By Andrew Phillip Chernoff | CanucksBanter
September 29, 2024
Jonathan Lekkerimaki and Aatu Raty scored for the Canucks (2-2-0) and the Calgary Flames (4-0-1) defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary on Saturday night.
Arturs Silovs allowed 4 goals on 24 shots in the first two periods before being replaced by Nikita Tolopilo in the 3rd period, stopping all 8 shots he faced.
It was the second straight loss in consecutive nights for the Canucks who started the 2024 preseason exhibition with wins in their first two preseason games.
Ryan Lomberg, Brayden Pachal each had a goal and an assist; Blake Coleman and Adam Klapka a goal each for Calgary.
Dan Vladar made 15 saves on 17 shots through two periods for the Flames with backup goalie Devin Cooley making 10 saves in the final period.
Canucks Head Coach Rick Tocchet took the high road after the game in assessing his team’s loss:
Calgary scored before the opening period was seven minutes done with two goals in 2:30 to take a 2-0 lead by the 6:53 mark.
Jonathan Lekkerimaki would score his first goal of the preseason cutting the Flames lead by one goal at 2-1 some 1:42 later, assists to Daniel Sprong and Carson Soucy.
After Calgary went up by two goals, the Canucks responded on a 2 on 1 by Conor Garland and Aatu Räty with Räty burying his shot off a pass from Garland to once again see Vancouver pull within a goal of Calgary 3-2 at 11:19.
But with less than for minutes left in the middle frame, the Flames went back up by two goals at 4-2 to close out the 2nd period.
Vancouver finishes their three game road set on Monday in Edmonton against the Oilers.