News

Canucks win big in Vegas

Markus Granlund Photo: Associated Press


LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Vancouver Canucks celebrated their annual Father’s Trip with a victory in Las Vegas.

Markus Granlund scored in the shootout and the Canucks rejoiced on their special night on the Las Vegas Strip after defeating the Golden Knights 3-2 Wednesday night.

“It was a gutty performance by a lot of our guys tonight,” Vancouver coach Travis Green said. “I like how our guys responded and gutted it out. The guys played hard tonight.”

Canucks goalie Jacob Markstrom stopped all four shots he faced in the shootout, and made 33 saves.

Bo Horvat kept his hot streak going, scoring both of Vancouver’s goals. He now has nine points (seven goals, two assists) in the last nine games. But it was his hustle on the defensive end with a little more than two minutes left in overtime that produced the play of the game.

Jonathan Marchessault, who leads the Golden Knights with 10 points, had a chance for a breakaway and was closing in on Markstrom, but was thwarted by Horvat, whose backcheck knocked the puck away.

“I’m just trying to win hockey games,” Horvat said. “The whole team is. Part of my success is playing good at both ends of the rink. My defensive game is feeding my offense. If I keep doing that and keep simplifying my game and being that complete player, good things will happen.”

Marchessault, Max Pacioretty, Erik Haula and William Karlsson all missed their opportunities in the shootout.

Pacioretty and Ryan Reaves scored for the Golden Knights. Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 24 of 26 shots.

The Canucks, who played their seventh road game in their last nine contests, are 2-0 in overtime games and now 1-0 in shootouts. The Golden Knights, who won a shootout in Minnesota in their second game of the season, are 1-1 in shootouts.

Green said it’s been his team’s resolve that has helped overcome the injury bug.

The Canucks were without rookie sensation Elias Pettersson, who leads all rookies with five goals, and missed his fifth straight game due to a concussion. All-Star Brock Boeser is dealing with a groin injury and missed his first game of the season, while Christopher Tanev, Sven Baertschi and Alexander Edler were lost during Wednesday’s game.

“We’ve talked about being hard to play against right from Day One and not wavering, sticking with the game,” Green said. “We know the type of game we need to play, especially now. We’re down a lot of guys right now. I like how our team has just stuck with it. Each of them knows how they need to play to have success, and they’re doing it.”

The Golden Knights, meanwhile, extended their penalty kill streak to 13 over their last five games, but continued to struggle with their power play, going 0 for 4. They’re a league worst 2 for 28 this season with a man advantage.

“They’re getting some opportunities,” Vegas coach Gerard Gallant said. “The execution wasn’t there all the time, but there’s two or three chances in every power play. When things are going good they go in the back of the net. They’re getting chances, it’s getting better. They’re doing the best they can.”

Pacioretty scored his second goal of the season to open the scoring and give Vegas a lead early in the second period, but Vancouver tied the game when Horvat redirected Loui Eriksson shot from the point. Horvat’s second goal made it 2-1 a minute later after he raced down the left side and unleashed a wicked wrist shot over Fleury’s glove.

Reaves tied the game late in the second period with his second goal of the season.

“We knew they were going to come hard, but I thought we did a good job shutting that team down,” Horvat said. “I think everyone’s gelling together. Everyone’s ambitious to prove ourselves that we can be a good contender, and so far we’re proving that. Everyone was pretty pumped after the game, obviously having our dads here. You want to win in front of them.”

NOTES: Chris Tanev played in his 400th career game, all with the Canucks. … Vegas’ Alex Tuch made his season debut after sitting out the first eight games with a lower-body injury. … Vegas announced after the game it signed suspended defenseman Nate Schmidt to a six-year contract extension through the 2024-25 season worth an average annual value of $5.95 million.

UP NEXT

Vancouver: Visits Arizona on Thursday.

Vegas: Hosts Tampa Bay on Friday.

Recent Headlines

2 days ago in Olympics, Sports

Paralympians ski in shorts and T-shirts, and some ask: Shouldn’t these Games be earlier?

At this month's Milan Cortina Paralympics, some athletes competed in shorts, T-shirts and tank tops. One skier lamented "tropical" conditions and a snowboarder complained that soft, slow snow put him at a disadvantage. And some worried about their safety.

2 days ago in Sports

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores 20 points for 127th straight game, breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s record

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander reacted to his latest individual accomplishment the way he always does: by deflecting credit and pointing to team goals.

3 days ago in Sports

PWHL to reach national US TV audience with Scripps Sports to broadcast neutral site game in Detroit

The Professional Women's Hockey League is coming to a TV set near you in the United States. The league announced that its neutral-site game at Detroit on March 28 between the New York Sirens and Montreal Victoire will be the first accessible to a national U.S. television audience.

4 days ago in Sports

Bam! Heat’s Adebayo scores 83 points, 2nd only to Wilt Chamberlain in NBA history

Bam Adebayo had a night for all time on Tuesday, with a point total second to only Wilt Chamberlain in the NBA record books. Adebayo scored 83 points, setting league marks for free throws made and attempted in a game for the Miami Heat in a 150-129 win over the Washington Wizards.

4 days ago in Sports

Italy stuns the US 8-6 in World Baseball Classic, leaving the Americans needing help to advance

Kyle Teel, Sam Antonacci and Jac Caglianone homered as Italy built a big lead and held on to stun the United States 8-6 Tuesday night in the World Baseball Classic.