ANAHEIM, Calif. — In an impressive display of teamwork, the Vancouver Canucks defeated the Anaheim Ducks 5-1 on Tuesday night, with standout performances from Brock Boeser, Danton Heinen, and Kiefer Sherwood, each contributing a goal and an assist. Quinn Hughes also marked a significant career milestone by achieving his 300th assist during the match.
Jake DeBrusk and Elias Pettersson were also on the scoresheet for Vancouver, who has now triumphed in six of their last eight outings. Goaltender Kevin Lankinen stepped up for the Canucks, making 21 saves, while they recorded their sixth consecutive victory over the Ducks.
Anaheim managed to find the net through Olen Zellweger, who scored a power-play goal early in the first period. However, the Ducks have struggled significantly, losing seven out of their last nine games. Lukas Dostal stood in goal for Anaheim, making 31 saves during the contest.
Vancouver’s Thatcher Demko, a 2023-24 Vezina Trophy finalist, has been sidelined this season due to a knee injury sustained late in the previous campaign. He participated in morning skate drills, indicating a potential return to practice later this week.
Takeaways from the game reveal the Canucks’ remarkable turnaround, having earned points in seven of their last eight matches after starting the season with an 0-1-2 record. Hughes continued to dazzle, showcasing skill that allowed Vancouver to outplay Anaheim on both offense and defense. On the other hand, the Ducks remain the lowest-scoring team in the NHL, having scored fewer than three goals for the eighth time in 12 games this season. Zellweger’s goal marked just their sixth power-play conversion.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Boeser and Sherwood found the back of the net just 57 seconds apart in the first period, transforming an early one-goal deficit into a lead the Canucks would not relinquish.
In terms of key statistics, Hughes initially received credit for a goal that was ultimately awarded to Pettersson following a deflection. This change allowed Hughes to reach his notable milestone of 300 assists in only 376 career games, a testament to his exceptional talent.
Looking ahead, the Ducks will host the Minnesota Wild on Friday night, while the Canucks will finish their three-game trip in California with a matchup against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday.