Would the Vancouver Canucks take advantage of an opportunity to get back to .500 in the standings with a win against the Sharks in San Jose on Wednesday night?
YES
It was wacky and wide open and wildly entertaining, and for the second consecutive game the Canucks took advantage of a late third period power play opportunity to tie the score, going on to win each match in overtime.
Monday night it was a tripping call to Montreal Canadiens defenceman Johnathan Kovacevic followed by a Vancouver goal by Andrei Kuzmenko. This time it was Sharks D-man Radim Simek picking up an interference call with Kuzmenko scoring again.
Elias Pettersson ended both games in overtime.
Ten seconds before ‘Petey’ scored the game winner in San Jose, Canucks goalie Spencer Martin stopped Sharks forward Timo Meier on a breakaway.
Canucks Goal Scorers
1st Heading
1-1 Even Strength – Dakota Joshua (5) from Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Ethan Bear, 4:15
Joshua bangs home a side-of-net carom from the doorstep.
2-1 Power Play – Dakota Joshua (6) from Conor Garland and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, 19:35
Joshua taps in a another carom/rebound, this time that came off the left post.
2nd Period
3-1 Even Strength – Nils Höglander (3) from Bo Horvat, 1:34
On a 2-on-1 with Horvat, Höglander kept it and sniped glove-side from the right wing circle on the rush.
4-3 Even Strength – Ilya Mikheyev (8), from Tyler Myers, 19:28
In alone, Mikheyev goes 5-hole on Kaapo Kahkonen off a long pass through traffic from Myers.
3rd Period
5-5 Power Play – Andrei Kuzmenko (13), from Elias Pettersson and Bo Horvat, 16:07
‘Koozy’ converts the slap-pass from Petey while standing next to the left post.
Overtime
6-5 Even Strength (3-on-3) – Elias Pettersson (13) from Andrei Kuzmenko and Quinn Hughes, 4:25
Petey keeps on a 2-on-1 and rips home the game winner from the left wing circle.
Canucks 3 Stars:
1) Elias Pettersson – Goal and an assist and Petey seems to be involved everywhere.
2) Dakota Joshua – Two goals in the first period and a physical presence.
3) Andrei Kuzmenko – Added to his total of nine deflection/re-direct goals in close. Plus an assist.
