Canucks Summary
Chandler Stephenson didn’t wait long to open the scoring for the Kraken. He rushed in and ripped a shot off the shaft of goaltender Thatcher Demko’s stick. It found its way into the net.
Demko was tested with decent Seattle scoring chances at least twice more in the period before his teammate Max Sasson tied it. A fortuitous bounce off Danton Heinen’s boot next to the left post caromed directly in front to the 24-year-old rookie. Goalie Philipp Grubauer hardly had time to react.
The Canucks dominated the 2nd period. The lone marker came when Phil Di Giuseppe found Conor Garland for a breakaway and the waterbug made no mistake. He deked Grubauer to the ice and tucked it home for a 2-1 lead.
Also very notable at that moment: Demko left the game and was replaced in net by Kevin Lankinen at 7:49. Thursday night was Demko’s 7th game of the season since returning from injury. Postgame, Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet referred to the issue as “back spasms”.
In the 3rd period at 5:35, big Vancouver defenceman Tyler Myers gave his club a cushion with his 2nd goal of the season. Myers fired a shot from the high slot off a feed from J.T. Miller.
A power play goal from Matty Beniers put Seattle back in the game at 9:05. Beniers smoked home his 7th goal of the season from the low slot on a one-timer.
A solid contingent of Canucks fans held on for dear life over the final minutes, as Kraken fans prayed for the equalizer.
