Canucks beat Ducks, 4-1
Alex Biega's goal at 3:03 of the third period spurred the Vancouver Canucks to a 4-1 victory over the visiting Anaheim Ducks Tuesday night.
Biega broke a 1-1 tie as his fluttering slapshot sailed over Ducks goaltender John Gibson. The goal was the second of Biega's NHL career. He had gone 131 games - since Feb. 16, 2015 - without scoring.
"I think my first one was around that spot," a chuckling Biega told Sportsnet in a television interview after the game. "I think I'm going to have to shoot more around that same spot."
The Canucks, who will miss the playoffs, posted their third win in four games after losing seven straight.
The Ducks suffered only their second loss in the past seven games. However, the setback weakened their hopes of finishing third in the Pacific Division and gaining an automatic playoff berth. The club's wild-card hopes also took a hit after St. Louis beat San Jose earlier Tuesday.
Brandon Sutter led the Canucks with two goals, including an empty-netter after coming out of the penalty box in the final minute.
Sam Gagner provided Vancouver's other goal as the Canucks won for first time in four meetings with the Ducks this season.
Andrew Cogliano scored for the Ducks with 17:09 remaining in the second period.
Canucks goaltender Jacob Markstrom stopped 23 of 24 shots for the win.
Gibson suffered only his second loss in seven games while blocking 26 of 29 shots.
Gagner opened the scoring for Vancouver 10:07 into the game as he whipped in Daniel Sedin's rebound while being left all alone at the side of the net. The goal gave Gagner points in five of his past six games. The strong run has coincided in part with a move to the top line with Daniel and Henrik Sedin.
Cogliano drew the Ducks even on a lucky break. He scored into an empty net as the puck took a strange bounce off the end boards after Markstrom went behind his net to play Francois Beauchemin's dump-in.
About five and a half minutes after Biega netted the winner, Sutter gave the Canucks a 3-1 lead. He put in his own rebound after Gibson robbed him with a desperate stick save, but was left prone on the ice. The Canucks center went behind the net to retrieve the puck and then calmly flipped it high over Gibson.
Sutter's second goal, with Gibson pulled for an extra attacker, closed out the scoring.
--Field Level Media
