By Andrew Phillip Chernoff | CanucksBanter
December 24th, 2024
Elias Pettersson had 2 goals, Quinn Hughes 2 assists and starting goalie Thatcher Demko stopped 26 of 29 shots for the Vancouver Canucks (17-10-7, P% .603, 4rth Pacific Division) and it was just enough to defeat division rivals San Jose Sharks (11-20-6, .378 P%, 8th Pacific Division) at Rogers Arena in a 4-3 win Monday night.
William Ekland had a goal along with Cody Ceci and Luke Kunin and Yaroslav Askarov made 20 saves in his 4th start of the season for the Sharks.
For San Jose, the loss was their 5th consecutive setback in their last 8 games.
The Canucks win put their home record at 7-7-5, and are 1-1-2 in their last 4-games.
Vincent Desharnais, Jake DeBrusk, Teddy Blueger, Nils Höglander, Conor Garland and J.T. Miller had helpers.
Game Summary
The Canucks started out with two registered shots in the first half of the first period but Ottawa was just as inept offensively with four shots of their own, neither team scoring.
The Sharks were given a great opportunity to open the scoring with a 5-on-3 at 11:11 in the last half of the period, and the Sharks scored for a 1-0 lead, continuing on with a 5-on-4 advantage which the Canucks killed off.
The Canucks would reply with a goal of their own by Brock Boeser to even the game at 1-1, 2 minutes and 34 seconds later, and the period would end tied at one.
In the middle frame, both teams entered into fistacuffs in the middle of the second period, both fighting and roughing penalties being called separately.
The two teams eventually got back to hockey and red hot Kiefer Sherwood put the Canucks out in front of the visitors 2-1.
Vancouver didn’t stop with that goal as Elias Pettersson opened up with an offensive explosion with a couple of goals of his own.
Elias Pettersson scored a controversial goal 26 seconds after Sherwood at 17:08, and the Sharks challenged for interference of the goalie on the play. After reviewing the call of a goal, it was upheld, and San Jose received a 2-minute penalty, and Canucks went up 3-1.
Canucks received a 5-on-3 advantage when J.T. Miller drew a penalty and the Canucks Pettersson scored his second consecutive goal to make it 4-1 Vancouver at 17:52 on the power-play.
Three goals in 70 seconds in the second period and the Canucks went into the final period looking to add a win before Christmas Day.
The Sharks made a game of it in the 3rd period though, scoring two goals, including one with 6 seconds left in the game. San Jose outshot Vancouver 13-4 in the final period after being outshot by Vancouver 14-6 in the middle frame.
Too little, too late for the visitors.
Game Stats
Canucks Head Coach Rick Tocchet speaks
Next up for the Canucks are the Seattle Kraken at Rogers Arena on Saturday, December 28th at 1 pm PST.
