Garland Heroics
The Canucks tallied first in this one, midway through the first period. It was Nils Höglander’s first goal in nine games and just his third in the last 48. Defenceman Derek Forbort, who made a nice pass to spring the Swede up ice, picked up just his sixth point in 32 games this season, all assists. Then again, scoring isn’t why he’s here.
That’s exactly the main reason elite blueliner Quinn Hughes is around. The Vancouver captain returned after missing six games due to injury.
It was a good start for Vancouver, getting offensive contributions from anyone they could, particularly against a stingy LA Kings club.
Case in point; shots-on-goal were 6-4 in favour of the Canucks after one period.
That trend continued in the 2nd. Vancouver doubled its lead on just its second shot of the period at the 13:07 mark when Conor Garland tallied on the power play.
Garland kept the play alive behind the net and then crashed the slot and crease and got tackled while scoring. A vintage play from the pesky waterbug.
Mid-3rd period the Kings upped the angst level when Adrian Kempe, LA’s leading goal scorer and point getter, notched his 26th marker of the season. Rushing into the offensive zone, his shot deflected top shelf off Vancouver defenceman Tyler Myers’s stick.
A little less than five minutes later the Kings tied it. Warren Foegele tipped in his 16th of the season at 14:01. The Canucks immediately went shorthanded by failing on a goaltender interference review challenge.
The ensuing LA power play failed; they were 0-for-3 in the game.
The winner came at 4:26 of overtime and once again it was Garland providing the highlight. His shot from the left circle went top shelf over goalie David Rittich for the victory.
Kevin Lankinen picked up the win in net as the Canucks moved even with the Calgary Flames for the Western Conference’s 2nd wild card playoff spot.
Vancouver faces the Ducks in Anaheim on Thursday night and the Kraken in Seattle on Saturday.
NOTE: Myers was injured earlier in OT when a shot appeared to hit him in the throat. He was helped off the ice and went to the dressing room.
