Canucks visit Ducks seeking payback

The Vancouver Canucks will try to get some payback on Friday night when they visit the Anaheim Ducks in the home opener at the Honda Center.

The Ducks and Canucks opened the lockout-shortened season Saturday in Vancouver and Anaheim breezed to a 7-3 win in that contest.

Anaheim lit up Canucks starting goaltender Cory Schneider for five goals on 14 shots last week, but he fared much better in his second outing. Schneider turned aside 34 shots through regulation and overtime on Wednesday and helped Vancouver secure the 3-2 home shootout win over Calgary.

Zack Kassian scored the winner in the shootout as Vancouver earned its first victory of the season after losing to the Ducks and Edmonton on home ice.

In the fifth round, Kassian faked to the backhand and slipped the disc past Miikka Kiprusoff. Curtis Glencross had the last chance for Calgary, but his wrist shot was stopped by Schneider.

Kassian also scored in regulation as did Mason Raymond for the Canucks, who avoided losing their first three to begin a season since the 2009-10 season.

"He was great," Canucks forward Henrik Sedin said about Kassian. "He's a big body, he holds on to the puck and when he has confidence he can make a lot of plays for himself."

Schneider is expected to get the start over Roberto Luongo on Friday as he attempts to redeem himself for last week's performance against the Ducks.

Friday's game marks the start of a three-game road trip for Vancouver, which will also stop in San Jose and Los Angeles during the swing.

Anaheim should be well rested for the rematch with the Canucks, as the Ducks have been idle since pushing their season record to 2-0 with Monday's win in Calgary.

The Ducks are off to their first 2-0 start since beginning the 2006-07 campaign with three straight victories. That also happens to be the season that ended with Anaheim winning its one and only Stanley Cup.

Anaheim used a pair of goals from Ryan Getzlaf, including the eventual game- winner in the third period, to pick up Monday's 5-4 win in Calgary.

Daniel Winnik also had two goals and an assist while Saku Koivu added a goal and two assists for the Ducks. Jonas Hiller stopped 21 shots in the win.

Anaheim is kicking off a two-game homestand on Friday and will also host the Nashville Predators on Saturday. The Ducks were 21-18-2 as the home team in 2011-12.

The Ducks have taken two of three and four of the last seven meetings with the Canucks. Vancouver has claimed two of the last three matchups in Anaheim, but the Ducks still have four wins in the previous seven encounters in Orange County.