ARTHUR:
Despite an uneven performance, the Ducks managed a 4-3 win against the Canucks in Anaheim's home opener. The Ducks gave away two quick goals but managed to keep pace with Vancouver as the result of two 2 man-advantages. The Canucks regained the lead thanks both to a questionable hooking call on Bobby Ryan and a shot deflected off of Cam Fowler's stick on the ensuing power play.
The entire tenor of the game changed, however, when halfway through the 3rd period, Bobby Ryan powered the puck into the zone on the wing and found the trailers joining the play, including Ryan Getzlaf. The team captain outwaited the defenders and Luongo before threading a pass to Perry on the doorstep. A little over a minute later, Bobby Ryan again took the puck, this time jumping off the bench to poke it off the stick of an advancing Sedin (I can't be bothered to discern which one) and again onto the tape of his playmaker Getzlaf, who circled the puck into the zone with Perry and a late-joining Bobby Ryan, who received the centering pass and deposited it in Luongo's five hole. Getzlaf would finish with four points on the night.
The Ducks still made mistakes, and their play on defense and offense was shaky at times, but they found a way to will themselves to a win over a team that many favor to contend for the Stanley Cup this year. The Ducks again allowed plenty of shots (39), but they were also holding on for the win late in the game after putting 32 shots on Roberto Luongo. They didn't turn around their season tonight; no team does in one night, but it was an encouraging win for a team that was producing steadily declining efforts in its first three games.
Video comments from Carlyle, Ryan, Hiller and Getzlaf afterward.
Scrub to 3:05 for post-game comments.