Ducks Snap Skid, Hold Off Canucks 4-3
ANAHEIM (AP) Corey Perry and Andrew Cogliano scored during a five-minute power play in Anaheim's four-goal second period, and the Ducks survived Vancouver's furious three-goal third period to snap a six-game skid with a 4-3 victory over the Canucks on Friday night.
Jonas Hiller made 19 of his 38 saves in the third period for the Ducks, who nearly blew a four-goal lead in just their second victory since Oct. 17.
Saku Koivu scored before Vancouver defenseman Aaron Rome got a game misconduct for a dangerous hit on Ducks rookie Devante Smith-Pelly. Peter Holland added his first NHL goal late in the second period.
But Jannik Hansen scored two goals and Kevin Bieksa added another for the Canucks, who fell just short in the finale of a six-game trip despite outshooting Anaheim 22-2 in the third period. Anaheim didn't manage a shot in the final 13:52, and Vancouver took the game's final 17 shots.
Roberto Luongo stopped 15 shots before Cory Schneider relieved him before the third period for the Canucks. The defending Presidents' Trophy winners and Western Conference champions are 8-8-1.
Vancouver relentlessly pressured Hiller in the final minutes, playing the last 59 seconds with a 6-on-4 advantage after Perry committed a slashing penalty. The Swiss goalie made a handful of huge saves to preserve Anaheim's win.
With a little help from Rome, the Ducks finally produced at least one period befitting their enormous offensive talent. Anaheim has stumbled after a 4-1 start, winning just one of their previous 10 games before a players-only meeting at their training complex Thursday.
After Cogliano jumped on David Booth's turnover and set up Koivu for his second goal of a rough season, Rome woke up the Ducks when he hit Smith-Pelly in front of Anaheim's bench, appearing to raise his elbow while making direct contact with the teenager's head. Smith-Pelly spit blood before leaving the ice, but returned late in the second period.
Rome infamously turned last season's Stanley Cup finals in the Boston Bruins' favor with his open-ice check on Nathan Horton in Game 3. Horton incurred a season-ending concussion, and Rome was suspended for the rest of the series as Boston won four of the final five games.
Cogliano scored early in the five-minute advantage on a pass from Bobby Ryan, with Hiller picking up an assist. Perry then popped home a rebound of Ryan Getzlaf's shot for the MVP's sixth goal of the season.
Holland scored his first goal in his third NHL game, skating into the slot and ripping a wrist shot over Luongo's shoulder.
Bieksa ended Hiller's shutout bid when his long shot from the point kicked off an Anaheim defender's stick. The goal was the first of the 17-game season for the defenseman, who got a five-year, $32 million deal in the offseason.
Hansen was left alone to redirect Daniel Sedin's shot in front midway through the period, and the Danish forward reached back for another off-balance goal with 6:56 to play.
NOTES: Canucks C Andrew Ebbett sat out after breaking his foot while blocking a shot at Los Angeles on Thursday. Ebbett could be out for up to two weeks. ... Vancouver LW Alex Burrows returned from a two-game absence caused by back spasms. ... Holland was the Ducks' first-round pick in 2009.
