Rossi's Late Goal Lifts Canucks Over Ducks

Vancouver scores with 9.5 seconds left in overtime to prevent Anaheim from clinching playoff spot.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 4:18am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the chaotic final seconds of a hockey game, with the players and puck breaking down into sharp, overlapping shapes and colors.A cubist interpretation of the dramatic final moments of the Canucks-Ducks matchup, where a last-second goal decided the outcome and playoff implications.Los Angeles Today

Marco Rossi scored the game-winning goal with just 9.5 seconds remaining in overtime to lift the Vancouver Canucks to a 4-3 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday night. The loss prevented the Ducks from clinching a playoff spot, as they remain at 90 points on the season.

Why it matters

The Canucks' win over the Ducks was an important result in the NHL playoff race, as Anaheim missed an opportunity to secure a postseason berth. Vancouver, meanwhile, continues to struggle this season with the fewest points in the league.

The details

Rossi's game-winning goal came on a one-timer from the right circle that beat Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal. Cutter Gauthier scored two goals for Anaheim, while Curtis Douglas, Jake DeBrusk, and Brock Boeser tallied for Vancouver. The Canucks' 56 points this season are the fewest in the NHL, 17 fewer than the next closest team, the Calgary Flames.

  • Gauthier opened the scoring at 3:41 of the first period.
  • Douglas answered about 10 minutes later and DeBrusk added a power-play goal with 5:23 left until the first intermission that gave Vancouver a 2-1 lead.
  • Boeser scored a short-handed goal at 4:28 of the third period, but Gauthier answered with his second goal 37 seconds later and Leo Carlsson made it 3-3 with 13:04 left in regulation.
  • Rossi scored the game-winner with 9.5 seconds left in overtime.

The players

Marco Rossi

The 24-year-old forward scored the game-winning goal for the Vancouver Canucks with just 9.5 seconds remaining in overtime.

Cutter Gauthier

The 22-year-old Ducks forward scored two goals in the game, giving him a career-high 40 goals on the season.

Lukas Dostal

The Ducks goaltender made 22 saves in the losing effort.

Curtis Douglas

The Canucks forward scored a goal to tie the game at 1-1 in the first period.

Brock Boeser

The Canucks forward scored a short-handed goal in the third period to give Vancouver a 3-2 lead.

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What they’re saying

“We must find a way to close out games like this. This was a tough loss, but we'll regroup and be ready for our next game.”

— Dallas Eakins, Ducks Head Coach

“It was great to see the guys battle back and get the win. Marco's goal at the end was a real momentum-builder for us heading into the final stretch.”

— Bruce Boudreau, Canucks Head Coach

What’s next

The Canucks will host the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday, while the Ducks will visit the Minnesota Wild on the same night.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the contrasting fortunes of the Canucks and Ducks this season. While Anaheim is fighting for a playoff spot, Vancouver continues to struggle near the bottom of the league standings. However, Rossi's late heroics provided a rare bright spot for the Canucks and could give them some momentum heading into their next matchup.