Two Comebacks! Canucks Clip the Islanders 4-3

Final: Vancouver Canucks 4, New York Islanders 3

Heading In

With one win and one loss on their four-game eastern road trip thus far, the Vancouver Canucks look to bounce back from their 7-2 drubbing at the hands of the New Jersey Devils on Monday night in Newark. That loss followed Sunday’s impressive win for Vancouver 5-2 over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden,

Thatcher Demko in net for the Canucks vs. Semyon Varlamov starting for the Islanders. Canucks Head Coach Bruce Boudreau coached Varlamov for three seasons early in Varlamov’s career when both were with the Washington Capitals.

Hunting for a Point Streak

Brad Hunt tallied his first-ever goal for his hometown team to tie the game in the 2nd period. It was the 20th NHL goal of the 33-year-old Maple Ridge native’s career. Hunt also nabbed an assist against New Jersey on Monday night and has a two-game point streak going, his first of the season. He has this one goal to go with seven assists.

Goal Scorers

2nd Period 1-0 Islanders – Noah Dobson (10) – Brock Nelson, Andy Greene (3:37) Even Strength

2nd Period 1-1 Vancouver – Brad Hunt (1) – Unassisted (7:19) Even Strength

2nd Period 2-1 Vancouver – JT Miiller (21) – Brock Boeser, Quinn Hughes (11:50) Even Strength

2nd Period 2-2 Islanders – Kyle Palmieri (7) – Adam Peleck, Jean-Gabriel Pageau  (18:20) Even Strength

3rd Period 3-2 Islanders – Anthony Beauvillier (9) Unassisted (1:49) Even Strength

3rd Period 3-3 Vancouver – Nils Höglander (9) Conor Garland, Quinn Hughes (9:34) Even Strength

3rd Period 4-3 Vancouver – Vasily Podkolzin (10) Bo Horvat (10:19) Even Strength

Turning Point

Tied 2-2 heading into the 3rd period, we knew things might get a bit tense. Any mistake could come back to haunt either team.

That mistake came early. Brock Boeser fanned on an east/west pass in his D-zone and had it picked off by Anthony Beauvillier who skated in and deked Demko. The goalie got a good piece of the puck but as it bounced along the goal line, Boeser came back to play it away but fanned and fell. 3-2 Islanders.

Unfortunate for Boeser as he had worked hard all evening and was having a very solid night.

The Canucks could only hope the next turning point was their’s … and it was. Not a mistake by the Islanders, just some tenacious forechecking and finish by Vancouver.  (See the 3-3 and 4-3 goals above)

Simmer’s Canucks 3 Stars:

3) Brock Boeser – Despite the mistake, a strong night, in 17:45 of ice time with an assist and three shots.

2) Nils Höglander – Broke his goalless drought, had three shots and three hits.

1) Quinn Hughes- Grace under pressure. 25:37, 4 shots, and two assists.