In Vancouver, Brock McGinn scored in the middle frame for the Anaheim Ducks, his strike came 20 seconds after the Canucks had taken a 2-1 lead in the game in the 15th minute of the frame.
That was enough to get the match to extra time.
“It’s nice to be able come here and get one in the first couple games,” McGinn said. “It just helps me settle in a bit and feel more comfortable being able to contribute. Just growing as a line and as a team, it’s nice to get one early.”
In keeping with a theme, J.T. Miller then hit for the game-winner just 20 seconds into the extra session for the 3-2 win to Vancouver.
“Their guy just kind of gave me a lane and at that point they were flat-footed,” Miller said. “You don’t get many chances to attack in overtime with a free lane to shoot unless it’s turned over or something, so [I] tried to take it in and shoot.”
Thatcher Demko made 20 saves in the Vancouver win.
The Canucks improved to 27-32-5, and are 6-2-1 in their last nine.
“It means a lot; we really struggled with that third game this year,” Miller said. “But win or lose tonight, we played the right way the majority of the game and if we can hang our hat on doing that most nights, we’re gonna come out with success.”
Troy Terry opened the scoring in the first period to give the Ducks a 1-0 lead.
“We played a [heck] of a game,” Anaheim coach Dallas Eakins said. “This league, it’s always hard to win that second game on a back to back, but we played a really good four-line game. Our goaltending was good and we put ourselves in a spot to at least get a point.”
Anaheim dropped to 21-35-9, but are 4-1-2 in their last seven.
Miller, who had two goals on the night, scored his first in the opening period on shorthanded effort.
“The PK has gone through a lot this year and we have so much pride in it,” Miller said. “We really want to get the job done and it felt like no matter what we did this year, the puck would find a way to end up in our net. We know we’re a better kill then 60-odd percent, so a game like tonight, we didn’t get any power plays and we needed the PK to step up and we got it done.”
Elias Pettersson had am assist on Miller’s shortie.
“I felt the goalie only had one play and that was to pass through me, and I was able to intercept,” Pettersson said. “I had a feeling [Miller] would be there, I looked up and he was wide open. My pass wasn’t the best, but he still found a way to score it.”
Vancouver grabbed a 2-1 lead in the middle frame on a strike by Andrei Kuzmenko.
Lukas Dostal made 31 saves in the Ducks loss.
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