Mikael Granlund sparks Ducks’ 5-3 win as Pacific race tightens entering late March (ET)
mikael granlund scored twice as the Anaheim Ducks beat the Vancouver Canucks 5-3 in Vancouver, a result that kept Anaheim in first place in the Pacific Division and showcased how quickly momentum can swing in a tight, late-season stretch.
What Happens When Mikael Granlund finishes the chances Anaheim generates?
Anaheim’s offense had multiple pressure points in the win: mikael granlund’s two goals, Alex Killorn’s goal and assist, and contributions from Mason McTavish and Troy Terry on the scoresheet. John Carlson drove playmaking from the back end with three assists, and Lukas Dostal turned aside 27 shots.
The game turned into a repeated test of composure. Anaheim took a 2-1 lead in the second period, Vancouver responded to tie it, and then tied it again later before Anaheim found the decisive push. Special teams mattered as well: Vancouver received power-play goals from Jake DeBrusk and Brock Boeser, and its penalty kill survived a 95-second five-on-three. Even so, Anaheim still broke through late during a penalty to defenseman Elias Pettersson, with Granlund scoring on the power play.
What If Mason McTavish’s third-period breakthrough becomes the hinge point?
McTavish scored the game-winning goal at 5: 45 of the third period, ending a 15-game goal drought. The moment carried extra weight because it came after he had been a healthy scratch for the first time in his NHL career for two straight games the previous week. Anaheim’s winning goal sequence put him in motion up ice, and he finished the chance to push the Ducks ahead 4-3.
McTavish framed the stretch as difficult but said it was a relief to come through in that spot. From Anaheim’s perspective, it provided a timely scoring response in a game where Vancouver repeatedly erased leads and forced the Ducks to keep reasserting control.
What Happens When division pressure meets roster change and milestone nights?
Anaheim’s win kept the Ducks atop the Pacific Division with a five-point cushion on the second-place Edmonton Oilers. Another snapshot of the landscape had Anaheim five points ahead of Edmonton and six ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights, with the Ducks sitting in fourth place in the Western Conference.
The Ducks also continued a strong run, winning their third straight and extending their point streak to five games (4-0-1). Carlson’s role remained a central storyline: he was playing his fifth game with Anaheim after being acquired from the Washington Capitals on March 6. After missing his first four games with the Ducks post-trade, he had one assist in his first four games in the lineup before delivering three assists in this one. Ducks coach Joel Quenneville highlighted Carlson’s decision-making and steadiness, and Carlson described the adjustment after spending his first 17 seasons in Washington.
On the Vancouver side, the loss fit into a difficult stretch. The Canucks have lost three in a row and 13 of their past 16 (3-10-3), and they were eliminated from playoff contention on Sunday. Still, there were bright spots: Filip Hronek and Elias Pettersson each recorded two assists, and Pettersson’s second assist of the night marked the 500th regular-season point of his NHL career. The context provided underscored how quickly he reached the mark, noting Thomas Gradin as the lone Canuck to hit the milestone faster.
Personnel and discipline also hovered over the night. Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas returned after serving a five-game suspension for a knee-on-knee hit on Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, an incident that left Matthews with a torn knee ligament requiring season-ending surgery.
Next for Anaheim is a Thursday game at Calgary.
