Vancouver Canucks Demolish Coyotes 7-1 to Keep Hopes Alive

Vancouver Canucks 7, Arizona Coyotes 1

The Canucks completed the season series sweep having previously beaten Arizona 5-1 on February 8th at Rogers Arena and again by the same score on April 7th in Glendale, AZ.

Goaltenders:

Karel Vejmelka vs. Thatcher Demko. Vejmelka was replaced by Harri Sateri after two periods.

Goal Scorers

1st Period 1-0 Vancouver – Alex Chiasson (11) – JT Miller, Quinn Hughes (10:18) Even Strength

((– Canucks held possession just inside the blueline and Miller found Chiasson in the slot for slap-pass deflection.))

1st Period 2-0 Vancouver – Sheldon Dries (1) – Brad Hunt, Oliver Ekman-Larsson (19:00) Power Play

((– Same thing only different. A slap pass from almost the same spot from Hunt and a high slot tip by Dries.))

2nd Period 3-0 Vancouver – Elias Pettersson (27) – Quinn Hughes, JT Miller (4:29) Power Play

((– Pettersson unloaded from the RW circle.))

2nd Period 3-1 Arizona – Andrew Ladd (7) – Phil Kessel, JJ Moser (10:38) Power Play

((– Ladd was alone on the doorstep to put back a rebound.))

2nd Period 4-1 Vancouver – Vasily Podkolzin (12) JT Miller, Quinn Hughes (15:25) Power Play

((– The first unit was able to stay out on a bad PK line change and rush up ice to find Podkolzin deking to the net.))

2nd Period 5-1 Vancouver – Conor Garland (16) Vasily Podkolzin (15:39) Even Strength

((– Tenacious forecheck creates a turnover and a soft goal on a wrister from the top of the LW circle. Off glove and in.))

2nd Period 6-1 Vancouver – Vasily Podkolzin (13) JT Miller (19:33) Even Strength

((– One-timer from the RW circle.))

3rd Period 7-1 Vancouver – Alex Chiasson (12) JT Miller, Tyler Myers (8:26) Even Strength

((– Canucks convert on a 3-on-1 with Chiasson getting his 2nd of the night on a one-timer from the LW circle.))

Scoreboard Watching

The Edmonton Oilers shut-out the Nashville Predators 4-0 which was helpful to Vancouver, as was the Minnesota Wild beating the Dallas Stars in overtime 3-2. The Canucks would have preferred a regulation result there, but beggars can’t be choosers.

Less helpful, but not as urgent because they’re not yet in a playoff position, was the Vegas Golden Knights whomping the Calgary Flames at the Saddledome 6-1. That said, look for Vegas to make the playoffs.

Special Teams

“The league is so special teams driven …” — Canucks Defenceman Tyler Myers after the morning skate Thursday. “Each and every team. It seems the top teams in the league have good special teams play.”  The Canucks have moved up to 9th best in the NHL at 22.9%.

A simple explanation as to why we always include these special teams summaries in the game reports.

And whatayaknow, Myers makes a nice dipsy-doo move into the right wing circle and gets dumped by Travis Boyd for the game’s first power play. The Coyotes feature the NHL’s worst penalty kill at 73.7%.

The Canucks did not convert. They almost appeared to be chomping-at-the-bit, almost over-anxious for what they must have considered a golden opportunity to keep the good times rolling. Some sloppy, rushed decisions.

Vancouver would get another opportunity in short order. JJ Moser for tripping at 17:09.

This time the second unit would convert in the waning seconds of the man advantage with Sheldon Dries getting his first as a Canuck and the 4th of his NHL career. The 27-year-old forward was an emergency call-up from the AHL following the injury to Tanner Pearson and is on a two-way contract.

At the 3:56 mark of the 2nd period, Arizona committed the dreaded too-many-men-on-the-ice infraction. The Canucks wasted little time in making them pay. Pettersson ripped a one-timer home from his favourite spot in the right wing circle.

Vancouver’s first penalty came at 8:38 of the 2nd period – Quinn Hughes for cross checking. The league’s 30th ranked power play (13.8%) converted, sort of. Initially, Arizona scored one-second after the penalty expired with the clock reading 9:21. Officially even strength, time of the goal 10:39. Apparently they changed the scoring later to 10:38 and gave Arizona a power play goal and we have no idea why.

Vancouver earned another PP at 13:52 of the 2nd period. Another trip. The Canucks converted.

In the third period, Vancouver’s Conor Garland went off for interference at 6:14. The best scoring chance came to the Vancouver Canucks short-handed to Juho Lammikko who fired wide on a breakaway.

Vancouver Canucks finished 3-for-4, the Arizona Coyotes went 1-for-2.

Simmer’s Canucks 3 Stars:

3) Quinn Hughes – Three assists.

2) Vasily Podkolzin – Absolutely brimming with confidence, two goals and an assist. Just missed the hat trick.

1) JT Miller – Five, count ’em, five assists.