Vancouver @ Anaheim preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 26, 2019 ) Anaheim 5, Vancouver 4

The Vancouver Canucks are on a roll after dropping their first two games of the season thanks to a rejuvenated offense that has produced at least five goals on six occasions during a torrid 8-1-1 stretch. The Canucks have earned points in five consecutive games (4-0-1) as they prepare to visit the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night in the second of a three-game road trip.

Vancouver has erupted for 22 goals over the past four games after opening its trek with a 5-3 win at Los Angeles that was sparked by four power-play tallies. "Our power play is really clicking right now," forward Brock Boeser said after collecting a hat trick against the Kings. "So I think that's huge and we've got to make sure we keep going." Offense had been a problem for the Ducks, particularly on the road, but they opened a seven-game homestand with a season-high goal total in a 7-4 rout of Winnipeg on Tuesday. "We're going to have to have everyone digging in and contributing," first-year coach Dallas Eakins said. "Whether it's goal scoring, saving goals, blocking shots, this is going to have to be a team effort each and every night."

TV: 10 p.m. ET, Sportsnet Pacific (Vancouver), Prime Ticket (Anaheim)

ABOUT THE CANUCKS (8-3-1): Defenseman Quinn Hughes, drafted No. 7 overall in 2018, has provided a spark since he was shifted to Vancouver's power play on Oct. 20, collecting seven assists with the man advantage in five games. "Sometimes I feel that he must have been a forward growing up or something," center Elias Pettersson said. "He just creates so much with his speed and the way he moves the puck. It's really great to have and fun to see. It's fun to play with him." Pettersson has consecutive three-assist games and 12 points during a five-game streak.

ABOUT THE DUCKS (8-6-0): Defenseman Hampus Lindholm, who has a team-high nine assists, returned to practice Thursday and could rejoin the lineup after sitting out the past two games due to a lower-body injury. His return will be needed after Anaheim learned that Lindholm's defense partner, Josh Manson, will be sidelined for five to 10 weeks with a sprained knee ligament. Josh Mahura had a spectacular season debut with three assists in a 2:52 span to become the sixth rookie blue-liner in league history with three assists in under three minutes.

OVERTIME

1. Boeser has five goals and two assists in his last three overall but has only one of each in six games versus Anaheim.

2. Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf has scored in three straight games and has 49 points (14 goals, 35 assists) in 52 contests versus Vancouver.

3. Canucks G Jacob Markstrom is 4-5-0 with a 2.32 goals-against average versus Anaheim.

PREDICTION: Ducks 4, Canucks 3