Vancouver Canucks 5, Ottawa Senators 2
Thatcher Demko picked up the start in net at Rogers Arena while visiting netminder Mads Sogaard started for the Senators.
Vancouver would prevail and win its fourth game in a row, which amounts to a try-out for some players for next season and a confidence builder for the organization and its new coaching staff.
It also gradually takes Vancouver further away from potentially winning the draft lottery. They now have the 8th worst record in the NHL with 17 games remaining.
Canucks Goal Scorers
1st Period
1-0 Canucks – Even Strength – Andrei Kuzmenko (31) from J.T. Miller and Tyler Myers, 15:05
“Koozy” took a feed in the slot from Miller down low and swept his way past three Senators to tuck home a backhander.
2nd Period
2-0 Canucks – Shorthanded – J.T. Miller (24) from Nils Aman, 4:26
Aman and MIller combined to steal a puck in the neutral zone and capitalize on a 2-on-0 down low past Sogaard.
3-0 Canucks – Even Strength – Nils Aman (4) from Dakota Joshua, 10:27
Joshua carried the puck hard to the net off the right wing, lost control in front, but Aman was there to finish it off.
3rd Period
4-0 Canucks – Even Strength – Sheldon Dries (10) from Dakota Joshua and Guillaume Brisebois, 6:50
The trailer on a 3-on-2, Dries took a drop pass and fired a shot from the slot, high glove.
5-2 Canucks – Power Play (empty netter) – Andrei Kuzmenko (32) from Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson, 19:45
Boeser and Koozy skated in on a 2-1 with no goalie and Kuzmenko took a pass and buried it.
— Vancouver outshot Ottawa 30-20. Power Plays: Vancouver 1-for-6, Ottawa 0-for-3.
Canucks 3 Stars:
1) J.T. Miller – Goal and an assist. Five hits. Two shots-on-goal. Won 61% of draws in 22:22 of ice time.
2) Andre Kuzmenko – Two goals on three shots in 17:03 of ice time. Energy catalyst.
3) Nils Aman – Goal and an assist for the young Swede. One shot on goal and he also blocked one.
