11/04/2023 – CanucksBanter

By Andrew Phillip Chernoff | CanucksBanter

November 4, 2023

The Vancouver Canucks (8-2-0-1), 2nd in the Pacific Division, hosted the Dallas Stars (7-2-0-1), 1rst in the Central Division, at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, B.C. icing the game with a 2-0 win.

It was the Canucks 6 win in their last 7-games (6-0-0-1) overall; and 4th win in 5 games (4-0-0-1) at home this season.

Pius Suter and Elias Pettersson had the goals; Dakota Joshua, Carson Soucy, Filip Hronek, and Ilya Mikheyev had assists.

Canucks starting goalie Thatcher Demko stopped all 27 shots to earn his 2nd shutout and 6th win of the young season. He has a 1.55 GAA and a .947 SV%.

Game Review

The Canucks had an in auspicious first period scoring no goals for the first time this season, and the Stars were being inhospitable visitors by drawing penalties and just causing problems for the Canucks in general, in all three zones.

Between goalies Jake Otteninger for Dallas and Thatcher Demko for the Canucks, the opening period was scoreless, as they were each trying to extend their personal 4-game winning streaks.

Both teams entered the middle frame, leading the NHL in 2nd period goal differential with Vancouver at +14 and Dallas at +10. So the odds were good that one team would open the scoring.

The Canucks did just that as Pius Suter (2) scored at even strength, assisted by Dakota Joshua (1) and Carson Soucy (3), at 4:21 to to take a 1-0 lead.

Vancouver continued to take the play to Dallas, eventually taking a two goal lead at 2-0 at 15:53, at even strength, by Elias Pettersson (6), assisted by Filip Hronek (11) and Ilya Mikheyev (3).

Thatcher Demko would have to have a great 3rd period, and his teammates play lights out to secure a victory.

And once again, Vancouver and Thatcher Demko would go lights out in the 3rd period and take a 2-0 victory over the Dallas Stars.

Neither team had a power play in the final period, and both goalies frustrated their opponents.

Dallas pulled their starting goalie with 3:54 left in the game, and the Canucks withstood the defensive pressure and did a wonderful job of lightly putting the puck down the ice to avoid icing, eventually managing to make goalie Jake Otteninger take his net back.