Ducks 4, Canucks 3.
The play of Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Bobby Ryan wasn't the only reason the Ducks limped into their home opener Wednesday without a win to show for their first three games of the season.
Still, the trio's combined totals of zero goals and zero assists had to change in a hurry.
The top line clicked, and the rest of the Ducks followed, surviving an ugly start to defeat the Vancouver Canucks 4-3 in their home opener before an announced crowd of 17,174.
Ryan pickpocketed reigning league MVP Henrik Sedin in the neutral zone, then completed a give-and-go play with Getzlaf for the game-winner with 9:48 left in the third period. Getzlaf had a goal and three assists, and Perry and Teemu Selanne also scored for the Ducks (1-3-0).
More in tomorrow's editions of the Sun and Daily Bulletin. Here are a few notes that didn't make the paper:
• Head coach Randy Carlyle praised the work of Kyle Chipchura, who centered a line with wingers Matt Beleskey and Dan Sexton that held the line of Ryan Kesler, Mason Raymond and Jannik Hansen scoreless.
• Enforcer George Parros shifted to left wing on a line with Todd Marchant at center and Troy Bodie at right wing. This was arguably the Ducks' best line at even strength during the first two periods; the line had four shots on goal, including three by Parros.
• Sheldon Brookbank and Raffi Torres engaged in the game's only fight at 11:22. Torres won the hit count but drew an additional 2-minute penalty for instigating.
• The Canucks' 39 shots on goal were the fewest by a Ducks opponent this season.
• The Ducks have gone 6-2-2 against the Canucks dating back to Mar. 12, 2008.
• Ryan Getzlaf recorded his fifth career game of four or more points (he's got four 4-point games and one 5-point game). The last was Feb. 14, 2010 at Edmonton.
About J.P.
J.P. Hoornstra has been covering the Anaheim Ducks since 2007. Eight months after the University of Wisconsin won its third NCAA hockey championship, he was born in a frigid Madison winter. He betrayed his blue-blooded beginnings by graduating from UCLA in 2003, and welcomes any and all dialogue on the finer points of hockey.
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