Ducks Come Up Empty in Goalie Duel Against Canucks
The Anaheim Ducks wrapped up their Western Canada road trip with a 2-0 loss to the Vancouver Canucks in a game that was dominated by defense and goaltending. Lukas Dostal got the start for Anaheim, facing off against Nikita Tolopilo in what turned into a chess match between the pipes.
For two full periods, the scoreboard stayed untouched. Both teams traded chances, but neither could break through.
Anaheim came out of the gate strong, outshooting Vancouver 8-1 early in the first period. The Ducks were buzzing, generating quality looks, but Tolopilo stood tall and weathered the early storm.
By the end of the opening frame, the Canucks had found their footing, and the shot totals evened out.
Anaheim kept the pressure on through the second and third periods, winning the shot battle and controlling much of the play at even strength. The Ducks posted a 55% Corsi For percentage and a 55.26% Fenwick For, out-attempting the Canucks 55-45 at 5-on-5. The possession metrics tell the story of a team that was pushing the pace, but couldn’t find the finish.
The breakthrough came midway through the third period. Drew O’Connor found space in the right face-off circle and buried a one-timer past Dostal to give the Canucks a 1-0 lead. It was the kind of goal that felt like it might decide the game-and it did.
Anaheim pulled Dostal in the final minutes to try and tie it up, but Teddy Blueger iced the game with a shorthanded empty-netter, sealing the 2-0 win for Vancouver.
After the game, Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville summed it up simply: “It was a tough one. The game was on the line almost the whole game. Whoever scored first had a pretty good opportunity to get two (points).”
Special teams didn’t tilt the scales in this one. Both teams had three power plays and came up empty. The lone special teams marker was Blueger’s empty-netter, officially logged as a shorthanded goal with Dostal pulled.
Despite the loss, the Ducks can take some positives from the road trip. They finished it with a 3-1-1 record, showing signs of growth and resilience on the road.
Troy Terry, who flew out to Vancouver and practiced with the team, was held out of the lineup. Quenneville noted that Terry “came out of it a little sore” and could return Sunday when the Ducks host the Vegas Golden Knights.
Off the ice, Anaheim is reportedly out of the running for Artemi Panarin. While the Ducks were among the California teams to have conversations with the star winger, the logistics of a long-term extension didn’t align with Anaheim’s current cap outlook. With key restricted free agents like Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier due for significant deals this summer, GM Pat Verbeek is wisely keeping future flexibility in mind.
Next up, the Ducks return home to take on the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday night. Puck drops at 6:30 PM.