The Vancouver Canucks blew 2-0 and 3-1 leads, but a late goal and an empty-netter in the third period ended up being the difference, as they beat the Pacific Division-leading Anaheim Ducks 5-4 on Wednesday night. The Canucks snapped a three-game losing streak and improved to 10-12-2, while the Ducks fell to 14-8-1.
Linus Karlsson, Evander Kane, Conor Garland, Max Sasson and Drew O’Connor scored for the Canucks. Rookie Tom Willander had his first two-point night in the NHL, with two assists. Nikita Tolopilo, in his first start of the season, made 37 saves.
Jackson LaCombe, Leo Carlsson, Mason McTavish, and Cutter Gauthier scored for the Ducks. Petr Mrazek made 23 saves.
Game Recap
The Canucks opened the scoring at 9:49 of the first period with Karlsson’s fourth of the season. After Marcus Pettersson fired a slapshot wide, he took the rebound off the boards and deposited it behind Mrazek. Then, a couple minutes later at 11:47, Kane doubled the lead to 2-0 on the power play, snapping a wrist shot glove side on Mrazek for his fourth, as well. The rest of the period was back-and-forth with very few stoppages, including an over six-minute stretch without a whistle.