Ducks Can’t Hold Off Canucks, Fall In OT

Photo: AP

The Anaheim Ducks returned home to host the Vancouver Canucks. Lukas Dostal was in net against Leevi Merilainen.

Recap:

The Ducks scored first in the final minutes of the first period. A.J. Greer fed Tim Washe in front of the net and the defender knocked the pass into his own net. Anaheim led 1-0 after the first period.

The Canucks tied up the game early in the second period. Liam Ohgren tried to make a pass in the slot and it hit Tristan Luneau redirecting past Dostal.

Jeff Malott answered for the Ducks less than a minute later. Jackson LaCombe got to a loose puck in the left circle and found Malott in front for the tap in goal.

Beckett Sennecke scored on the power play later in the period to make it a 3-1 lead. Cutter Gauthier took a point shot and it deflected off Sennecke before going in.

The Ducks added one more goal in the final moments of the second period. Malott took a shot from the left circle, which was stopped and the rebound came to Leo Carlsson at the side of the net for an easy tap in. Anaheim led 4-1 after two periods.

Brock Boeser scored just past the halfway point of the third period to make it a two goal deficit. Alex Killorn tried to clear the puck out in the slot and the attempt hit Boeser and redirected into the Anaheim net.

Greer scored less than a minute later to restore the three goal lead. He tipped a point shot for the score.

The Canucks then scored three times to pull even. Jamie Oleksiak scored with a slap shot from between the circles. With the goalie pulled twice, Jonathan Lekkerimaki then scored twice less than a minute apart to tie everything up. Bonus hockey was needed for this contest.

In overtime, the Ducks were called for two penalties and Filip Hronek scored on the power play in the final seconds of overtime to give the Canucks the win.

Analysis:

The Ducks were able to get off to a better start than usual scoring first and then building a 4-1 lead after two periods. Anaheim had a 5-2 lead with just under 8 minutes looking to cruise to victory. Instead the Canucks rattled off three goals to force overtime. In the extra session, Beckett Sennecke took an unnecessary penalty and Alex Killorn was called for a questionable penalty. Vancouver was able to score on the power play just before the end of overtime.

This was an extremely terrible loss for Anaheim. They had a three goal lead with just over seven left to play in regulation and they couldn’t hang on. Vancouver had gone 0-9-1 in their last 10 games and is one of the worst teams in the league. The Ducks let off the gas in the third period and it cost them.

Anaheim needs to play more discipline as they were called for seven different penalties. Vancouver only scored once on the power play, but it was the game winner in overtime. The Ducks went 1-for-2 with their power plays. Sennecke was called for two unnecessary penalties. He needs to clean up that part of his game.

Roger McQueen also had a rough night. He only played two shifts in the second period and one in the third period. His defensive coverage is still a work in progress and his skating has been anything but Lightning McQueen-esque.

The Ducks as a team defensively need to work on blocking shots, getting in shooting lanes, and clearing out the net in front of their goalies. Anaheim is a young team and still a work in progress. Hopefully they get things figured out and get back to the way they played to start the season.

Team Notes/Stats:

Carlsson has scored 65 goals before the age of 22. The only other Swedish to do so is Mats Sundin, who had 83 before he reached the age of 22.

The Ducks have only beat the Canucks twice in their last 16 meetings going back to the start of the 2022-23 season.

The Ducks posted photos before the game showing the Hometown Remix gear, but did not play in the new alternate jerseys.

What’s Next?

The Ducks host the Buffalo Sabres Thursday at 7 PM.

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October 28th, 2026