Canucks Come Up Late in Close Bout

The Vancouver Canucks beat the Anaheim Ducks in a tight 3-2 matchup Sunday.

Dakota Joshua led the way with Vancouver with his two goals. Brock Boeser added a goal as well. J.T. Miller added assists 58 and 59 on the season. 

For Anaheim Owen Zellweger scored his first career goal. Mason McTavish would add a goal as well. Trevor Zegras also scored his first point since he was injured on January 9th with an assist.

Much like their last bout on the 3rd the Ducks closed out March with another close game with the Pacific’s top dog. 

Anaheim would struggle with penalties yet again early on. A Ben Myers delay of game penalty quickly turned into a goal for the Canucks. With just mere seconds left on their power play Quinn Hughes would find Brock Boeser down low in the slot where his backhand shot would beat the right pad of Anaheim goalie Lukas Dostal for the period’s lone goal.

Then in the second more Anaheim penalties would lead to Vancouver offense. With 10:26 left in the period Dakota Joshua would score his first goal of the night. Joshua found himself right in front of goalie Lukas Dostal who he would deke out and then bury a between the legs with a possible goal of the year nominee. 

Vancouver would head to the locker room after two periods with a 2-0 lead.

The third period would see a good bit of action. 

First, 3:27 into the period, Owen Zellweger would sling a quick wrister from halfway in the zone past Vancouver’s Arturs Silovs to make things 2-1. Isac Lundestrom and Frank Vatrano added assists. Vatrano now has 53 points on the year.

Shortly after at 4:48 Gustav Lindstrom would wrap around the net after an Anaheim rush, then pass it off to Mason McTavish who would tie things up at two. 

Vancouver would get the final laugh with 2:13 left in the game. The Canucks were able to set up their offense in the Ducks’ zone after Anaheim failed to field a dump in from Vancouver. Connor Garland would work his way behind the net. Then he would fire the puck to a wide open Dakota Joshua who was uncovered in front of the net. 

Joshua’s second goal would be the dagger making things 3-2.

Arurs Silovs who was making his first start of his career got the win for Vancouver. Vancouver also clinched a playoff spot yesterday. 

As for Anaheim they have won just six games since the All-Star break. They have lost five games in a row, and have won just two of their last 15 games. 

The Ducks have struggled hard to stay out of the box and continue to add to their NHL worst PIM ranking. The penalty kill unit is also 25th in the league.

Anaheim can try to turn things around Tuesday when they face the Flames. You can catch puck drop at 9:00 P.M EDT 6:00 P.M. PDT on BSSD, BSSC and NHL PowerPlay on ESPN+.

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Featured image via NHL.com