ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Anaheim Ducks continued their impressive form at home on Thursday night by overcoming the Vancouver Canucks with a 5-2 victory, marking their fifth consecutive home win. The Ducks took control during the second period as Frank Vatrano, Cutter Gauthier, and Ryan Strome each found the back of the net.
In the third period, Jackson LaCombe chipped in with a goal during a 4-on-4 play, and Troy Terry sealed the game with a shot into an empty net, contributing to Anaheim’s eighth win in their last 11 matchups. Both Terry and Strome excelled with a goal and two assists each in the game. Meanwhile, Lukas Dostal made 22 saves for the Ducks in their first home appearance in over three weeks.
For the Canucks, Tyler Myers and Pius Suter scored early in the first period, quickly putting Vancouver on the board. But after a strong start, the Canucks struggled to maintain their momentum and allowed five goals without reply, concluding their road trip with a 1-3-0 record. Arturs Silovs made 20 stops in goal for Vancouver.
The game began intensely, with Myers opening the scoring for Vancouver just 3 1/2 minutes after the puck dropped, while Suter followed closely behind, netting his 15th goal amid a flurry of activity. However, Vatrano triggered Anaheim’s comeback with his 18th goal early in the second period, and Gauthier soon leveled the score with his 12th of his rookie season.
LaCombe contributed his 10th goal with just over four minutes left on the clock, steering the game further in Anaheim’s favor.
In terms of takeaways, the Canucks’ victory in Los Angeles the day before quickly dissipated in Anaheim as they endured what became their 26th straight game without winning after trailing after two periods. On the other hand, Ducks goalie Dostal showed some instability on Vancouver’s initial goals, a concern as his team navigates a period without co-starter John Gibson, who is sidelined with an injury.
A pivotal moment came when Strome gave Anaheim the lead late in the second period, capitalizing on a pass from Mason McTavish to score his ninth goal of the season.
Statistically, the Ducks have been on a roll, securing at least one point in nine of their past 11 contests, marking their best sequence of results since November 2021.
Looking ahead, both the Canucks and Ducks face off with familiar foes this Saturday, as Vancouver heads to Seattle and Anaheim takes on Chicago at home.
