Canucks find the back of the net seven times, extend streak to five games

Today’s matchup featured only one team with playoff aspirations while the other has been already been mathematically eliminated. Riding the high of a four-game winning streak, the Vancouver Canucks looked to add number five in their final game of the season against the Arizona Coyotes. They were looking to put an end to a four-game losing streak.

Thatcher Demko suited up for his third straight game in net, and second appearance against the Coyotes this season. With tonight’s game in the books, Demko has started the third-most games of any goaltender. The last time these two teams met, the Vancouver netminder turned aside 35 shots, while his opponent, Karel Vejmelka, surrendered 5 goals in a 5-1 Canuck victory.

Sitting six points back of the Los Angeles Kings and in a goose chase with the Vegas Golden Knights for the coveted third spot in the Pacific Division, the Canucks needed to answer the task against an Arizona team with the most shots allowed per game in the league.

First Period: Climbing In Front Early

Bo Horvat broke through a slew of bodies in the neutral zone for the first good look of the period. The captain was looking to pass the puck the entire way, but nearing the front of the net with the passing lane defended, he elected to get a shot on net.

Minus a few other odd men looks squandered early before they could amount to much, the first half of the frame felt like a waiting game. The Canucks were content with letting the Coyotes direct shots on net from the outside, and Arizona was more than happy to get the zone time, albeit a little bit more zone time than I imagine the Canucks would have liked them to have.

Luke Schenn, on the other hand, didn’t wait long to lay the body on Arizona forward Barrett Hayton, flattening him against the boards in the neutral zone. After that, the pace seemed to follow suit. Conor Garland was denied after being fed behind the back of the net. With an alert shoulder check, Vejmelka was able to anticipate on the scoring chance and hunker down on the post.

The home team, however, did end up getting the much-needed ice breaker from Alex Chiasson, who has made himself comfortable in front of the net. J.T. Miller spotted Chiasson heading to the net-front after he lifted the stick of a Coyote defender to gain puck possession for his team. Getting his stick set on the ice, Chiasson was able to redirect the puck home.

With a goal on their side, Vancouver got back to their heavy forecheck, forcing the Coyotes to hand over the puck and dumping and changing on the fly. However, on their subsequent powerplay, which now stacked up in the top ten in the league, the Canucks were stilled with passes meeting skates instead of sticks, interceptions, and an icing.

The next best chance of the game came after the power play, as former Coyote Brad Richardson was stoned not by the leg of goaltender Vejmelka, but by his defenceman who fell back at the side of the net to bail his goaltender out.

Minutes later, the Canucks got themselves another opportunity with the man advantage. The second unit doubled the lead after a point shot from Brad Hunt was tipped in the high slot by Sheldon Dries for his first goal since 2019.