Even though the National Hockey League created a new overtime format to prevent shootouts, the Anaheim Ducks and Vancouver Canucks still needed all 60 minutes of regulation, five minutes of overtime and the last shooter in the three-round shootout to decide a victor Monday.
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A protest is planned outside Honda Center today, with seven animal welfare organizations calling for the suspension of Anaheim Ducks defenseman Clayton Stoner, who has been charged with violating British Columbia’s hunting laws in connection with the killing of a grizzly bear.
Left winger Alexandre Burrows scored the decisive shootout goal. Jannik Hansen’s shot from the right circle was denied by Ducks goalie Frederik Andersen, but the rebound went right to Cracknell and he put it over Andersen’s shoulder.
Right winger Radim Vrbata also scored in the shootout for Vancouver, while left winger Jakob Silfverberg beat Miller for Anaheim’s only shootout goal.
Ryan Miller and the Vancouver Canucks have already found a groove just three games into the regular season.
The Ducks were ranked 28th on the power play last season.
“When you get those things, you can’t force plays”, Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau said.
“I don’t think we got enough shots on net”, defenseman Kevin Bieksa said.
“We’re very fortunate to have a guy like Ovi, who really didn’t do anything I thought early in the game”. Joe Thornton and Brent Burns have a goal and an assist apiece, new captain Joe Pavelski has three points and 35-year-old Patrick Marleau scored twice against the Ducks.
“We needed to score a goal”, Boudreau said. “If we do that, we’re going to be all right”.
Anaheim Ducks’ Ryan Getzlaf, center, looks to shoot under pressure…
“We battled hard”, Vatenen said.
Vancouver improved to 2-0 on the road in the young season, with Miller yielding just one goal in each game. “We had a few chances, but we just didn’t get the puck in the net”.
Both teams came out playing at a fast pace and fighting, literally.
The 30-year-old Stoner was in the Ducks’ lineup for their home opener, and he fought Brandon Prust in the opening minutes.
The power play is still an issue.
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Miller hasn’t been ruled out to start again Tuesday at the Los Angeles Kings. “We’re only two games in, but we played two tough teams”. “So we need to keep building on this in the rest of this homestand here”.
