Ducks end slide with 7-2 win over Canucks

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP)—The two-goal efforts by Corey Perry(notes) and Bobby Ryan(notes) were hardly a surprise to the Anaheim Ducks. The goals by Mike Brown and enforcer George Parros(notes) were a complete shock—especialy because of their timeliness.

Ten players got on the scoresheet for the Ducks, either with goals or assists, in a 7-2 romp over Vancouver on Friday night that ended a four-game losing streak and prevented them from dropping into the Western Conference cellar.

Parros tied it at 2 in the second period with his 10th NHL goal, and Brown put Anaheim ahead to stay later in the period with his fourth career goal and first short-handed tally. Both goals were set up by Ryan Carter(notes), who missed the previous three games because of a bruised left foot.

“They were our best line early, in staying with the structure that we tried to create,” coach Randy Carlyle said. “What we asked of them—specifically Brown and Carter—was to be as aggressive as they possible could down ice on the puck and let George be the guy laying back in some situations.

“Anytime that your energy line can make a contribution on the offensive side, plus play their normal energy game, it’s a huge boost for your club. These guys are happy to see a George Parros and a Mike Brown score goals, because it’s not like they’ve filled the net historically in their career.”

Parros came in with a ratio of 65 penalty minutes for every goal in 242 previous NHL games. Brown came in with a ratio of 75.3 penalty minutes for every goal in 226 previous NHL games.

“If we can contribute like that, it’s just a bonus for the team,” Brown said. “It was great to get the team going with both of us putting goals in. I think we were both in shock after we put the puck in the net, because we’re not really used to it.”

Jonas Hiller(notes) made 36 saves.

Scott Niedermayer(notes) had an assist on Perry’s second goal to become the 24th defenseman in NHL history to reach 700 points. Defenseman James Wisniewski(notes) had three assists, and Ryan Getzlaf(notes) had two assists for Anaheim.

Steve Bernier(notes) and Mason Raymond(notes) scored for the Canucks. Andrew Raycroft(notes) stopped 18 of 22 shots over two periods in his second straight start for the injured Roberto Luongo(notes) (cracked rib).

Cory Schneider(notes) replaced Raycroft at the start of the third and gave up three goals, two by Ryan and another by Joffrey Lupul(notes) on a weird carom off the glass above the right boards after Schneider left his crease to play the puck.

Perry was serving a boarding penalty when Brown got the puck from Carter on a 2-on-2 rush and scored on a short backhander at 16:15 of the second to put the Ducks ahead 3-2. They got their first power-play opportunity of the game just 6 seconds later, and Perry converted a rebound at 18:07 for his seventh goal of the season.

The Ducks were trailing 2-0 before Perry got Anaheim on the board at 16:31 of the first period, beating Raycroft from the edge of the crease after Lupul carried the puck down the slot with two defenders draped all over him.

“I felt like we came out with the hustle and determination that we talked about,” Ryan said. “A lot of times lately, a couple of early goals has kind of taken the wind out of our sails. But we stayed together as a group tonight and we made sure that we showed some resilience.”

Parros got the equalizer at 2:29 of the second period. He knocked Shane O’Brien(notes) off the puck in the left corner, headed for the net and converted a rebound of Carter’s wrist shot from the left boards for his 10th career goal.

“It’s always fun and it excites the crowd when guys like us score, so we’re happy to take that momentum and help the team get a couple of points tonight.” Parros said.

Coming off a 2-1 shootout win Thursday night at Los Angeles in which they were outshot 29-12 in regulation, the Canucks hit paydirt with their first shot on net. Bernier took a wrister from the left point that snuck between Hiller’s skate and the left post just 66 seconds after the opening faceoff.

“We tried to generate what we could with what we had,” said Willie Mitchell(notes), one of eight defensemen used by the injury-riddled Canucks. “The deck was stacked against us a little bit. We know their record is not great so far this year, but they’re a tough team to play against with two pretty good lines.”

Raymond made it 2-0 about 3 1/2 minutes later while Ryan was off for slashing. The Ducks were coming off a 6-3 drubbing by Toronto last Monday, when they allowed a franchise-worst five power-play goals with Hiller in net—three of them during 5-on-3 situations.

NOTES: A year ago Saturday, Vancouver beat the Ducks in a 13-round shootout at Anaheim with Mattias Ohlund(notes) scoring the deciding goal against Hiller in the Canucks’ 7-6 victory. … The Canucks sent rookie RW Sergei Shirokov(notes) back to Manitoba of the AHL and called up C Mario Bliznak(notes) to replace C Alexandre Bolduc(notes), who injured his shoulder in Thursday’s game. It was the first NHL game for Bliznak.