Gibson stops 42 shots as the Ducks beat the Kraken 5-2

SEATTLE (AP) — John Gibson made a season-high 42 saves and Alex Killorn scored the tiebreaking goal midway through the second period as the Anaheim Ducks defeated the Seattle Kraken 5-2 on Wednesday night.

Killorn, Cutter Gauthier and Trevor Zegras each had a goal and an assist for the Ducks, who had dropped eight straight against Seattle. They rebounded from a 3-2 loss to the Kraken at home Monday night.

Frank Vatrano and Brett Leason scored in the first period for Anaheim.

Seattle erased the 2-0 deficit on goals from Eeli Tolvanen at 16:34 of the first and Oliver Bjorkstrand at 8:58 of the second. Joey Daccord stopped 28 shots.

Killorn put the Ducks ahead for good with a wrist shot at 10:02 of the second after Mason McTavish got the puck along the boards and Zegras found an open Killorn.

Gauthier made it 4-2 with a power-play goal at 19:23, and Killorn assisted on Zegras' goal at 13:55 of the third.

Ducks: Gibson stopped a short-handed breakaway in the third period and improved to 4-0 this season.

Kraken: Seattle had trouble connecting on passes in the offensive zone.

After the Kraken tied it 2-all, the Ducks won the ensuing faceoff and began dominating possession again until Killorn scored the go-ahead goal 64 seconds later.

Anaheim finished with a 34-21 advantage in hits during a game that got chippy late.

Anaheim returns home for a Friday matinee against the Los Angeles Kings.

Seattle begins a home-and-home against the Sharks on Friday afternoon in San Jose.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL

Seattle Kraken forward Eeli Tolvanen is congratulated by teammates on the bench after scoring a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Anaheim Ducks forward Brett Leason, right, scores a goal on a shot against Seattle Kraken defenseman Joshua Mahura during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Anaheim Ducks forward Ryan Strome, right, defenseman Jackson LaCombe, second from right, forward Frank Vatrano, second from left, and defenseman Olen Zellweger celebrate a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Seattle Kraken, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Anaheim Ducks forward Brett Leason, right, shoots the puck against Seattle Kraken goalie Joey Daccord during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Anaheim Ducks, from left, defenseman Pavel Mintyukov, forward Mason McTavish and forward Alex Killorn celebrate a gold during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Seattle Kraken, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Anaheim Ducks forward Sam Colangelo, left, passes the puck against Seattle Kraken forward Eeli Tolvanen during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Anaheim Ducks forward Brett Leason, center, is congratulated by forward Isac Lundestrom, left, and forward Cutter Gauthier after scoring a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game Seattle Kraken, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Seattle Kraken forward Andre Burakovsky takes a shot against Anaheim Ducks defenseman Pavel Mintyukov during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas, left, and Seattle Kraken forward Eeli Tolvanen battle for puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Players from the Seattle Kraken and Anaheim Ducks scuffle during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Seattle. The Ducks won 5-2. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Anaheim Ducks forward Frank Vatrano (77) and forward Andre Burakovsky battle for puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Anaheim Ducks forward Cutter Gauthier is congratulated by teammates on the bench after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Seattle Kraken, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Anaheim Ducks, from left, forward Alex Killorn, forward Trevor Zegras, forward Mason McTavish and defenseman Olen Zellweger celebrates during an NHL hockey game against the Seattle Kraken, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Seattle. The Ducks won 5-2. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Seattle Kraken forward Jaden Schwartz, left, collides with Anaheim Ducks goalie John Gibson during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Boise State, which twice boycotted regular-season matches with San Jose State, pulled out of the Mountain West women's volleyball tournament Wednesday night even after securing a spot in the semifinals against the Spartans.

San Jose State, which received six forfeit victories because of boycotts from Mountain West opponents, is seeded second in the conference tournament and received a first-round bye. Now the Spartans will advance all the way to Saturday's championship match rather than take the court Friday.

Boise State released a statement that read: “The decision to not continue to play in the 2024 Mountain West Volleyball Championship tournament was not an easy one. Our team overcame forfeitures to earn a spot in the tournament field and fought for the win over Utah State in the first round on Wednesday. They should not have to forgo this opportunity while waiting for a more thoughtful and better system that serves all athletes.”

San Jose State said it would issue a statement Thursday.

Boise State's announcement came hours after the Broncos defeated Utah State 25-19, 18-25, 25-20, 25-23 in the quarterfinals.

Boise State didn't commit immediately after the match to playing San Jose State. What went into its decision to withdraw from the tournament was unclear, whether it was by a team vote or more of a university decision.

The title match likely will go on as scheduled. San Jose State will play either top-seeded Colorado State or No. 5 San Diego State. Both teams played the Spartans this season rather than sit out.

Mountain West members Boise State, Wyoming, Utah State and Nevada as well as Southern Utah canceled games this season against the Spartans. Nevada’s players stated they “refuse to participate in any match that advances injustice against female athletes,” without providing further details.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed an executive order Aug. 28 called the Defending Women’s Sports Act that challenges how Title IX rules are interpreted in that state.

“Biological males – men and boys – have physical differences that give them an unfair advantage when competing with women and girls in athletics,” Little said at the time.

A lawsuit was recently filed in Colorado by players from various schools against the conference and San Jose State officials calling for a Spartans player not to be allowed participation in the tournament, citing unspecified reports asserting there was a transgender player on the San Jose State volleyball team, even naming her.

U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Kato Crews in Denver ruled Monday that the player is allowed to play, and a federal appeals court upheld the decision the following day.

While some media have reported those and other details, neither San Jose State nor the forfeiting teams have confirmed the school has a trans women’s volleyball player. The Associated Press is withholding the player’s name because she has not publicly commented on her gender identity and through school officials has declined an interview request.

Wyoming and Nevada did not qualify for the tournament.

Participation of transgender women in women’s sports is apparently why the five teams canceled their games against San Jose State, and the topic became a hot political topic ahead of the recent election.

AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports

FILE - The San Jose State University Spartans line up for the playing of the national anthem and player introductions for their NCAA Mountain West women's volleyball game against the Colorado State University Rams in Fort Collins, Colo., on Oct. 3, 2024. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP, file)