Jonathan Lekkerimaki scored twice in the final three minutes of regulation and Filip Hronek netted a power-play winner in overtime, leading the visiting Vancouver Canucks to an improbable 6-5 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday to snap a dismal 10-game losing skid.
Fantasy & Market Impact
- Brock Boeser Resurgence: Salvaged a slow month with a three-point performance (one goal, two assists), validating his early-season roster spot in fantasy leagues.
- Filip Hronek Volume: Despite defensive zone struggles, Hronek’s massive ice-time and first career overtime winner provide crucial offensive output from the blue line.
- Jonathan Lekkerimaki Deployment: The rookie’s promotion to a larger role is paying dividends, making him a high-upside waiver wire add for managers hunting goals and power-play upside.
Lekkerimaki Spark Caps Historic Third-Period Rally
Entering Tuesday’s fixture at the Honda Center, morale within the Vancouver room sat at a nadir following a weekend defeat against the Minnesota Wild. For the opening 52 minutes, the script followed recent form. A three-second-period explosion from Anaheim, featuring goals from Jeff Malott, Beckett Sennecke, and Leo Carlsson, buried the visitors in a 4-1 hole. Reuters noted that the Canucks faced a 5-2 deficit with less than eight minutes remaining in regulation.
Canucks snap a 10-game winless streak by erasing a 5-2 deficit against Ducks in final 7:37 of regulation and win 6-5 on Filip Hronek's 5-on-3 PP goal with 10.4 seconds left in OT. Kid you not.
Then the tide turned. Goals from Brock Boeser and Jamie Oleksiak sliced the deficit before Lekkerimaki took over. The 2022 15th overall pick beat Lukas Dostal from inside the left circle at 17:14 of the third period, then struck again through heavy traffic with under two minutes remaining to force the extra frame.
Following the game, Filip Hronek remarked that the win was much needed and that the team worked hard in the third period and had to bring that effort to other games.
Tactical Breakdown and Defensive Zone Woes
The analytics paint a turbulent picture for Vancouver’s back end, particularly concerning top-pairing defenceman Filip Hronek. Entering the matchup, the Canucks were out-shot 130-71 and out-scored 15-11 with Hronek anchoring the ice. Greer careened off Hronek’s stick past goaltender Lukas Dostal to open the scoring.
Yet, adjustments in special teams proved decisive. When Anaheim took late penalties, including a high-sticking infraction against Beckett Sennecke and a goaltender interference call on Alex Killorn during a frantic overtime scramble, Vancouver capitalized on the expanded ice. Working a 5-on-3 advantage, Hronek hammered home a one-timer from the slot with just 10.4 seconds remaining in overtime.
Ducks Stumble Amid Pacific Division Rebuild Realities
On the opposing bench, Joel Quenneville’s squad faced compounding questions after squandering multiple multi-goal advantages. Following an aggressive summer where general manager Pat Verbeek locked in core pieces like Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier, Anaheim has dropped six of its last seven contests. Blowing a three-goal cushion against a struggling opponent highlights ongoing defensive lapses that threaten to derail the club’s playoff aspirations in a competitive Pacific Division.
For Vancouver, head coach Manny Malhotra pointed to the psychological relief of maintaining tactical discipline through 60 minutes rather than folding under pressure. Whether this resilience translates into sustained momentum away from Southern California remains the primary question as the club prepares for its next fixture.
Disclaimer: The fantasy and market insights provided are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute financial or betting advice.
