Canucks 6, Lightning 2
After being dominated through the first two periods, the Canucks used momentum from their power play to completely flip the script.
After Kiefer Sherwood tipped home Vancouver’s second power play goal of the game at 4:11 of the third period, tying matters at 2-2, the Canucks scored twice more in the next 1:40 to take a 4-2 lead.
Vancouver had generated next to nothing at even strength through the first 45-minutes.
The Lightning were improving week-to-week after an uncharacteristic slow start to the season. Tampa entered the game having won eight of their last ten matches. For most of the game it looked like that trend would continue.
But the Canucks hung in there, eventually taking advantage of traffic, screens and deflections to turn the game around.
Mackenzie MacEachern with a backhander through traffic found the net for a 3-2 lead at 4:54 before Drew O’Connor tipped home a Quinn Hughes shot 57-seconds later.
The next task would be to hold on to that lead. Vancouver caught a break when with 8:14 remaining the officials missed a Tampa player knocking down the puck with a high stick. The play was reviewable and at 12:16, after the Bolts scored, Tampa’s 3rd goal was taken off the board following the successful video challenge.
MacEachern would add his second of the night and second on the season with another tip-in at 13:52. Marcus Pettersson potted an empty netter for the final margin.
Six unanswered goals for Vancouver. Hughes posted four assists.
Call it highway robbery. The Vancouver felons travel across the state to take on the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers on Monday evening.
Earlier Canucks:
— Canucks Can’t Survive OT; Canes Win 4-3
