Vancouver Canucks Surrender Late Goal, Tanev Scores OT Winner

The Vancouver Canucks nearly escaped with a shutout win, but the Flames tied the game with six seconds left, before Chris Tanev scored in OT.

The Vancouver Canucks played another strange game against their division rivals.

Remember their first game of the season, when the Calgary Flames went ahead on a fluke 1-0 goal? Then the Canucks tied it late in the third, and finally won in overtime?

This game was a lot like that. The actors were different, but the script was the same. Even though it was a rerun and I knew how it ended, I still watched it. And you know what, it wasn’t half-bad!

Final Score:

Recycled Script, Act I: Fluke 1-0 Goal

Act I of this reused script calls for a fluke goal to open the scoring in the first period. Back on opening night, it was Loui Eriksson who filled that role. This time, Alexander Edler took up that mantle:

That was Vancouver’s first shot of the game. Despite being outplayed for the first half of the period, they held the 1-0 lead.

And it should have been 2-0. Bo Horvat won a race against Sean Monahan, took a pass from Alexandre Burrows and was robbed by Brian Elliott. The puck squirted loose and Horvat jammed it home. But referee Steve Kozari had blown the whistle too early and immediately waved the goal off:

Those darn refs.

Recycled Script, Act II: Late Tying Goal

Calgary took five penalties in the first 40 minutes, but the Canucks power play could not convert. Elliott, who recovered from his early mistake, robbed Jannik Hansen on Vancouver’s best PP chance:

In the third, the Canucks collapsed as Calgary came at them hard. Vancouver managed just two shots, while the Flames peppered Ryan Miller with 18. But, as the script demanded, he was sensational, thwarting the Flames at every turn.

It looked like the Canucks would escape with a 1-0 victory, and Miller would earn his fourth shutout of the season.

Until, as the script demanded, the Flames scored a late winner. And by “late” I mean, with less than six seconds remaining:

Mark Giordano scored the tying goal, robbing Miller of his shutout. The same thing happened back in October, when Eriksson’s own goal meant that the Canucks goalie finished with a 1.000 save-percentage, but was not credited with the shutout.

Cue the final act of this recycled script.

Recycled Script, Act III: Canucks Win in Extra Time

The Canucks gave up a crucial point to the Flames, whom they are chasing for a playoff spot.

However, they made sure not to hand them another. Daniel Sedin fed Chris Tanev for the overtime winner:

Fluke opening goal. Late tying goal. Miller being denied a shutout he deserved.

Yes, it’s all there. This game was definitely a rerun. Luckily, the ending was just as happy as the last time it aired. Back in October, the Canucks won in a shootout. This time, Tanev’s goal came just 34 seconds into overtime.

Next: Ryan Miller Earns Moral Shutout

And so, just like when this rerun first aired, the Vancouver Canucks have playoff dreams, however slim. They will try to keep their late season run alive just a little longer, when they face the Flyers tomorrow.