J.T. Miller gave the Canucks their first win of the 2024-’25 season with an overtime winner in Florida against the Panthers. The tally came at 2:09 of the extra session on Thursday night. It’s his 10th OT game winner, 2nd most in Vancouver history behind Daniel Sedin.
Vancouver captain Quinn Hughes posted his first goal of the season and added an assist, the helper coming in OT after he recovered quickly from an awkward hit along the corner boards late in regulation.
Canucks 3rd-line centre Teddy Blueger opened the scoring in the game with his 2nd goal of the season at 11:42 of the 1st period.
Winger Conor Garland saw his three-game point streak snapped. Kevin Lankinen picked up the victory in net, while massive D-man Vincent Desharnais played for the first time since the October 9th season opener against the Calgary Flames.
The Panthers played without captain Aleksander Barkov and pest Matt Tkachuk, but as any coach will tell you, including Florida boss Paul Maurice, no one will feel sorry for you when you’re missing bodies. The Canucks were pleased as punch to pick up the victory under any circumstances after starting the season 0-1-and-2.
Vancouver plays the Flyers in Philadelphia on Saturday night. That team will be playing the sometimes dreaded home-game-after-a-long-west-coast-road-trip. The Flyers played in Seattle against the Kraken later on Thursday night.
A Canucks team with renewed confidence should take advantage.
