The Vancouver Canucks (19-19-6) went to Calgary (21-13-6) to play their Pacific Division opponent on Saturday night, looking for their fourth consecutive road victory, and second consecutive win on their four game road trip.
It would take overtime, and a goal by Calgary’s Johnny Gaudreau to give the Flames a 1-0 win over the Vancouver Canucks, ending the Canucks road game winning streak at three games.
The Canucks opened up their road trip on Thursday night in Winnipeg with a 5-1, on the coat-trails of J.T. Martin with a hat-trick, and Spencer Martin’s first NHL victory in the NHL.
Meanwhile, the Flames dropped a 5-1 decision on the road to the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night.
Thatcher Demko started in goal for Vancouver after recently returning to the lineup from COVID protocol. Starting for the Flames Jacob Markstrom.
Next up for Vancouver, the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday night, followed by the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night, on the back end of back-to-back games, before returning home to play the Arizona Coyotes a week later on February 8th.
The opening period was not totally eventful, until a penalty to Tyler Myers who received a match penalty for the hit to the head of Trevor Lewis and two minutes for boarding at 13:02. Calgary’s Brett Ritchie received two minutes for roughing on the same play for defending Lewis.
With a five minute power play, the Flames were looking to take a decisive advantage in the game against Vancouver, and score a goal or more. The Canucks however would respond well, killing off the major to Myers. And the period would end scoreless.
- Calgary outshot Vancouver 7-1
- Canucks had 14 penalty minutes to 2 minutes for the Flames
- Canucks lone shot was from Tyler Motte shorthanded at 15:11 of the period
- Vancouver was 12 for 21 in faceoffs.
- J.T. Miller was 8 for 9 in faceoffs; 4 for 4 when Canucks shorthanded
- Bo Horvat 3 for 7 in faceoffs; 1 for 5 at at even strength
- Canucks a perfect 2 for 2 on the penalty kill
The Canucks would have to come out for the the middle period playing much better, generating some offense and playing more disciplined. Canucks needed shots for goals to compete with the Flames, who out chanced the Canucks in shots 28-6 in the opening period.
Within seconds of the second period starting, the Flames were on the power play for a third time in the game when Bo Horvat went off for hooking Andrew Mangiapane at 0:10. The Canucks killed off the penalty with only one shot on Demko.
The Canucks would get a power play of their own when Quinn Hughes would be interfered with, by Brett Ritchie at 3:35. The Canucks generated no shots on the power play and were being outshot 12-1 in the game at the end of the man advantage.
With twelve minutes left in the second period, Calgary was outshooting Vancouver 14-3 and the Flames were getting the occasional good scoring opportunity with Demko coming up with the big save to keep the game scoreless. Unfortunately his teammates were unable to generate sustained offensive play in the Calgary end, with most of the period being played in the Canucks end.
With the Canucks playing better and generating offensive pressure, the Flames broke out of their end, led by Johnny Gaudreau and they would be awarded a penalty shot on a hook by Luke Schenn on Johnny Gaudreau, and once more Thatcher Demko would come up big with a great save to keep the game even at 0-0 at 14:22.
The second period expired with no goals scored.
- Calgary outshooting Vancouver 20-9 after two periods
- Calgary 0 for 3 on the power play; Vancouver 0 for 1
- Canucks 24 for 42 in faceoffs
- J.T. Miller 13 for 17 in faceoffs; 8 for 9 in the defensive end
- Bo Horvat 6 for 13 in faceoffs
- Vancouver 8 for 9 in faceoffs shorthanded
- Brock Boeser, Tyler Motte 2 shots each; 5 Canucks: 1 shot each
- Flames 12 giveaways after two periods
- Canucks 7 takeaways after two periods
- Calgary had 54 shot attempts after two periods
The Canucks entered the 3rd period of the game defying the odds with the game scoreless, and their four leaf clover well used and facing the stark reality that whether in regulation, overtime or a shootout, at least one goal would be necessary to win the game, on at least one shot into the Calgary net. A sobering truth indeed.
Both teams playing with desperation early in the final period, knowing the first shot to enter a net would be a huge goal for a team. Nearing the halfway point of the period, Vancouver was outshooting Calgary 4-0.
Nils Hoglander would receive a penalty for interference on Dillon Dube, and Calgary a man advantage and an opportunity to get the opening goal of the game at 7:21, but once again Demko and the Canucks would kill the penalty.
Soon after the Flames power play, Dillion Dube would go to the penalty box for the Flames for tripping Conor Garland, returning the Canucks to the power play, and a welcome man advantage to help them get the much prized first goal of the game, with less than 10 minutes left in regulation play.
With 5:44 left in the game, the speed of the game was increasing, with both teams generating some offensive chances and the Flames outshooting the Canucks by a two to one margin, 30-15 and forcing Vancouver to spend more time defending, instead of being on the offensive.
Sean Monahan would get sent off for high-sticking on Oliver Ekman-Larsson at 16:03, and another man advantage for Vancouver. What is it going to take for the Canucks to score?
With the penalty over and 1:57 left in the game, the game still scoreless, both teams were looking at overtime to possibly determine the winner of the game in sudden death.
Deadlocked at 0-0 at the end of regulation play, overtime and five minutes extra time would be necessary for both teams to try and settle the winner, with both teams picking up at least one point for their efforts in the first 60 minutes of play.
It would not take long, as a failed attempt to score by the Canucks, would lead to a break out by the Flames and a goal by Johnny Gaudreau in overtime, and the Flames 1-0 win over the Canucks at 29 seconds of play.
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