McTavish (23), Brian Dumoulin (6) and Robby Fabbri (13) congratulate Pavel Mintyukov (34) after his goal during the second period of their game against the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Utah’s Jack McBain (22), Barrett Hayton (27) and Josh Doan (91) celebrate a goal during their game against the Ducks on Wednesday night at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Utah Hockey Club goaltender Connor Ingram, center, blocks a shot by Ducks right wing Troy Terry, right, during the second period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Ducks center Mason McTavish (23) lands on Utah Hockey Club goaltender Connor Ingram during the second period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Utahs Nick Schmaltz, center, battles the Ducks’ Brett Leason, left, and Brock McGinn during the Ducks home opener on Wednesday night at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Utah Hockey Club center Logan Cooley (92) battles for the puck against Ducks defensemen Cam Fowler (4) and Tristan Luneau (67) during the second period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Utah goalie Connor Ingram, right, blocks a shot from the Ducks’ Mason McTavish (23) during the Ducks home opener on Wednesday night at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Utah’s Barrett Hayton (27), Nick Schmaltz (8), Clayton Keller (9) and Mikhail Sergachev (98) celebrate a goal during their game against the Ducks on Wednesday night at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Ducks Brock McGinn, left, and Radko Gudas (7) scramble for a loose puck during the third period of their game against the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Ducks Tristan Luneau (67), Trevor Zegras (11) and goaltender Lukas Dostal defend against a shot on goal during the third period of their game against the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Utah Hockey Clubs Michael Kesselring celebrates after scoring a goal during the third period of their game against the Ducks on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Utah defenseman Michael Kesselring celebrates his goal with the bench during the third period of their game against the Ducks on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
The Ducks’ Radko Gudas (7) and Utahs Josh Doan get in a fight as an official tries to intervene during the Ducks home opener on Wednesday night at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Officials separate the Ducks Radko Gudas, right, and Utahs Josh Doan (91) after a fight during the third period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Utah Hockey Club defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok, left, and Ducks center Trevor Zegras vie for the puck during the third period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Utah Hockey Club center Clayton Keller (9) celebrates his goal with defenseman Michael Kesselring (7) during the third period of their game against the Ducks on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
The Ducks’ Mason McTavish, left, and Utah’s Michael Kesselring chase the puck during the Ducks home opener on Wednesday night at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Ducks’ Mason McTavish (23) battles Utahs Barrett Hayton (27) and Juuso Valimaki (4) for the puck during the Ducks home opener on Wednesday night at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Utah Hockey Club center Nick Schmaltz, left, reaches to block a shot by Ducks center Trevor Zegras during the third period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
The Ducks’ Brian Dumoulin, left, and Isac Lundestrom, top, chase the puck along with Utahs Nick Schmaltz during the Ducks home opener on Wednesday night at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks defenseman Pavel Mintyukov (34) shoots for a goal during the third period of their game against the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Ducks defenseman Pavel Mintyukov, right, celebrates his goal with left wing Alex Killorn during the third period of their game against the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
The Ducks Pavel Mintyukov is congratulated at the bench after scoring a game-tying goal during the third period of their game against the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Ducks center Mason McTavish, right, and Utah center Jack McBain, left, vie for the puck during the third period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Ducks center Isac Lundestrom, left, exits the game with head athletic trainer Chad Walker as goaltender Lukas Dostal looks on during the third period of their game against the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
The Ducks Brock McGinn, right, and Pavel Mintyukov, left, defend against Utahs Nick Schmaltz during the third period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Ducks Leo Carlsson controls the puck during the third period of their game against the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Ducks defenseman Pavel Mintyukov (34) blocks a shot by Utah Hockey Club center Clayton Keller (9) during overtime on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
The Ducks Leo Carlsson, left, scores the game-winning overtime goal past Utah goaltender Connor Ingram in their 5-4 victory on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Ducks Leo Carlsson, left, scores the game-winning overtime goal past Utah goaltender Connor Ingram in their 5-4 victory on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Leo Carlsson, left, scores the game-winning goal past Utah HC goaltender Connor Ingram 54 seconds into overtime to give his team a 5-4 victory in the home opener on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks center Leo Carlsson celebrates his game-winning overtime goal against the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Ducks center Leo Carlsson, left, celebrates his game-winning overtime goal against the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
The Ducks Pavel Mintyukov, left, and Troy Terry, center, congratulate Leo Carlsson, right, after his game-winning overtime goal in their 5-4 victory over the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Ducks Brock McGinn (26), Pavel Mintyukov (34) and Troy Terry (19) congratulate Leo Carlsson, far right, after his game-winning overtime goal in their 5-4 victory over the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Ducks players mob teammate Leo Carlsson (91) after his game-winning overtime goal in their 5-4 victory over the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Ducks players swarm teammate Leo Carlsson after his game-winning overtime goal in their 5-4 victory over the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ new pregame on-ice projection system is shown off before the start of the teams home opener against the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday night at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Ducks’ new pregame on-ice projection system is shown off before the start of the teams home opener against the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday night at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The 21st Duck, Emma Melin, skates on to the ice with Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal (1) before the start of the teams home opener against the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday night at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The 21st Duck, Emma Melin, skates on to the ice with Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal (1) before the start of the teams home opener against the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday night at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The 21st Duck, Emma Melin, waves to the crowd after skating on to the ice with Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal (1) before the start of the teams home opener against the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday night at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks left wing Cutter Gauthier enters the rink before their home opener against the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
The Ducks’ new pregame on-ice projection system is shown off before the start of the teams home opener against the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday night at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA OCTOBER 16: A general view of Honda Center during opening ceremonies for the Anaheim Ducks home opener against the Utah Hockey Club at Honda Center on October 16, 2024 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ new pregame on-ice projection system is shown off before the start of the teams home opener against the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday night at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA OCTOBER 16: A general view of Honda Center during opening ceremonies for the Anaheim Ducks home opener against the Utah Hockey Club at Honda Center on October 16, 2024 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA OCTOBER 16: A general view of Honda Center during opening ceremonies for the Anaheim Ducks home opener against the Utah Hockey Club at Honda Center on October 16, 2024 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Ducks left wing Cutter Gauthier warms up before their game against the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Show Caption1 of 81Ducks players and fans celebrate after Leo Carlsson scored the game-winning overtime goal during their home opener against the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday night at the Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
ExpandANAHEIM — The Ducks turned in an exhilarating home opener that featured five lead changes as they triumphed over Utah HC, 5-4, in overtime on Wednesday night at Honda Center.
The second line sparkled, a pair of new additions registered their first points as Ducks and a young defenseman spearheaded the attack for the host before Leo Carlsson, who also had an assist, won the game 54 seconds into overtime with a Herculean shift.
“It was the Leo Carlsson show in overtime. He’s just a special player when he gets going, and he’s a lot of fun to watch,” forward Trevor Zegras said.
Pavel Mintyukov scored twice in his first career multi-goal game. Robby Fabbri and Troy Terry each scored a goal, with Mason McTavish chipping in two assists as the Ducks won their ninth consecutive home opener. Lukáš Dostál repelled 26 shots.
Jack McBain, Barrett Hayton, Michael Kesselring and Clayton Keller all scored for Utah. McBain added an assist while Nick Schmaltz contributed two. Connor Ingram had 29 saves.
It was a long day of festivities at the arena, where a sellout crowd helped buoy the Ducks in a back-and-forth affair.
“It was amazing. Our fans are awesome. We got to do the orange carpet when we walked in, and felt the excitement. We felt the love from the fans the whole night,” Zegras said. “Another reason we felt so good down a goal was that the fans were keeping us in it the whole night.”
Carlsson dominated his shift in overtime, settling the puck and nearly setting up the winner, then recovering it on the forecheck to glide into the slot for a silky forehand-to-backhand-to-forehand goal, unassisted, for the decisive goal.
With 5:05 showing on the regulation clock, the Ducks made it a new game as Mintyukov’s second goal of the night entered the net after his sharp-angle, close-range bid handcuffed Ingram. It struck him at least twice before slipping behind him.
Utah earned its second advantage of the night with 9:10 to play in the game when Schmaltz set up Utah’s captain, Keller, for a backhand goal. Earlier in the period, Schmaltz delivered a high hit to Isac Lundeström that sent him back to the dressing room for attention.
Five-and-a-half minutes earlier, an issue from early in last season reared its head again when after a stretched-out Ducks power play that included some two-man advantage time and a hit post, a sloppy line change led to a three-on-two rush that culminated in Schmaltz feeding Kesselring for tying goal from the high slot.
“They score shortly after [the power play] and it’s even, that’s one of those deflating goals, then they score again a couple minutes later,” Ducks coach Greg Cronin said. “It’s a huge character win, there’s a lot of teams who would have folded at that point.”
The Ducks had reclaimed the lead in similar fashion, by scoring both of the second period’s goals.
Fabbri and McTavish, who factored into both goals, went to work with Fabbri initiating a battle that McTavish won, working along the wall and switching positions with Mintyukov. McTavish dished to Brian Dumoulin, who found Mintyukov at the left faceoff dot from a searing shot with 3:08 left in the period.
“He’s a great offensive defenseman, he’s joining the rush a lot, which is great,” Carlsson said of Mintyukov, who credited Dumoulin’s poise on breakouts with giving him freedom to roam.
Dumoulin’s assist was his first point as a Duck and another arrival via trade in July, Fabbri, picked up his own first point in orange when he netted the equalizer 8:06 into the middle period.
After McTavish’s initial foray to the goal crease was disrupted by contact from defenseman Ian Cole, McTavish and Zegras played catch below the goal line before Zegras slipped a pass between Cole’s legs and past winger Lawson Crouse that found Fabbri in front. He went from forehand to backhand and lifted the puck over Ingram to knot the score at two and give Zegras his 100th career assist.
Wednesday’s opening salvo was played at a break-neck pace and while the Ducks narrowly out-shot Utah, they trailed 2-1 after a pair of unanswered goals by the visitors.
Utah struck at even strength at the 8:54 mark when McBain tipped trade acquisition Mikhail Sergachev’s shot by Dostál and again at 13:25 when Hayton’s power-play putback wrapped up a sequence during which Schmaltz took the puck to the net aggressively.
After buzzing off the opening faceoff, the Ducks had opened the scoring 4:40 into the contest with a rush goal. Frank Vatrano found a trailing Ryan Strome who danced directly between the hash marks, eschewing a prime shooting opportunity for a lateral pass to Terry, who whizzed a one-timer past Ingram for his second goal in the past two games.
The Ducks had to, at times, beat Utah at its own game, and they’ll have to play at a similarly high tempo and at high altitude when they visit the tenacious Colorado Avalanche on Friday night.
“As much as we could, we tried to not play a track meet, but they’re so young, skilled and fast that we kind of just had to respect their speed, stay to the inside and play tough,” Zegras said.
The Ducks, who have missed the playoffs a franchise-record six straight seasons, haven’t lost a home opener since 2016, and they’ve earned a point in 12 straight.