Ducks fall to Canucks after high-scoring 3rd period
The Ducks’ Ryan Strome, left, celebrates with Troy Terry after scoring a goal during the second period of their game against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Ben Nelms/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Ducks’ Trevor Zegras, left, and the Vancouver Canucks’ Tyler Myers battle for the puck during the first period on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Nathan Beaulieu, right, fights with the Vancouver Canucks’ Dakota Joshua during the first period on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Ben Nelms/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Vancouver Canucks’ Dakota Joshua, right, fights with the Ducks’ Nathan Beaulieu during the first period on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Ryan Strome, left, faces off against the Vancouver Canucks’ Bo Horvat during the first period on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)
The Vancouver Canucks’ Quinn Hughes defends against the Ducks’ Nathan Beaulieu during the first period on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Troy Terry is congratulated as he skates past the bench after scoring a goal against the Vancouver Canucks during the first period on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Ben Nelms/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Ducks’ Simon Benoit, left, is checked by the Vancouver Canucks’ Tyler Myers during the first period on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Ben Nelms/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Ducks’ Simon Benoit, left, is checked by the Vancouver Canucks’ Nils Aman during the first period on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Ben Nelms/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Vancouver Canucks’ Bo Horvat (53) scores a goal on Ducks goaltender John Gibson during the first period on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)
The Vancouver Canucks’ Bo Horvat (53) celebrates after scoring a goal against Ducks goaltender John Gibson, right, during the first period on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Brett Leason, center, checks the Vancouver Canucks’ Tyler Myers, right, in front of Canucks goalie Spencer Martin during the second period on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Ben Nelms/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Ducks’ Trevor Zegras (11) is checked by the Vancouver Canucks’ Bo Horvat, right, during the second period on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)
The Vancouver Canucks’ Elias Pettersson, center, is congratulated by Quinn Hughes, left, and Andrei Kuzmenko after scoring a goal against the Ducks during the second period on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)
The Vancouver Canucks’ Elias Pettersson (40) is congratulated by Quinn Hughes, left, Ilya Mikheyev and Andrei Kuzmenko (96) after scoring a goal during the second period of their game against the Ducks on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)
The Vancouver Canucks’ Elias Pettersson is congratulated as he skates back to the bench after scoring a goal during the second period of their game against the Ducks on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Brett Leason, left, checks Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers during the second period on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Ben Nelms/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Ducks’ Frank Vatrano, left, is checked by the Vancouver Canucks’ Dakota Joshua during the second period on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)
The Vancouver Canucks’ J.T. Miller, right, scores a goal on Ducks goaltender John Gibson during the second period on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)
The Vancouver Canucks’ J.T. Miller, left, skates to the bench after scoring a goal on Ducks goaltender John Gibson during the second period on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)
The Vancouver Canucks’ J.T. Miller is congratulated as he skates back to the bench after scoring a goal against the Ducks during the second period on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Ben Nelms/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Ducks’ Frank Vatrano, left, plays the puck as Vancouver Canucks goaltender Spencer Martin guards the near post during the second period on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Ben Nelms/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Ducks’ Ryan Strome, left, celebrates with Troy Terry (19) after scoring a goal on Vancouver Canucks goaltender Spencer Martin during the second period on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Ryan Strome (16) is congratulated by Trevor Zegras (11) and Troy Terry (19) after scoring a goal against the Vancouver Canucks during the second period on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Ryan Strome, left, is congratulated as he skates past the bench after scoring a goal against the Vancouver Canucks during the second period on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)
The Vancouver Canucks’ Dakota Joshua (81) celebrates with teammate Jack Studnicka (18) after scoring a goal during the third period of their game against the Ducks on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Ben Nelms/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Vancouver Canucks’ Dakota Joshua, left, celebrates with Jack Studnicka after scoring a goal during the third period of their game against the Ducks on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Ben Nelms/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Vancouver Canucks’ Andrei Kuzmenko, left, scores a goal behind Ducks goalie John Gibson during the third period on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Ducks lost, 8-5. (Ben Nelms/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Vancouver Canucks’ Andrei Kuzmenko, left, scores a goal behind Ducks goaltender John Gibson during the third period on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Max Comtois scores a goal on Vancouver Canucks goaltender Spencer Martin during the third period on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Max Comtois celebrates after scoring a goal on Vancouver Canucks goaltender Spencer Martin during the third period on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)
Ducks goaltender John Gibson makes a save during the third period of their game against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Ben Nelms/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Vancouver Canucks’ Elias Pettersson (40) and Ducks goaltender John Gibson reach for the puck during the third period on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Trevor Zegras celebrates after scoring a goal against the Vancouver Canucks during the third period on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Trevor Zegras (11) is congratulated by Troy Terry (19), Adam Henrique (14) and John Klingberg (3) after scoring a goal against the Vancouver Canucks during the third period on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)
The Vancouver Canucks’ Andrei Kuzmenko, center, celebrates after scoring a goal during the third period of their game against the Ducks on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)
The Vancouver Canucks’ Andrei Kuzmenko, center, celebrates after scoring a goal during the third period of their game against the Ducks on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. Kuzmenko scored three goals in the Canucks’ 8-5 win. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)
The Vancouver Canucks’ Andrei Kuzmenko (96) celebrates with Elias Pettersson, left, Ilya Mikheyev (65) and Riley Stillman, right, after scoring a goal against Ducks goaltender John Gibson, kneeling, during the third period on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)
The Vancouver Canucks’ Andrei Kuzmenko celebrates after scoring his third goal of the night during the third period of their game against the Ducks on Thursday in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Ben Nelms/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Vancouver Canucks’ Andrei Kuzmenko, right, celebrates his third goal of the night during the third period of their game against the Ducks on Thursday in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Ben Nelms/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Vancouver Canucks’ Andrei Kuzmenko, left, celebrates with Oliver Ekman-Larsson after scoring a goal during the third period of their game against the Ducks on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Max Jones (49) scores a goal on Vancouver Canucks goaltender Spencer Martin, right, during the third period on Thursday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — The Ducks’ modest momentum came to an end Thursday night after a high-scoring third period in Canada.
Andrei Kuzmenko had three goals and an assist in his first NHL hat trick as the Vancouver Canucks posted a wild 8-5 victory over the visiting Ducks, who had won two games in a row.
Elias Pettersson had a goal and four assists, Bo Horvat had two goals and an assist, and J.T. Miller and Dakota Joshua also scored for the Canucks (3-6-2). Quinn Hughes had two assists and Spencer Martin had 26 saves.
Troy Terry had a goal and two assists, and Trevor Zegras, Ryan Strome, Max Comtois and Max Jones also scored for the Ducks (3-7-1). John Gibson made 39 saves.
The Canucks took a 3-2 lead into the third before the teams erupted for eight goals in a 14½-minute stretch.
Joshua poked a puck into the Ducks’ net through traffic at 5:30 to give the Canucks a two-goal lead.
The Ducks challenged for goaltender interference, arguing Vancouver’s Jack Studnicka spun Gibson out of position. But after a video review, officials ruled Studnicka was making a play on the loose puck and the goal was good.
Vancouver was quick to convert again on the ensuing power play for delay of game as Kuzmenko tapped a pass from Pettersson and past Gibson at 5:54 to make it 5-2.
Comtois got the Canucks back within two with a backhander on a breakaway at 7:51, and Zegras scored on a power play when his long shot slid past Martin with 6:25 left to make it 5-4.
“It was a wild game,” Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said. “I think the turning point was our challenge that went against us. So difficult night on the road for sure.”
Kuzmenko scored two minutes apart to help the Canucks pull away. The second – his third of the night – came when he fired a shot from the high hash marks with 3:12 remaining with the fans throwing hats on the ice in response.
“(I’m) beginning to feel really good here,” Kuzmenko said through his translator and teammate Vasily Podkolzin. ”(I’m) beginning to get this game, the NHL rules, and just keep going.”
The 26-year-old Russian rookie left wing now has six goals and four assists in 11 games.
“He’s adjusted, learned quick on the fly and he puts in a lot of work, he shoots a lot of pucks,” teammate Luke Schenn said. “So he’s done a great job for us. He’s getting better as we go here.”
The Ducks scored when a rebound bounced off Jones in the crease and in past Martin 50 seconds later.
After Vancouver took a penalty, the Ducks pulled Gibson for a 6-on-4 advantage, but Horvat scored an empty-netter with 56 seconds left to cap the scoring.
Terry scored a power-play goal for his team-leading 15th point (five goals, 10 assists) for the Ducks, and Horvat tied it for Vancouver late in the first when he scored in his third straight game.
Pettersson gave the Canucks the lead when he got a pass from Ilya Mikheyev, kicked the puck to his stick, and fired it past Gibson at 9:07 of the second.
Miller made it 3-1 four minutes later with his sixth of the season as he extended his points streak to five games (four goals, three assists).
Strome pulled the Ducks within one as he got a pass from Zegras and beat Martin from the faceoff circle with 46 seconds to go in the middle period.
“We’re never going to turn down a win. We don’t have enough of them,” Vancouver coach Bruce Boudreau said. “The offense was going well but in the end, it’s going to take defense to win and I thought we gave up too many chances.”
FOREVER A CANUCK
Vancouver held a pregame ceremony for former defenseman Kevin Bieksa, who signed a one-day contract to officially retire with the Canucks. The 41-year-old played 13 seasons in the NHL and finished with 278 points (63 goals, 215 assists) over 808 games for Vancouver and the Ducks.
HOME-ICE ADVANTAGE?
The Ducks came into Thursday’s game having won four straight in Vancouver dating to March 2019. The Ducks also had points in seven straight games against the Canucks (6-0-1).
UP NEXT
The Ducks head back to San Jose for another game against the Sharks on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
