Vancouver Canucks
Flat! Vegas Golden Knights Beat Vancouver Canucks 3-2 in OT
Vegas Golden Knights 3, Vancouver Canucks 2 – Overtime
Forward Jason Dickinson and defenceman Tucker Poolman both joined the line-up. Poolman played just one period before the leaving the game for good with the re-emergence of his headache/illness symptoms.
Brad Richardson’s stomach bug kept the checking centreman out of the match, while Canucks captain Bo Horvat returned after missing 1 2/3 games due to a similar malady.
Game day, somewhat of aย ‘new look’ Vancouver Canucks.
Tanner Pearson, JT Miller, Conor Garland
Elias Pettersson, Bo Horvat, Brock Boeser
Vasily Podkolzin, Nic Petan, Alex Chiasson
Jason Dickinson, Juho Lammikko, Will Lockwood
Quinn Hughes, Luke Schenn
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Tyler Myers
Travis Dermott, Tucker Poolman
Goaltenders:
Thatcher Demko vs. Robin Lehner
Goal Scorers
1st Period 1-0 Vegas – Alex Pietrangelo (13) – Jack Eichel, Chandler Stephenson (6:51) Even Strength
((– Off an offensive zone face-off win, took cross-ice pass, walked in alone to the right wing circle and ripped a wrister shortside on Demko))
1st Period 2-0 Vegas – Jonathan Marchessault (28) – Unassisted (12:31) Even Strength
((– Walked into the slot and used backpedaling D-man Travis Dermott as a screen and high glove on Demmer))
3rd Period 2-1 Vancouver – JT Miller (29) – Oliver Ekman-Larsson (1:42) Even Strength
((– Rips home a one-time snapshot from the slot off a nice little touch pass from OEL))
3rd Period 2-2 Vancouver – Bo Horvat (27) – Unassisted (9:42) Power Play
((– Vegas D-man Alec Martinez tips the puck into his own net off a face-off win))
Overtime 3-2 Shea Theodore (11) Jonathan Marchessault, William Karlsson (2:05) Even strength (3-on-3)
((– Vegas scores off an inexcusable 3-on-1 as two Canucks get caught up ice on the wrong side of the puck and fail on the backcheck))
Special Teams
The Vancouver Canucks have shown a pretty decent power play lately, coming in at a 28.5% over their last 14 opportunities. The real difference lately has been the lack of opportunities. Either opponent’s have been supremely disciplined lately or the officials are putting the whistles away. Looking backward the Canucks have had one, two, and two man advantages in their last three games.
The Golden Knights entered action Sunday with the 24th ranked power play in the NHL. It hasn’t helped long term not having some of their biggest contributors due to injury, including Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone.
The Vegas penalty kill is an uninspiring 78.9%, ranked 17th, although it has successfully killed off the last eight consecutive opposing power plays.
The Golden Knights picked up the first power play just :51 seconds into the game. The Canucks did a solid job. No grade-A scoring chances.
Another giant opportunity came late in the period for Vegas with Elias Pettersson heading off for a high sticking double-minor. The 2nd minor bled into the 2nd period for nine-seconds. The Canucks killed off both.
The Canucks picked up their first power play chance at 12:46 of the second period. Delay of game call, Ronas Rondjberg.
Vancouver earned another one at 7:42 of the third period while trailing by a goal. They would score a fluke goal just as that penalty expired and another had begun. It came right after a two-second-long 5-on-3. The Canucks argued the second penalty should stay on the board but to no avail. The officials said the first one had just rolled off the clock, technically making it a power play goal, and therefore the second penalty went away.
Simmerโs Canucks 3 Stars:
3) Thatcher Demko – Kept Canucks in it after Vegas scored two early goals. Faced 30 shots total.
2) JT Miller – Didn’t play a full game but made a difference. Scored a big goal in the 3rd period after a disjointed first couple of periods. 21:46 TOI, 5 shots.
1) Bo Horvat – Scored a fluke goal to tie it. Should say, got credit for it. Led the forwards in TOI 22:08 and led the team in shots with six. Won 64% of his draws.