The Blues outshot the Canucks 39-18 and, according to Natural Stat Trick, had 88% of the high danger scoring chances in the 3rd period. Oddly enough, that’s when Vancouver took its first lead of the game as Kiefer Sherwood completed his second career hat trick at the 7:04 mark to put the Canucks up 3-2.
As usual, stats don’t paint the entire picture, and based on the scoring chance and high danger scoring chance numbers, it makes one wonder which high school intern was notating the game.
Ultimately the Blues couldn’t hit the side of a barn. They swarmed Vancouver in all three periods, particularly early on in each, and for most of the 3rd.
Symbolic of their finish futility was Oskar Sundqvist alone in the low slot and firing wide on Vancouver goalie Kevin Lankinen in the 3rd period. From where he was, puck clean on his stick, it took an effort to miss completely. Maybe snake bit, Sundqvist, who tallied two assists in the game, is gripping for his first goal of the season.
All of the Blues chances-gone-awry opened the door for Sherwood, the Canucks version of the Tasmanian Devil, a whirling dervish who potted goals 7, 8, and 9 on the season. He failed in the first-round of the shoot-out, maybe too much of a controlled environment for him, but fellow forward Jake DeBrusk didn’t, scoring the only goal of the skills competition and the game winner in round-three.
Considering the Canucks were without injured captain Quinn Hughes, expected back Saturday in Minnesota, and leading scorer Conor Garland, who won’t be, Vancouver did a nice job playing cat burglar. They also lost winger Brock Boeser to injury during his first shift. Call him day-to-day.
After visiting the Wild, Vancouver wraps up the brief roadie with a stop next week in Nashville against the Predators.
Notes: Evander Kane had what would have been his first goal with Vancouver called back due to a goaltender interference review with just under three minutes to play in regulation. It would have given the Canucks a 4-3 lead.
Earlier Canucks:
— J.T. Miller Returns To Face Canucks
