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Canucks hope rest, better play helps even series

Apr 27, 2007 - 3:47 PM Vancouver at Anaheim 10:00 pm EDT Western Conference semifinals Anaheim leads, 1-0

ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- Andy McDonald and the Anaheim Ducks started the Western Conference semifinals with a bang. Roberto Luongo hopes to silence them a second time around.

Luongo and the Vancouver Canucks look to even up the Western Conference semis when they visit the Ducks in Game Two on Friday.

The Ducks did a masterful job at keeping players in front of the Canucks' goal in Game One, scoring four goals - three on their first nine shots - against Luongo on the way to a 5-1 victory Wednesday.

McDonald tallied twice in the opening period and added a power-play goal in the third to record his first career hat trick.

Chris Kunitz had three assists and Jean-Sebastien Giguere stopped 26 shots for Anaheim, which had a five-day layoff between the conference quarterfinals and Wednesday's contest.

Luongo faced 31 shots before getting pulled for Dany Sabourin midway through the third period.

The Canucks should have more energy than in the opener, when they have had a day to rest and prepare for the first time in nearly a week. They did not wrap up their quarterfinal series against Dallas until a victory Monday in Game Seven.

Vancouver may also be getting a lift with the possible return of their best all-around defender, Sami Salo. He left the final game against Dallas on Monday and missed the opening game in Anaheim apparently because of a back problem.

The series shifts to Vancouver for games Sunday and Tuesday.