Canucks 5 - 4 Ducks SO/F - Game 78 - 04.02.10

After losing their last game in a atrocious way to the Los Angeles Kings, The Canucks looked to get back on track against the Anaheim Ducks.

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With five games remaining in the regular season, Vancouver needed a single point to clinch a playoff spot.

Andrew Raycroft got the call to start in net for the Canucks and on the other end, Curtis McElhinney was in for a injured Jonas Hiller.

The Canucks were off to a good start, but they simply could not cash in. After killing a penalty, a opportunist Saku Koivu scored the 1-0 goal for the Ducks.

We all knew this one was coming as Darcy Hordichuk and George Parros dropped the mits for a old school tussle.

Half way through the game, A snake bitten Michael Grabner sniped the puck past McElhinney to even the score at one.

The Ducks wasted no time to respond as Teemu Selanne scored the go ahead goal for Anaheim.

This was a good day for Michael Grabner as he forced his way to the front of the net and roofed the puck to tie the game at two.

Lo and behold, Michael Grabner struck again as he scored the very first hat-trick of his young NHL career to put the Canucks ahead by one.

Shortly after, Teemu Selanne scored his second goal to tie the game at three.

With six minutes to go in the third period, Jannik Hansen scored off the rebound to regain the lead for the Canucks.

In the late stages of the game, the ducks were awarded with a powerplay and they did not let it go to waste as Saku Koivu scored his second goal of the game to force overtime.

Overtime did not settle anything and it was up to the shooters to finish this in a shootout.

Up first for the Ducks was Corey Perry and he scored five-hole on Raycroft.

A cool and calm Kyle Wellwood faked his way to the front of the net and chipped the puck past McElhinney.

In the second round, Andrew Raycroft made a spectacular save on Teemu Selanne to put the ball back in the Canucks court.

A skilled Pavol Demitra was up next and he made no mistake to put the Canucks ahead 2 to 1.

In round three, Bobby Ryan had to score to keep the Ducks alive. Unfortunately for Ryan, Raycroft had other plans as he stopped the puck and won the two points for his team.

With that win, the Canucks clinch the 2009/10 playoffs.

This was a huge bounce back game for the Canucks as they now return to Vancouver for a two game home stand.

Sitting on top of the north west division with 98 points, The Canucks need a single point to lock up the division.

They'll have a chance to do that on Sunday night in a game against the Minnesota Wild.

That is a 7:00 PM game and it'll only be available on PPV.

GO CANUCKS GO