Ducks Lose to Canucks, Keeping Playoff Hopes Alive but Challenging
Ducks Fall Just Short on Fan Appreciation Day, Postseason Hopes Dwindle
ANAHEIM – The Anaheim Ducks hosted their annual fan appreciation day on Sunday, distributing thousands of gifts, including a car, team jerseys, and gift cards. However, the one prize that eluded their dedicated fanbase— a playoff berth— remained out of reach.
In a crucial match needed to secure a postseason spot for the first time since 2018, the Ducks suffered a frustrating 4-3 overtime loss against the Vancouver Canucks, currently the lowest-ranked team in the NHL. This defeat leaves the Ducks just a single point shy of playoff qualification with two games left in the regular season.
The decisive goal was scored by Marco Rossi during a power play with less than 11 seconds remaining in overtime.
The loss marked the Ducks’ seventh in the past eight games, causing them to slide from first to third place in the Pacific Division standings. They are set to visit Minnesota and Nashville for their final two games of the season, needing at least one point from these encounters—or relying on a Nashville defeat to San Jose—to end the NHL’s third-longest active postseason drought.
Cutter Gauthier initiated the scoring for Anaheim at 3:41 of a physical first period characterized by seven penalties and two fights. Gauthier capitalized on a rebound from an Alex Killhorn shot moments after the Canucks exited a two-minute cross-checking penalty.
Vancouver answered with a goal from Curtis Douglas, who poked a deflected slap shot from Kirill Kudryavtsev into the net, earning his first of the season. Just four minutes later, Jake DeBrusk put the Canucks ahead with another power play goal, redirecting a shot from Rossi.
In the final period, Brock Boeser extended Vancouver’s lead with a short-handed goal, intercepting a careless pass from Leo Carlsson and outmaneuvering Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal.
The Ducks responded quickly, with Gauthier scoring his second goal on a power play just 37 seconds later, bringing his season total to a team-high 40 goals. Leo Carlsson then tied the game at 3-3, backhanding the puck over Canucks goalie Nikita Tolopilo.
The sellout crowd, initially drowned in disappointment, erupted into chants of “We want playoffs!” as they rallied behind their team. However, those hopes were dashed when Rossi scored during a Ducks power play, taking advantage of Chris Kreider’s penalty for slashing.
Despite the heartbreak, Dostal’s performance in overtime kept the Ducks in contention as he made five crucial saves. As the team looks ahead, the pressure mounts to secure a playoff spot in these final games.
