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Quadrelli Report: Horvat nets three in Vancouver Canucks win over Wings

By David Quadrelli

DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 22: Bo Horvat #53 of the Vancouver Canucks scores a third period goal past goaltender Jimmy Howard #35, Justin Abdelkader #8 and Trevor Daley #83 of the Detroit Red Wings during an NHL game at Little Caesars Arena on October 22, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 22: Bo Horvat #53 of the Vancouver Canucks scores a third period goal past goaltender Jimmy Howard #35, Justin Abdelkader #8 and Trevor Daley #83 of the Detroit Red Wings during an NHL game at Little Caesars Arena on October 22, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – OCTOBER 22: Bo Horvat #53 of the Vancouver Canucks scores a third period goal past goaltender Jimmy Howard #35, Justin Abdelkader #8 and Trevor Daley #83 of the Detroit Red Wings during an NHL game at Little Caesars Arena on October 22, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – OCTOBER 22: Bo Horvat #53 of the Vancouver Canucks scores a third period goal past goaltender Jimmy Howard #35, Justin Abdelkader #8 and Trevor Daley #83 of the Detroit Red Wings during an NHL game at Little Caesars Arena on October 22, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images) /

The Vancouver Canucks completed an outstanding comeback last night, beating the Detroit Red Wings by a final score of 5-2.

The Vancouver Canucks probably didn’t deserve to win last night’s game, but they did anyway. Here’s what I noticed from last night’s unlikely comeback victory.

Another huge game for Jacob Markstrom

The Canucks would not have even been tied with the Red Wings last night had it not been for the performance of goaltender Jacob Markstrom. The third period comeback can be attributed to a few things, but one of them needs to be the play of Markstrom.

The Canucks have gotten some of the best goaltending in the entire NHL to begin the new season, which is a good indicator of just how good Markstrom has been. With last night’s win, Markstrom’s save percentage jumped up to .933 — which puts him sixth amongst NHL starters.

Markstrom came up huge last night, and was the main reason that the Canucks were able to make a valiant third period comeback. The first goal came on a 5-on-3, and the second came while the Canucks were shorthanded, with Alex Edler providing the Wings with an inadvertent screen and deflecting the puck past his goaltender.

2. 72. Final. 5. 104

Markstrom didn’t have much of a chance on the goals that got past him, but managed to stop 31 of the 33 shots he faced. Markstrom is showing his ability to steal games for the Canucks, and as we all know, a team’s goaltender can make or break their playoff hopes. Teams can ride a hot goaltender all the way to a Stanley Cup championship.

With Markstrom and Demko both playing well to start the year, the Canucks will have a decision to make regarding their goaltenders, as Markstrom is a pending UFA, while Demko continues to try to show he’s ready to be a starter.

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