Ducks down Canucks 3-1

Photo: The Canadian Press

Randy Carlyle didn't know much about Ondrej Kase when the Anaheim Ducks promoted the rookie forward from the AHL.

That's just life when you're the 205th pick in the draft.

Kase's first NHL goal turned out to be the winner Thursday as Anaheim downed the Vancouver Canucks 3-1 for a third straight victory.

The 21-year-old Czech forward was a seventh-round selection back in 2014, but has found his way onto the Ducks' roster after starting the season with the San Diego Gulls.

"It's always good to see when you have a young kid that has kind of never been on your radar screen," said Carlyle, who is in his second stint as Anaheim's head coach. "We didn't even have him for training camp because he was injured and then he comes in and he's been an every-game player for us since we got him."

With his team already up 1-0, Kase doubled the Ducks' lead with 5:25 left in the second period when he caught Miller out of position before throwing a puck in front that caromed off Vancouver defenceman Nikita Tryamkin, the post and finally Erik Gudbranson before crossing the line.

"It's unbelievable," said Kase, who was playing his eighth NHL game after recording three goals and four assists in nine outings with San Diego. "It was a little bit lucky."

Jakob Silfverberg and Andrew Cogliano had the other goals for Anaheim (12-8-4), while John Gibson finished with 27 stops.

"We're getting better at playing as a group night in and night out," said Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf. "Our guys are doing a great job surrounding our net and not giving a whole lot up."

Henrik Sedin replied for Vancouver (10-12-2), while Miller stopped 21 shots in taking the loss as the Canucks saw their modest two-game winning streak snapped.

"Sometimes you work your butt off and you lose, but when you lose knowing you could have given a bit more it's very disappointing," said Vancouver defenceman Luca Sbisa. "I don't know why it happened. We had a lot of momentum going into this game, putting two wins together. I think it's something with our heads mentally.

"Obviously we didn't go into this game giving 100 per cent."