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Day: March 26, 2022
Canucks Defeat Stars 4-1, Stay Undefeated In Regulation On Road Trip
The Vancouver Canucks (32-26-9) visited the Dallas Stars (36-25-3) at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas in the third game of a four game road trip on Saturday, March 26, 2022.
The Canucks came into the game with a 3-2 win over Colorado Avalanche and a 3-2 Overtime loss against the Minnesota Wild, in their previous road contests on this road trip.
Dallas came into the game with a three game win streak, having won four of their last 5 games.
Dallas , like Vancouver on the outside looking in for a playoff spot: the Stars 2 points out from securing the second and last wild card, Canucks 6 points out. Stars also have three games in hand on Vancouver.
Both teams have been battling against each other for a Wild Card spot in the Western Conference playoffs, and the game was key to both teams efforts to that end at this late point of the season.
“It’s going to be a battle… Today’s game is going to be like a playoff game.” Coach Bruce Boudreau predicted in a meeting with media in Dallas Saturday.
The last time Boudreau made such a bold prediction was on February 19, when the Canucks were about to take on the Anaheim Ducks, and he stated, “This is a pretty important game for both teams, I would think. To me, it has got playoff atmosphere written all over it.”
Anaheim proceeded to score 5 straight goals and win the Pacific Division contest 7-4 at Rogers Arena.
Would the Canucks respond differently with the trade deadline passed and having lost 6 of their last 8 games?
A pair of goals from Elias Pettersson (2-0=2), single goals from J.T. Miller (1-1=2), and Bo Horvat (1-0=1), led the way.
Tanner Pearson, Quinn Hughes, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, chipped in with assists.
Goalie Thatcher Demko stopped 35 of 36 shots, 28 of 29 at even strength, 6 for 6 shorthanded, for a .972 SV% (Save Percentage).
The Canucks played a scoreless opening period against the Stars, entering the middle frame even with their hosts, outshot in the first 14-9, and owning a faceoff win percentage of 54.9 percent.
Goaltender Thatcher Demko came up big for Vancouver at different points of the opening periods of the game, and his teammates had great multiple chances to score on Stars goalie Jake Oettinger to take control of the game.
Both teams put up goals in the 2nd period, Jacob Peterson (11) for Dallas at even strength and Elias Pettersson (19) on the power play. Canucks outshooting Stars 13-7; 54 percent in faceoff wins.
Elias Petterssons (20) second goal of the game early in the 3rd period broke the 1-1 tie giving Vancouver a 2-1 lead but penalties in the last half of the period would challenge the Canucks with Thatcher Demko making outstanding saves with and without his stick, help from the goalposts and his teammates battling hard.
With two minutes left, Stars pulled their goalie, and with 66 seconds left Bo Horvat (26) made it 3-1 with empty net goal.
J.T. Miller (28), 35 seconds later, gave Vancouver a 3 goal advantage at 4-1 to end the game.
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