Ducks Slip Back Into Wild-Card Spot With Defeat In Vancouver
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Brandon Sutter had two goals and an assist to lift the Vancouver Canucks over the Anaheim Ducks 4-1 on Tuesday night.
Alex Biega got his first goal in over three years, and Sam Gagner also scored for Vancouver, which has won three of four since losing seven straight. Jacob Markstrom stopped 23 shots.
Andrew Cogliano scored for the Ducks, who wrapped a four-game trip and are on a 5-1-1 stretch.
The loss dropped Anaheim into a tie with the Los Angeles Kings for third in the Pacific Division, though the Kings have a game in hand. The teams play Friday night.
Anaheim's John Gibson made 26 saves. He has been dominant against Vancouver, coming into the game 6-1-1 with a 1.37 goals-against average and three shutouts against the Canucks.
Vancouver got to him at 9:53 in the opening period. Daniel Sedin's shot from the faceoff circle bounced off Gibson and right to Gagner, who batted in the rebound.
Markstrom made two big saves in the second period. The first off a 3-on-2 with Ryan Getzlaf setting up Andrew Cogliano and the second on Corey Perry shooting from inside the slot.
Markstrom later made a gaffe that lead to the Ducks' tying goal. The puck took an odd bounce off the stanchion during a dump-in, and Markstrom was caught stranded as Cogliano whipped the errant puck in.
In the third, Biega put Vancouver ahead 2-1 with slap shot from the blue line that cleared traffic and found the corner of the net. That was Biega's first goal in 132 games.
Sutter made it a two-goal lead when he burst out to a breakaway, hit the side of the net, then collected the puck and flipped it in over an out-of-position Gibson.
Sutter added his second of the night into an empty net with 16 seconds left.
NOTES: U.S. Olympian Troy Terry made his NHL debut for the Ducks. He played on a line with Ondrej Kase and Adam Henrique. ... Newly signed Canucks C Adam Gaudette did not dress and is expected to make his NHL debut Thursday against Edmonton.
UP NEXT
Ducks: Host Los Angeles on Friday night.
Canucks: Host Edmonton on Thursday night.
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