VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Carson Soucy helped lift the Vancouver Canucks to a narrow 3-2 victory against the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night, clinching a crucial win for his team.
During the match, Jake DeBrusk netted his league-leading 22nd goal for Vancouver, capitalizing on a power play in the second period. Teddy Blueger also added a goal to the scoreboard while Filip Hronek provided two assists.
Kevin Lankinen, stepping up as Vancouver’s goalie, made a total of 14 saves, contributing to the Canucks’ record of 2-4-0 post the 4 Nations Face-Off break.
A major setback for the Ducks occurred when their starting goaltender, John Gibson, was forced to leave the game midway through the second period after a collision with Vancouver’s Drew O’Connor. Prior to his exit, Gibson managed to shield 19 out of 21 shots. In his absence, Lukas Dostal took over and defended 14 saves.
Anaheim saw Sam Colangelo scoring first at 13:21 in the opening period, while Brian Dumoulin closed the gap to one goal at 13:27 in the final period.
Takeaways from the game highlight the tense competition in the Western Conference, with the Canucks tied with the Calgary Flames in points yet trailing due to fewer wins.
The Ducks entered this matchup on the heels of a 6-2 triumph over the Oilers but found the first period challenging as Vancouver dominated with a 17-5 shot advantage.
A pivotal moment came late in the second period when Soucy scored from the top of the faceoff circle. Although Anaheim contested for goalie interference, the goal was upheld after an extensive review.
Notably, Blueger’s goal at 10:33 in the second marked his sixth of the season and first since December 21, ending a 28-game drought.
Looking ahead, the Ducks will commence a three-game home stretch against the Blues, while the Canucks are set to host the Wild, with both games scheduled for Friday night.
