The Vancouver Canucks welcomed the high-flying Colorado Avalanche to Rogers Arena on Sunday night for the penultimate game of their short four-game homestand. Both teams came away with wins last night, with the Canucks beating the Columbus Blue Jackets in a tight 4-3 affair and the Avalanche doing the opposite, defeating the Edmonton Oilers 9-1.
Kevin Lankinen was in goal again for the Canucks after stopping 29 shots against the Blue Jackets, while the Avalanche sent MacKenzie Blackwood to the crease after Scott Wedgewood played yesterday. Led by a five-point night from Nathan MacKinnon and capped off by Gavin Brindley’s goal in overtime, the Avalanche were escaped Vancouver with a win. The Canucks fought back from deficits throughout the match, first 2-0, then 3-2 and 4-3, but ultimately lost 5-4 less than a minute into overtime. With the win, the Avalanche improve to 10-1-5, while the Canucks fall to 8-8-1. Here is your game overview.
Summary of the game
After scoring nine goals last night, it didn’t take long for the Avalanche to get on the board in this game. MacKinnon, coming off a four-point effort against the Oilers, opened the scoring just 6:41 into the game. Just a few minutes later, he scored again on the power play, with his 14th-best effort in the league, making the Avalanche’s lead 2–0.
The Canucks quickly stopped the bleeding, though, with Linus Karlsson notching his first of the season after a great individual effort, covering Blackwood with a between-the-legs move at the edge of the crease. Despite the Avalanche closing the period 2-1, the Canucks had the edge in shots on goal, 16-9.
Early in the second period, Kiefer Sherwood tied the game at two with his 10th of the season. The Canucks then had two power plays, but could not take the lead, despite a number of chances for Blackwood. The period ended tied at two, with the Canucks still ahead on the shot clock, 26-16.
The Avalanche struck early in the third with a deft tip from Artturi Lehkonen to take their second lead of the evening at 3-2. The Canucks tied the score at three with a shorthanded goal from Drew O’Connor, the Avalanche took the lead again with another goal from Lehkonen, before a late goal from DeBrusk tied the score at four, forcing overtime. Brindley put an end to it early in the extra frame when he connected on a rebound for Lankinen and poked it five holes to give the Avalanche their first win of the season in overtime.
What’s next?
The Canucks wrap up their homestand against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday before embarking on a short three-game road trip that takes them through Carolina, Tampa Bay and Florida. The Avalanche, meanwhile, return home for their own four-game homestand, which begins Tuesday against the Pacific Division-leading Anaheim Ducks.
#MacKinnons #5Point #Night #Leads #Avalanche #Win #Canucks #Hockey #Writers #Colorado #Avalanche #Latest #News #Analysis