DeBrusk was passing all the way after failing to get a shot on a 2-on-1 earlier in the game.
“It was going over no matter what the puck was doing and he was in the right spot at the right time, and good finish,” DeBrusk said. “He's obviously had a great year, so I was happy to reward him because that first 2-on-1 was probably my worst one in 600 games.”
Dostal felt he was in a good spot, but the pass was on end and the puck fluttered up.
“He whiffed on it,” Dostal said. “It's one of those that if he would get a full shot, I thought my timing was perfect for the full shot, but because he whiffed on it, it came a little bit slower and it got my shoulder and my helmet,” Dostal said. “As a goalie guy, you know once he goes right between the ear and shoulder, it's very hard to pick up, and especially when the puck is almost like a butterfly. Just probably got to keep my shoulders a little bit higher.”
Cutter Gauthier appeared to score on a rebound for Anaheim at 17:59 of the first period, but the goal was immediately waved off and Ryan Poehling was penalized for goaltender interference after colliding with Tolopilo on the initial net drive. Tolopilo stayed in the game, but was replaced by Lankinen to start the second period before coming back in.
“I needed to go through some testing. It's fine,” said Tolopilo, adding he was hoping to get back to start the second period. “It takes a while, but I think I actually did it pretty quickly.”
Tolopilo’s best saves included stops on a Beckett Sennecke chance from the left side during a first-period power play, a Gauthier shot from the left dot off the rush at 5:30 of the third and a Chris Kreider wrist shot from the left circle with 5:45 left.
“It's exciting for him,” O’Connor said. “We're all happy for him. It kind of [stinks] he doesn't get the shutout, but I’m sure there will be more to follow.”
Blueger extended it to 2-0 at 19:32 of the third period with an empty-net goal during a 6-on-4 advantage for the Ducks, who had pulled Dostal for the extra skater prior to a slashing penalty against Conor Garland at 19:11.
“End of a long road trip, tie game going to third, one of those things where just a little mistake is the reason we end up losing the game,” Anaheim forward Alex Killorn said. “We just can't get shut out. We’ve got to do a better job producing offense.”
NOTES: Anaheim forward Troy Terry missed his 11th straight game with an upper-body injury despite flying to Vancouver to rejoin the team at practice on Wednesday and hoping to play. Quenneville said Terry “came out of it a little sore” but should return Sunday at home against the Vegas Golden Knights. … It was the fourth shared shutout in Canucks history. The other instances were on March 9, 2024 (Thatcher Demko and Casey DeSmith), Feb. 22, 2015 (Ryan Miller and Eddie Lack) and Dec. 6, 2011 (Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider).
