Anaheim Ducks vs Vancouver Canucks Box Score on Mar 26, 2019

Rookie Sam Steel scored three goals, including one on a penalty shot, as the visiting Anaheim Ducks edged the Vancouver Canucks 5-4 on Tuesday night.

Steel, 21, now has four goals in 18 career NHL games. He has split his first pro season between the Ducks and their AHL farm team in San Diego.

The Ducks hung on for the win after leading 5-2 early in the third period. They posted their fourth victory in six games while the Canucks took their third consecutive home-ice loss.

Despite getting the win, Anaheim was eliminated from playoff contention when the Arizona Coyotes beat the Chicago Blackhawks 1-0.

Another Ducks rookie, Kiefer Sherwood, also had a good night, posting the winning goal and adding an assist. Rickard Rakell supplied Anaheim's other goal.

Josh Leivo led Vancouver with a goal and an assist. Jake Virtanen, Alex Edler and Tanner Pearson also scored for the Canucks, who squandered a 2-1, first-period lead.

Anaheim netminder John Gibson recorded 28 saves on 32 shots while Vancouver goaltender Jacob Markstrom blocked 19 of 24.

Defenseman Josh Teves made his NHL debut for the Canucks after signing as a free agent March 12 upon the completion of his collegiate career with Princeton. Teves received a rude introduction to the NHL as he was caught up the ice on Steel's breakaway goal 9:09 into the game.

Teves' defense partner, Alex Biega, was also caught up the ice as he fell on the play, leaving center Elias Pettersson to chase Steel in vain.

Virtanen created a 1-1 tie less than four minutes later as his attempted pass from behind the net went in off Anaheim defenseman Cam Fowler's skate. Edler put the Canucks ahead 2-1 with a minute left in the opening session as his slap shot deflected off Anaheim winger Corey Perry's stick.

Steel forged a 2-2 tie as he converted Sherwood's rebound at 12:16 of the second period. He completed his hat trick by roofing a backhand on the penalty shot with 50.6 seconds left in the middle frame.

The penalty shot was awarded after officials ruled that Canucks winger Markus Granlund flipped a discarded broken stick into the path of the puck as the Ducks were attempting a pass along Vancouver's blue line.

Rakell sent the Ducks ahead 4-2 at 7:44 of the third period, putting home a high shot on a power play while Teves was serving a hooking penalty. Sherwood netted the winner at 11:22, capitalizing on a Canucks giveaway, but Leivo and Pearson scored 54 seconds apart to close the gap.

--Field Level Media