Canucks: 3 takeaways from 3-2 overtime loss vs. Blues
It was a thrilling game from start to finish, but the Vancouver Canucks fell 3-2 in overtime in Game 3 vs. the St. Louis Blues. The Canucks’ series lead fell to 2-1.
While it was a familiar-looking lineup for the Vancouver Canucks Sunday night, aside from the absence of Tyler Myers, St. Louis went with quite a different look for Game 3.
Vladimir Tarasenko, Jordan Binnington, and Troy Brouwer all drew out of the lineup for the tilt, while MacKenzie MacEachern, Jacob de la Rose, and Jordan Kyrou jumped in. The result? A Blues team with a bit more jump.
After a scoreless first period, the Canucks opened the scoring once again with a J.T. Miller power play marker. Blues defenceman Justin Faulk would respond seven minutes later, however, before David Perron gave the Blues their first lead of a game with a beautiful snapshot over Jacob Markstrom’s glove.
That St. Louis lead would last just 37 seconds though, as Elias Pettersson would one-up Perron’s snipe with one of his own over the shoulder of Jake Allen late in the second.
A scoreless third period would then bring the two teams to their second consecutive overtime frame. After a number of near chances on both sides of the ice, Quinn Hughes would get caught out of position on the forecheck midway through the frame, leaving Blues forward Brayden Schenn in alone who beat Markstrom and have Blues their first win of the postseason.
The loss halted the Canucks win streak to five games and bringing the series to 2-1. It was also the first loss for the Canucks after scoring the first goal of the game this postseason (5-1).
Here are three takeaways from the Canucks 3-2 Game 3 loss Sunday.
The goaltending battle
For the first time this series, goaltenders on both sides of the ice looked really sharp.
The Blues went with Jake Allen, who was making just his second start in the NHL return to play, and in turn, replacing a struggling Binnington who allowed nine goals on a collective 47 shots through games 1 and 2.
The decision paid off in dividends for the away side, as they were rewarded with 39 stops in the game.
Markstrom meanwhile looked sharp once again for the Canucks, stopping 46 of 49 St. Louis shots. Markstrom, who made 11 saves in the extra frame, stopped a series of 24 consecutive shots between the Perron second period goal and the eventual winner from Schenn. Without Markstrom, it’s fair to say the Canucks wouldn’t have made it to the extra period.
Despite the heavy workload Sunday, Markstrom is expected to once again see the crease for the Canucks Monday in Game 4, while Allen will assuredly look to pick up a second consecutive win and even the series for the Blues.
Oscar Fantenberg steps up
With Myers drawing out of the lineup with a suspected shoulder injury, the Canucks top-4 was dealt a blow. While the recent return of Jordie Benn into the bubble and the lineup helped to somewhat mitigate that blow, the blue and green still needed someone from the blue line to step up.
They got that in Oscar Fantenberg.
Fantenberg, a mainstay on the Canucks third pairing throughout postseason play alongside Myers, put up a real solid game in his absence. The 28-year-old Swede, who’s had a relatively strong showing thus far in the playoffs, recorded two shots, four hits, and five blocked shots on the night. He ranked second in the latter on the team, just two behind Edler’s seven blocked shots.
Fantenberg played 20:45 in the game, with the bulk of that coming in the first three periods. It was the second-highest time-on-ice for him in the 2019-20 season and most since Dec. 19’s tilt against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Bad timing
With Myers absent for at least the near future, the Canucks depth on the back-end will continue to be tested. Fantenberg’s showing Sunday night will allow the teams’ coaching staff to feel a little more comfortable.
The one bright spot in Myers’ absence from the Canucks lineup Sunday night meant, in theory, fewer penalties. Out was Myers, who managed penalties in five of six contests (20 PIM), and in came Benn in his absence.
The return? Far less minor penalties. The Canucks were shorthanded just two times in the game, and while a tightly officiated affair may have played a role, the team still surrendered their fewest penalty minutes (6) in a playoff game this season.
The timeliness, however, of the penalties they did end up taking were problematic.
With an even 2:00 left in the game and the score gridlocked at a 2-2 tie, Loui Eriksson was called on a blatant high-stick against Blues forward Jordan Kyrou. The Canucks managed to steer out of the period unharmed, thanks in part to a shot block from Alex Edler and diving clearing attempt from Brandon Sutter.
Then again in the overtime frame, the Canucks were once again caught on an undisciplined play. After the team began gaining some momentum in O.T., Jake Virtanen tripped Blues forward Sammy Blais in front of an on-ice official for yet another minor penalty. The Canucks fearless shot blockers in Tyler Motte and Jordie Benn once again kept the score at bay and allow the team out unscathed.
While the Canucks don’t have control over at times suspect officiating, they did have control over their discipline with and without the puck. It’s crucial the Canucks stray away from untimely penalties in order to bounce back against the Blues Monday.
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Vancouver and St. Louis will face off once again Monday night for Game 4, with puck drop set for 7:30 p.m. (PT).