Canucks strike first…Blues respond…
Shots are hard to come by in the first 5 minutes…Canucks with one…and the Blues first shot less until 5:20 in. Ex-Blue Dakota Joshua gets the Canucks on the board 8 minutes in, and they lead 1 to 0. It was his first of the season on a goal-mouth tip-in. No real chance for Hofer.
Zack Bolduc, with his 4th goal of the year, ties it up just over a minute later, Dylan Holloway with the assist from the corner, and Bolduc one times it…knee down…through a screen and in.
Blues shorthanded, and Robert Thomas comes in on a breakaway and fires his 5th goal high to the stick side. Colton Parayko and Pavel Buchnevich with the helpers. Blues first shorthanded goal of the year. It is 2 to 1 with under 3 minutes left in the 1st period.
Blues hold to lead through 2…
A back and fourth period until a tripping call against the Canucks with 4:17 left. Jordan Kyrou, a one-timer on the powerplay, gets his 10th, great puck movement and a seam pass from Thomas to Kyrou sets the table. Justin Faulk was also assisting. It is now 3 to 1 with under 3 minutes left.
Brayden Schenn gets an even-up penalty, and Vancouver strikes back on the powerplay with over 1 minute left to bring it to a one-goal game. Hofer was without a stick for a significant period of time, and the shot caroms off Parayko and behind Hofer. Five shots on the PP for the Canucks…3 to 2 at the end of 2. Shots are 18 to 17 – Blues ahead.
A one goal lead into the 3rd period…
The Canucks have not won a game this season when losing after 2 periods…let’s keep that trend going. Blues take a penalty with just under 13 minutes left. Canucks apply pressure but can’t get any shots on goal.
5 Minutes!!
Canucks are pushing hard to get the tying goal and pull Demko with 2:30 left and with 1:52 left…the Canucks tie the game at 3. A scuffle breaks out with 1 minute left and penalties to both teams…4 on 4 and neither team scores…and we are again going to overtime!
OT!!
Blues win the faceoff to open the extra 5 minutes and control the puck the first 1:10. Hollywood Holloway steams in on the right side and fires one over the glove of Demko winning it 1 minute and 40 seconds into overtime with his 10th of the year. Robert Thomas with his 3rd point of the night.
Notes: Radek Faksa left with an injury with 5:05 left...Shots were even at 25 for the game…Canucks a big edge in hits 30 to 15…Holloway with a 7-game point streak…