THE CANADIAN PRESS
VANCOUVER — Bobby Ryan scored two goals, including the winner, as the Anaheim Ducks beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-3 on Wednesday night.
Anaheim (30-21-4) ended league-leading Vancouver’s win streak at six games. The Canucks (35-11-9) had not lost in regulation since Jan. 16 in Minnesota.
Jason Blake and Brandon McMillan also scored for the Ducks, who won their fourth straight road game. Teemu Selanne added two assists, including one on the winning tally.
Daniel Sedin, Alex Burrows and Ryan Kesler replied for the Canucks, who lost at home for the first time since a Jan. 22 shootout setback to Calgary.
The Canucks outshot the Ducks 37-24. Anaheim backup goaltender Curtis McElhinney recorded 33 saves for his second straight win in place of starter Jonas Hiller, who is experiencing dizziness and has been placed on injured reserve suffering from fatigue.
In his last appearance in Vancouver on Dec. 8, McElhinney delivered a strong performance but was forced to leave in the third period after he took a shot off the mask and was badly cut. The Ducks wound up losing the game in a shootout.
Vancouver converted its lone power-play attempt while Anaheim finished 0-for-2.
The Ducks led 3-0 after the first period and 3-1 following the second.
Canucks goaltender Cory Schneider stopped Selanne on back-to-back chances right after the opening faceoff. But Selanne helped put the Ducks ahead 1-0 in the first minute, his pass bouncing off skates in front to Blake, who beat Schneider on a wrist shot.
For the rest of the period, both goaltenders put on a show. McElhinney foiled Jannik Hansen’s shot, denied Cody Hodgson twice and got his toe on a Henrik Sedin deflection. Later, Schneider stopped Corey Perry on the power play and thwarted Bobby Ryan on a deflection with 1:45 left in the period.
The Canucks killed a holding penalty to Ryan Kesler early in the second but were soon victimized by goals by McMillan and Ryan just 52 seconds apart. McMillan put the Ducks ahead 2-0 at 3:26 as he converted a Dan Sexton pass from the side boards as Henrik Sedin tried unsuccessfully to fill in for defenceman Kevin Bieksa after he fell near the blue-line.
Bieksa was victimized moments later on a 2-on-1 as Ryan Getzlaf, in his first game back after missing 14 with multiple sinus fractures, sent a backhand pass to Ryan, who beat Schneider.
Just over three minutes later, Daniel Sedin reduced Vancouver’s deficit to 3-1 with Selanne off for tripping. McElhinney preserved the two-goal advantage as he stopped Mason Raymond from in close in the final minute of the second.
Burrows brought the Canucks to within a goal 5:42 into the third as he converted Henrik Sedin’s pass from behind the net. But Ryan restored Anaheim’s two-goal advantage only 28 seconds later as he cashed in on a 2-on-1 with Selanne.
Moments afterward, Vancouver lost defenceman Dan Hamhuis on a blindside hit from behind by Getzlaf. Hamhuis, who had gone behind the net to retrieve a shoot-in, lay on his back for about five minutes before being helped to his feet and to the dressing room.
No penalty was called on the play.
NOTES — The Ducks re-acquired defenceman Francois Beauchemin on Wednesday from Toronto for a package that featured winger Joffrey Lupul. Beauchemin helped Anaheim win 2007 Stanley Cup … Vancouver defenceman Keith Ballard is out four weeks with a strained knee suffered Monday against Ottawa. Rookie Chris Tanev took his place in the lineup … Canucks defenceman Sami Salo returned to Vancouver on Wednesday after completing a three-game conditioning stint with Manitoba of the AHL. Salo, recovered from an off-season torn Achilles tendon injury, is expected to suit up Saturday against Calgary … Anaheim winger Aaron Voros has cleared waivers and is awaiting reassignment.
