By Andrew Chernoff

October 18, 2016

Vancouver (3-0-0=6 pts) played their 3rd game of four consecutive home games to start the season, taking on the St. Louis Blues (3-0-1=7 pts) at Rogers Arena tonight, remaining undefeated to start the season, defeating the Blues 2-1 in overtime.

The game was their third straight comeback, third straight overtime, equaling their three win total from last season of coming back after being behind after two periods.

According to Elias Sports, the Vancouver Canucks are the first team in NHL history to win their first three games in a season while never leading in regulation in those games.

St. Louis entered the game having won three in a row to start the season, the fourth time in its history it had done so (1969-70, 1993-94, 2013-14).

The game was also the first game of a three game road trip in Western Canada for the Blues.

Bo Horvat (2) tied up the game at 1-1 with 2:55 left in the game; Henrik Sedin (1) with the overtime goal at 1:40, were the goal scorers, pulling it out of the fire again, as they scored two unanswered goals for the victory. Assists went to Sven Baertschi (1), Erik Gudbranson (1), Chris Tanev and Daniel Sedin (1).

The first period was scoreless.

In the second, St. Louis would make it 1-0 on a goal by Vladimir Tarasenko (4), assisted by Alex Steen (4), at 10:23, and the Blues would lead 1-0 after two periods.

It was the second time in three games the Canucks gave up the game opening goal.

In the third, with less than three minutes left, Bo Horvat (2) would make it 1-1, assisted by Erik Gudbranson (1) and Sven Baertschi (1), at 17:05.

The game would end with both teams tied at 1-1 in regulation, forcing overtime.

As unthinkable as it was entering the game, the Canucks would overcome a one goal deficit, when Henrik Sedin would score the overtime winner at 1:40 into the extra session, to give the Canucks a 2-1victory in OT.

It was Vancouver’s 3rd win in four nights, and 3rd straight win of their four game homestand to start the season.

Canucks starting goalie Jacob Markstrom, who was not expected to start the game, stopped 23 of 24 shots in the game, for his second consecutive win of the season.

Surprise back up Canuck goalie Matt Hewitt of the UBC Thunderbirds, subbed in for an ailing Ryan Miller.

Vancouver was behind, 1-0 after one; trailed 1-0 after two; with the game being tied 1-1 after regulation.

Vancouver outshot St. Louis 26-24 in the game.

The Vancouver penalty kill was 3 for 3, with 0 shots against, 0 shots for; the power play was 0 for 4, with 6 shots for, and 2 shots against.

Next Game: Oct 20, 2016: Canucks host Buffalo at Rogers Arena @7 p.m. PST

Canucks Post Game Notes

Regular Season Game 3, Home Game 3

Final Score      1     2     3     OT   SO     F
StL                        0     1      0        0      –       1
Van                       0     0     1         1       –       2

Records:
StL: 3-0-1 (Road: 1-0-1)
Van: 3-0-0 (Home: 3-0-0)

Stats:   SF  SA   PP    PK    PIM     CF          CA       SCF  SCA  HITS 
StL         24   26   0-3    4-4       8      38 (32)    55 (38)      11      19        14
Van        26   24   0-4    3-3       6       55 (38)   38 (32)      19      11        13
                                               5v5 stats in parenthesis for CF & CA

Face-offs:

• Total: 27-56: 48 percent
  • defensive zone: 11-19: 58 percent
  • offensive zone: 7-20: 35 percent
  • neutral zone: 9-17: 53 percent
• Horvat was 9-14; H.Sedin, 6-13; Sutter, 8-18; Gaunce, 3-7.

Game Stats Reports:  Game, Face-Offs, Shots, Event

Notes:

• With tonight’s win, the Canucks have won 7 straight games when allowing three or less goals, going back to last season.
• With tonight’s win, the Canucks are 3-7 in their last 10 games playing on 1 days rest and 5-0 in their last 5 home games, going back to last season.
• Vancouver are now 7-4-0 overall against the Blues since 2013.
• Canucks are now 4-2-0 at home against St. Louis since 2013; the Blues had won the previous two games.
• Jacob Markstrom is now undefeated in two season starts, with a 2.00 GAA, with a .913 SV%.
• Brandon Sutter led the Canucks with 5 shots; Henrik Sedin had 4 shots; Alex Edler had 3 shots.
• Brendan Gaunce led all Canucks with 3 hits.
• Luca Sbisa had 3 giveaways; Alex Burrows and Jannik Hansen each had 2 takeaways.
•  Henrik Sedin and Philip Larsen each had 3 shot attempts blocked; Ben Hutton had 2 shot attempts blocked .
• Luca Sbisa had 2 blocked shots.
• Vancouver had 9-blocked shots; 6-giveaways; 8-takeaways, 15-shot attemps blocked and 14-missed shots, in the game.
• The Canucks had 15 players with a positive Corsi For (All Situations) in the game led by Ben Hutton +15; Loui Eriksson +13; Markus Granlund and Brandon Sutter +11 each; Daniel Sedin +10.
• Vancouver had 14 players with a positive Corsi For (5-on-5): Ben Hutton, +10; Markus Granlund +6; Brandon Sutter and Erik Gudbranson +5 each; Loui Eriksson and Chris Tanev +4 each.

Note: Corsi stats from naturalstattrick.com and hockeystats.ca