The Vancouver Canucks (18-18-4), 6th Pacific Division hosted the Florida Panthers (28-8-5), 1rst Atlantic Division at Rogers Arena, looking to extend their consecutive winning streak to three games, as they started a three game home stand after 9 straight games on the road (5-3-1), and 38 days since the last home game.
The game went to a shootout, with the visitors disappointing the home fans with a 2-1 shootout win, their Canucks getting a point, extending their undefeated streak to three games.
Alex Chiasson scored the lone Vancouver goal, and Canucks goalie Spencer Martin stopped 33 of 34 shots, 28 for 28 at even strength, for a .971 save percentage (SV%).
Canucks were outshot 34-28; 1 for 4 on the power play; 1 for 2 on the penalty kill; 27 for 57: 47% in faceoffs.
GAME CHANGEUP
Canucks forward J.T. Miller and NHL All-Star goalie Thatcher Demko were unavailable to play, placed into COVID-19 protocol on January 20, joining Bo Horvat (Jan.18), Justin Dowling, Conor Garland (Jan.16), and Jaroslav Halak (Jan.15).
Abbotsford Canucks goalie Spencer Martin, who was called up to the taxi squad earlier, was pressed into action tonight, with Michael DiPietro, also from the Abbotsford AHL squad, as Martin’s backup.
The Florida Panthers started their own Spencer in net, Spencer Knight, in a game of dueling Spencer’s between the pipes.
Abbotsford players Sheldon Dries and Justin Bailey were also inserted into the lineup from the taxi squad to face the Panthers, starting on a line with Vasily Podkolzin.
Both Spencer’s were sharp, Canucks scored late in the opening period and took a 1-0 lead to the final period, and in the first minute of the third the Panthers would even the score at 1-1. The game would end still tied at 1-1. Overtime would settle nothing, and finally Florida would get the extra point with the win at 2-1.
THE GAME
With 3:42 left in the opening period, the Canucks opened up the scoring with the first goal of the game to lead 1-0, on a power play goal by Alex Chiasson (4), off a deflection, assisted by Tanner Pearson (11) and Quinn Hughes (30) at 16:18.
- The Panthers outshot Vancouver 11 to 6; dominated in faceoffs 10 for 15.
- Canucks Nils Hoglander and Alex Chiasson had 2 shots each.
- Elias Pettersson was a poor 0 for 4 in the faceoff circle in the offensive zone, and 0 for 6 overall in the period.
- Vancouver were 3 for 8 in offensive zone draws in the 1rst period.
- Hughes assist on the opening goal was his 16th assist in 17 games since Dec.1/21
In the middle frame the Canucks took the play to Florida, outshooting the Panthers 7-1 with 12:54 to play and coming close to a two goal lead, when Tanner Pearson rang a shot off the goalpost of the Florida net on a Vancouver man advantage at 4:34. Canucks would receive another man advantage at 14:22, but were unable to get that two goal lead for a second time in the period.
- Canucks outshot Panthers 10 to 7; both teams 11 for 22 in faceoffs with period to play
- After two periods, Pettersson 3 for 12 in faceoffs overall, 1 for 7 in the offensive zone
- Hoglander led Canucks in shots after the middle frame with 5 shots; Chiasson with 3, Tyler Motte 2 shots
- Vancouver were 8 for 20 in offensive zone draws after two periods
Vancouver entered the final period nursing a single goal lead at 1-0 from the first period. Twenty-seven seconds into the period, Canucks were shorthanded due to a Hoglander penalty, Florida with their second power play of the game. Sam Reinhart would pot the goal infront of the Vancouver net, knotting the game at 1-1.
The Panthers had the momentum with the tying goal, and carried the play against the Canucks. Vancouver would get a fourth power play at 8:18 with Aaron Ekblad in the sin bin, getting a number of chances but were unable to bury one of them and continued the game 1 for 4 with the man advantage, and the score still even at 1-1.
With 5:44 left and shots even at 26 a piece, you knew both teams might play with more desire to get that 2-1 goal, and then defend that slim one goal advantage for a win in regulation play. Spencer Martin was doing his best to buy time for the Canucks to get the leading goal. But off to overtime it would go.
In overtime, nothing would be settled and the game would be decided by shootout, with the Panthers getting the extra point with a 2-1 shootout win.
MATCH-UP INFO
