TORONTO — Playing their third game in four nights, the Ducks found themselves on the wrong end of another one-goal game.
Max Pacioretty had two goals and an assist and the Toronto Maple Leafs handed the Ducks their fifth cosecutive loss, 3-2, on Thursday night.
William Nylander also scored and John Tavares had two assists for Toronto, which has won two straight. Former Duck Anthony Stolalrz started in goal and stopped seven of eight shots for the Leafs before leaving with a lower-body injury. Joseph Woll took over to start the second period and had 19 saves.
Jackson LaCombe had a goal and an assist for the Ducks. Frank Vatrano also scored, Ryan Strome had two assists and Lukas Dostal finished with 30 saves.
Pacioretty scored at 6:57 of the first period on a 7-foot backhand, Tavares setting him up with a deft, no-look, backhand pass.
Nylander batted in a fluttering puck after Pacioretty’s pass for his 18th goal of the season at 14:17 and the Ducks were in a 2-0 hole.
Vatrano scored on a power play at 15:56 on a shot from the sideboards through traffic that went in off the post and left Stolarz shaking out his right leg. LaCombe made the final pass from the left point. Simon Benoit was serving a holding penalty.
The Ducks’ Mason McTavish cruised down the wing on a partial breakaway with 1:43 left in the first period, but Stolarz kept his team in front with an arm save.
Pacioretty tipped in Conor Timmins’ point shot for his fourth goal of the season for a 3-1 lead at 12:54 of the second period.
LaCombe answered 65 seconds later on a 34-footer from the slot on a pass from Strome.
Toronto star Auston Matthews hit the goal post with a 7-foot shot at 9:25 of the third period, and the Ducks’ Alex Killorn was left alone 9 feet in front of the goal but could not control the puck at 11:41 of the period.
The Ducks were not able to remove Dostal for an extra attacker until there was one minute left.
The Maple Leafs scored first for only the 14th time in 29 outings. They have the league’s best win percentage when scoring first at .893 (12-1-1).
The Ducks surprisingly activated forward Robby Fabbri from injured reserve less than four weeks after he had arthroscopic knee surgery (Nov. 15). He was expected to miss six to eight weeks. He had no points. … Forward Sam Colangelo was sent to the Ducks’ AHL affiliate in San Diego.
The Ducks visit Columbus on Saturday at 4 p.m. PT.
