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Tanev scores 11 seconds into OT as Canucks beat Wild 5-4 2:01 AM
ET Associated Press
DIR By: The Referee
Date: August 8, 2020, 8:26 pm
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Vancouver
Canucks
36-33-6
5Final/OT4
Minnesota
Wild
35-34-7
1
VAN
MIN
Tanev (Canucks - D): Goals: 1, Assists: 2
Horvat (Canucks - C): Goals: 1, Assists: 2
Hughes (Canucks - D): Goals: 1, Assists: 1
Box Score
Play-By-Play
EDMONTON, Alberta -- This first postseason experience for the
young core of the Vancouver Canucks has already been quite a
trip. They're not ready to leave the bubble yet.
Christopher Tanev's wrist shot just 11 seconds into overtime
gave the Canucks a 5-4 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Friday
night to win the best-of-five Western Conference qualifying
round series in four games.
"They learn quickly. They learn on the fly. I've said it before:
Coaching this group is enjoyable," Canucks coach Travis Green
said.
Tanev's snipe from just in front of the blue line zipped through
traffic and beat Wild goalie Alex Stalock stick side to give the
Canucks their first postseason series win since 2013. This is
the first time in five years that Vancouver has reached the
playoffs.
"We've taken it to heart, and we wanted to come out and prove
ourselves," said Bo Horvat, who scored for Vancouver off a feed
from Tanner Pearson with 5:46 left in regulation -- the third
tying goal of the game for the Canucks.
Pearson, Brandon Sutter and Quinn Hughes also scored as
Vancouver kept attacking a Wild defense missing stalwart Ryan
Suter and wore down Stalock to erase leads of 1-0, 3-1 and 4-3.
Luke Kunin, Eric Staal, Joel Eriksson Ek and Nico Sturm had the
goals for the Wild, who squandered their two-goal advantage over
a 3:05 span midway through the second period.
Sturm's first NHL goal gave the Wild the lead back with 52
seconds left before the second intermission, and the 25-year-old
left wing's slick short-side shot that sneaked between Canucks
goalie Jacob Markstrom's arm and the post nearly held up as the
winner.
"When you have a lead, especially with the type of group we
have, you expect to get the job done," Staal said. "Credit them.
They kept coming and kept attacking and were able to cash in on
a couple broken plays and a couple good plays."
Assigned to the early slot in Edmonton on Thursday, the two
teams were back in the late-night window they'd been in for the
first two games. The puck didn't drop until 9:01 p.m., about 8
1/2 hours later than for Game 3.
Stalock, who stopped 26 shots, was sharper than Markstrom. He
helped the Wild start just the way they needed to after a
listless and undisciplined performance the day before.
Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers was called for roughing just 2:48
into the game, and Kunin scored on the power play. That unit had
slumbered through Game 3.
The Canucks just didn't let Minnesota's leads last long, though,
finding holes in the Suter-less blue line with a relentless
attack.
"We thought we had the game in our hands tonight. We just didn't
make the plays at the end," Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon said.
Markstrom was not on his game, giving up sharp-angle goals to
Staal and Sturm and allowing several long rebounds, but the
Canucks had his back.
"Marky doesn't give himself enough credit. He's been a brick
wall for us all year," Horvat said. "Obviously he might want a
couple back tonight, but you know what? He's been our rock ever
since day one, and we wouldn't be in this position without him."
NOTES
Suter departed Game 3 early with an unspecified injury. Carson
Soucy moved up to the top blue line pair with Spurgeon, and Matt
Bartkowski cracked the lineup for the first time in the series.
Matt Dumba replaced Suter on the first power play unit. ...
Oscar Fantenberg was a late scratch on defense for the Canucks,
and Olli Juolevi made his debut in his place. ... Sturm, who has
played in only eight regular season games in the NHL and was a
healthy scratch for Games 1 and 2, replaced Ryan Donato on the
fourth line for Game 3. ... Myers had 18 penalty minutes in the
series.
UP NEXT
The Canucks advance to the first round and will face either
Dallas or St. Louis in a best-of-seven series next week.
Calgary, Arizona and Chicago have also qualified. Colorado and
Vegas will each be one of the top two seeds.
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