The Vancouver Canucks should be happy to see the Anaheim Ducks again.
The Canucks are scheduled to host the Ducks on Tuesday night, a week after rallying from a three-goal deficit with 7 1/2 minutes remaining at Anaheim to win 6-5 in overtime.
It’s the Canucks’ only win in their past 13 games (1-11-1).
Since then, they have lost 3-2 to the San Jose Sharks on Thursday and 4-2 to the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.
“Honestly, I think our team has been playing a lot better hockey as of late,” said Canucks forward Brock Boeser, who scored against Toronto. “We’re generating more shots, and I think our defensive game is coming along and getting better. You’ve got to look at the little things, and as long as those are improving, then we’ve got to build off those. So, we got to stick with the process here.”
The Ducks are coming off a 6-3 win over the visiting Ottawa Senators on Sunday by getting a hat trick from Cutter Gauthier and rallying from a three-goal deficit after the first period.
“Last year, we were experts in coming back in games,” Anaheim coach Joel Quenneville said. “This year, we’ve been more the other way. So, it’s nice to come back and get the win.”
The final four of six consecutive goals from the Ducks came on the power play and moved the unit to second in the NHL in efficiency at 34%.
Anaheim finished 23rd in the NHL on the power play last season (18.6%) and ranked last in 2024-25 (11.8%).
Judd Caulfield, who had two goals and an assist against the Senators, said there has been no panic among the Ducks when they fall behind.
“We know that we’re capable of making those comebacks,” Caulfield said. “We just have to trust ourselves to make the plays and trust each other. We know we’re a team and that’s the only way we’re going to get back in this is with each other.”
Caulfield has been one of the biggest surprises for the Ducks, scoring four goals in his first 12 NHL games while doing a lot of the dirty work around the net.
“That’s as good an example as you can set by getting rewarded by efficiency and what you’ve been doing,” Quenneville said. “Judd made the team when we probably didn’t envision him being there at the beginning of the year. Next thing you know he’s on our power play and playing top line. He does all the little things well, and those things add up.”
Quenneville also took a gamble by starting Laurent Brossoit in goal against Ottawa over Lukas Dostal and Ville Husso.
Brossoit allowed three goals on the first seven shots in just his second NHL game in three seasons, then settled in and shut out the Senators over the final two periods. Quenneville said he planned to bring all three goaltenders on the three-game Canadian road trip.
“I was hoping it wouldn’t take years in between wins, personally, but here we are,” Brossoit said. “It feels amazing, no matter how you shake it up.”
–Field Level Media
