Leo Carlsson, rookie Beckett Sennecke lead first-place Ducks' 7-1 rout of road-weary Blackhawks

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Leo Carlsson scored two goals and rookie Beckett Sennecke had a goal and an assist in the Anaheim Ducks' 7-1 victory over the road-weary Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night.

Jacob Trouba, Mason McTavish, Alex Killorn and Frank Vatrano also scored for the Pacific Division-leading Ducks, who have won three of four. Anaheim took charge with a four-goal second period that featured a franchise-record 27 shots on Chicago's net, capped by Carlsson's 15th goal on a fluttering deflection for a 5-0 lead.

Ville Husso made 19 saves for the Ducks, who beat Chicago for the first time in three tries this season. Ryan Strome, Cutter Gauthier and Chris Kreider had two assists apiece.

Arvid Söderblom stopped 46 shots — 39 in the first two periods — in a standout effort for the struggling Blackhawks, who will be eager to get out of Southern California after losing 6-0 at Los Angeles on Saturday. Tyler Bertuzzi scored for Chicago, which has lost eight of 10 after a 10-5-4 start to the season.

Connor Bedard had an assist for his 40th point in 29 games. Carlsson, drafted one pick after Bedard in 2023, has 38 points in 29 games.

Trouba opened the scoring in the first period with an undefended slap shot after an egregious Blackhawks turnover. The veteran defenseman has five goals in his last 23 games — which is more than he scored in his previous 165 games over parts of four seasons with the Rangers and Ducks.

Sennecke set up McTavish's power-play goal to open the second period before scoring his eighth goal on a beautiful dangle. The 19-year-old forward — who wasn't a sure thing to make the Ducks' roster in October — has played his way into the Calder Trophy race with nine goals and 15 assists in his first 29 games.

Anaheim’s 27 shots in the second surpassed the club record set Jan. 1, 1994.

Chicago avoided a second straight shutout with Bertuzzi's goal on a power play moments later. Bertuzzi has scored 12 of his 15 goals on the road.

Blackhawks: Host New York Rangers on Wednesday.

Ducks: At Pittsburgh on Tuesday to open a five-game trip.

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

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Arvid Soderblom (40) watches as the Anaheim Ducks score during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Anaheim Ducks left wing Cutter Gauthier (61), center Mason McTavish (23), right wing Beckett Sennecke (45), and defenseman Olen Zellweger (51) celebrate after scoring against the Chicago Blackhawks during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Louis Crevier (46) defends the puck against the Anaheim Ducks during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Anaheim Ducks right wing Beckett Sennecke (45) reacts after scoring against the Chicago Blackhawks during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson (91) controls the puck against the Chicago Blackhawks during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Tuesday commuted the death sentence of a 75-year-old inmate who was set to be executed this week even though he was not in the building when the victim was killed.

Ivey reduced Charles “Sonny” Burton’s sentence to life in prison without possibility of parole, marking just the second time the Republican governor has granted clemency of a death row inmate since taking office in 2017.

Burton was sentenced to death for the 1991 shooting death of a customer, Doug Battle, during a store robbery. However, another man, Derrick DeBruce, shot Battle after Burton had left the building. DeBruce's death sentence was later reduced on appeal to life in prison.

Ivey, who has presided over 25 executions, said she firmly believes in the death penalty as "just punishment for society’s most heinous offenders," but said it also must be administered fairly and proportionately.

“I cannot proceed in good conscience with the execution of Mr. Burton under such disparate circumstances. I believe it would be unjust for one participant in this crime to be executed while the participant who pulled the trigger was not,” Ivey said in a statement.

Burton was scheduled to be executed Thursday night by nitrogen gas.

Battle was shot in the back during an Aug. 16, 1991, robbery of an AutoZone auto parts store in Talladega. Court testimony indicated that DeBruce shot Battle after Burton and other robbers had left the store. Battle had entered the store as the robbery was winding down and exchanged words with DeBruce.

Burton’s supporters and family members had urged Ivey to consider clemency for the inmate, who is sometimes confined to a wheelchair. Multiple jurors from Burton’s 1992 trial were among those urging his life be spared. Battle’s daughter sent a letter to Ivey urging clemency, asking “how does it legally make sense” to execute Burton.

Members of Burton's legal team cheered when they received the news Tuesday.

“I’m just so happy, so happy. It’s just tears of joy,” Burton’s daughter, Lois Harris, said through sobs during a telephone interview. Harris said she wants to thank Ivey for her decision.

But Attorney General Steve Marshall slammed Ivey's decision, saying “There has never been any doubt that Sonny Burton has Douglas Battle’s blood on his hands.”

Burton organized the armed robbery and “held a gun to the store manager’s head” before dividing up the proceeds, Marshall said in a statement.

Burton told The Associated Press last month that no one was supposed to be injured in the robbery and that he didn't know until later that DeBruce had shot anyone.

“I didn’t know anything about nobody getting hurt until we were on the way back. No, nobody supposed to get hurt,” Burton said in a telephone interview from Alabama’s Holman Correctional Facility

Burton said he wants to apologize to Battle’s family. “I’m so sorry. If I had the power to bring him back, I would. I’m so sorry,” Burton said.

People gather outside the Alabama Governor's Mansion in Montgomery, Ala., on Feb. 16, 2026, to urge Gov. Kay Ivey to grant clemency to Sonny Burton, who is scheduled to be executed on March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Kim Chandler)