Mikhail Sergachev’s backhander on a 2-on-1 got through Thatcher Demko with 11.4 seconds left in overtime as Utah completed a spirited rally for the win
And being forced to chase the young and impressionable home side that had won two straight and was on a 6-2-2 run could have been a lost cause because Utah simply doesn’t quit and proved it when it mattered most.
It took the 21st shot to beat the starter on a rebound effort by Clayton Keller on a Nick Schmaltz shot midway through the third period. And then a one-timer save off a hot Lawson Crouse shot seemed to seal the deal for the Canucks.
While nobody would admit it, facing the Pacific Division leading Golden Knights on Thursday in Las Vegas made Wednesday the dreaded danger game. Especially with the Utah club using wall-to-wall passes to spring speedy forwards through the neutral zone to easily gain the offensive zone.
“You give Keller time and space and he’ll burn you,” said Tocchet.
It took 6:32 for the Canucks to fire their first shot, a wrister by Garland, who has beaten Utah goalie Karel Vejmelka five times in his NHL career, so maybe that would prove a good sign. Garland was at his creative best and it appeared he would either score or set up a goal with his darts around the net. He finished with four shots and eight attempts.
Here’s what we learned as the Canucks are now 16-9-7 as they head to Las Vegas:
Demko delivered the goods
A fourth-consecutive start after a long hiatus can go one of two ways. It’s either fatigue or focus.
Demko brought plenty of the latter to ensure the listless Canucks didn’t dig a first-period hole. Of nine first-period shots by the home side, seven were Grade-A opportunities and they forced Demko to stay square and calm and within his structure to avoid lunging for pucks and putting himself out of position.
It included good side-to-side movement early to take away a Carcone give-and-go with Alex Kerfoot. Kerfoot then got behind the defence and Demko took away enough of the angle for the shot to go over the net. A sharp left-pad save was followed by getting his stick down to take away the 5-hole as Logan Cooley was sprung by Guenther.
And in a late-period flurry, Sergachev was denied on an odd-man rush by a glove save before Demko made a save on a Jack McBain tip and a Schmaltz one-timer.
It didn’t get any easier in the second period. In the opening 30 seconds, he made a save and then relied on positioning to turn aside a rebound and denied Nick Bjugstad in tight before Kerfoot put a backhander off the post and Guenther ripped a shot off Demko’s mask.
Joshua shows big jump
There was going to be a time when Joshua would finally have body and mind in sync. It wasn’t a matter of if, but when. Wednesday was a good indication.
It was going to take time after off-season testicular cancer surgery that slowed his training, his return, and his getting up to speed and having the confidence to do what he does best. In the second period, he went hard to the net and that was encouraging.
And then came a third-period breakaway on a spin-o-rama feed by Blueger that sprung the big winger. He showed a good burst through the neutral zone, fended off a check by Schmaltz and then went to the forehand deke for his first goal in five games and his second in 18 since returning Nov. 14.
Will they or won’t they?
Under normal circumstances, that query would address the Canucks’ reputation for being road warriors, as opposed to road worriers, and whether they would improve on an envious record away from Rogers Arena.
However, with the league’s holiday roster freeze taking effect Thursday at midnight, and lasting until Dec. 27, there’s increased speculation that the Canucks may seal a deal to land that elusive top-four defenceman, or at least lay the foundation for a post-freeze transaction.
Much of the buzz has surrounded acquiring blueliner Bowen Byram, a former WHL standout with the Vancouver Giants, because the 30th-ranked Buffalo Sabres are eager to do business. They were hammered 6-1 in Montreal on Monday and are winless in their last 10 games (0-7-3).
What doesn’t require a second thought is that the first priority in any possible trade is to not part with prize prospects like winger Jonathan Lekkerimaki and defenceman Tom Willander.
OVERTIME — Kiefer Sherwood had seven hits to improve his league-leading total to 191 and one nearly took him out. Just as he delivered a heavy corner boards check in the opening period, he lost his footing, hit the boards and appeared to twist an ankle but kept playing. Hughes had his ninth multi-point game of the season with two assists.