Canucks extinguish the Flames 10 game win streak in their beloved skate jerseys

On a night where the Calgary Flames could have set a franchise record for most consecutive wins with 11, the Vancouver Canucks tallied their most goals in a single game this season.

Last night’s affair between the number one team in the pacific and the playoff-hopeful Canucks, was a startling contrast to last month’s matchup at the Saddledome, which needed an extra frame for the lone goal of the game. In ten meetings last year, 63 goals were shared between the two teams.

Heading into the toughest test of the three-game homestand, special teams, albeit sounding like a broken record, needed to work in the Canucks favour against a Calgary team who had only given up one power play goal in the last 10 games.

It certainly turned out that way for the full capacity hometeam, who gave their fans at least seven reasons to get excited.

Deadlocked

Rogers Arena was certainly the place to be last night: the energy was certainly palpable before the drop of the puck. Thatcher Demko, making his 40th start of the season, looked to stifle the dynamite Calgary offence in an absolutely gorgeous Kirk McLean set-up, while Jacob Markstrom looked for his ninth straight win back in Vancouver in front of fans.

Quinn Hughes also squared off against his first-year D partner, and 10-year Canuck veteran, Chris Tanev. There was plenty of Vancouver influence to go around, including hometowner Milan Lucic and former Canucks, Erik Gudbranson and Tyler Toffoli.

The first period was lively with chances: a pass in the slot to an unguarded Bo Horvat slid through his feet for one of a few dangerous Canucks looks. The Flames equally countered, met with a few key Demko saves to keep the game scoreless. Demko is 10-7 at home this season with a 2.28 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage.

Then, the break Vancouver needed, in the form of a Matthew Tkachuk slashing penalty against Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who didn’t engage with Calgary’s resident instigator.

Fortunately for the Canucks, their first power play wasn’t an indicator of how the rest of the game unfolded. The disjointed unit didn’t test Markstrom and even gave up a golden breakaway to none other than Toffoli, who’s found the back of the net twice in four games with his new team.

Despite the best Canuck chance of the period coming from a wide-open Vasily Podkolzin shot, fans witnessed a fourth consecutive period between both teams remain deadlocked.

Heading into the second, the Canucks needed to be quicker on getting pucks on and off their stick with traffic in front of the net. Success was going to come on pressing forechecks: not losing 50/50 neutral zone pucks.

Middle Frame Magic

Five goal period: enough said. Almost everything that could have gone right for the Canucks did, starting with a power play early in the period.

After a few bobbles at the line, the Canucks regained the zone and Hughes, who is now tied for third in the NHL with 19 power play assists, got it to Elias Pettersson on the half wall. And this time, his blast riffled stick side past the ear of Markstrom, after Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin, jumped into the slot to prevent a Hughes blast from the point.

Things went silent at Rogers Arena for a moment when forward Jason Dickinson went into the boards awkwardly courtesy of a Gudbranson shove. He did not return to the game and will not travel with the team on their road trip. More updates will be made available.

Minutes later, Demko brought the crowd to their feet after a great McLean impression.

The Canucks wasted no time doubling up their lead with another power play. Brock Boeser (turned 25 on Friday.) set up a screen in front, and J.T. Miller rung home a perfectly placed rising wrist shot for his 11th point in 12 home games.

Everyone’s favourite fourth liner, Tyler Motte, also joined in on the fun. His shot off the pad of Markstrom found Horvat after Hanifin, once more finding himself in the thick of things threw the puck to the front of the net. If this isn’t a statement game for the Canucks, I don’t know what is.

Even the blade of Markstrom’s skate, which dislodged off the post, seemed to be working in favour of the home squad. Unable to fix it in time, Calgary was forced to put in Dan Vladar with 1:46 seconds left in the period. Did I mention, the Canucks were on the power play, yet again???

Two goal in 1:46 seconds: The Canucks remained possession of the puck, kept their feet moving, and dished it to the front of the net, where good things always happen. With the penalty killers chasing at the top of the point, Boser found a wide-open Miller, who did his best soccer impression, for Horvat to cash in on his second goal of the period.

Before he had time to contemplate a career change, Miller was handed a penalty shot, that’s right, a rare penalty shot, after a mad scram in front of the Calgary net which resulted in Rasmus Andersson covering his hand over the puck.

I’ll let the video speak for itself:

“We want eight”

Darryl Sutter wisely decided to rest Markstrom after the game was blown open by power play goals. The Flames seemed to have a little jump to start the period, crashing Demko’s crease for a disallowed goal. I suppose the saying goes, if you can’t beat them, you jump on them?

Demko continued to look sharp, even sharing a few smiles and laughs with teammates.

Conor Garland scored the sixth Canucks goal after Tanner Pearson’s pass perfectly landed on the tape of his stick. It looked like Vladar made the save but he didn’t get enough.

Things finally looked to slow down after the Flames were awarded their first power play of the game, just for Pettersson to score Vancouver’s third short-handed goal of the year. Why not for extra measure?

By the fifth and sixth power play, Boudreau was throwing out his fourth line. Even the celebrities, Michael Buble and Chase Claypool got right at home with it, although Claypool may have gotten a little too close.

In the final three minutes of the game, Andrew Mangiapane would sneak one of Calgary’s 30 past the sliding glove of Demko to prevent a shutout. But, it didn’t stop him from getting the WWE Championship belt, so all’s well that ends well.