Calgary Flames goalie Jacob Markstrom, back centre, stops Vancouver Canucks' Sheldon Dries (15) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, on Saturday, April 8, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
VANCOUVER – Andrei Kuzmenko scored in the shootout and the Vancouver Canucks handed the Calgary Flames a devastating 3-2 loss on Saturday.
The result means Calgary (37-27-16) now sits one point behind the Winnipeg Jets for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference. The Flames have two games left on their regular-season schedule while the Jets have three.
Kuzmenko skated wide of the Flames net, then fired a shot up into the top corner to secure the win.
Elias Pettersson and Cole McWard – with his first NHL point – scored for the Canucks (36-26-7) in regulation.
Elias Lindholm and Nazem Kadri put away third-period goals for the Flames to force extra time.
Calgary’s Jacob Markstrom stopped 31-of-33 shots and Thatcher Demko made 41 saves for Vancouver, who played their final home game of the season.
Vancouver took a 2-0 lead into the third but couldn’t withstand Calgary’s pressure in the final period.
The Flames levelled the score at 2-2 midway through the frame when Noah Hanifin sent a puck to Kadri at the side of the net and he batted a shot in between Demko. The goal, Kadri’s 24th of the campaign, came at the 6:07 mark.
Moments earlier, Demko was forced to make an unusual play when his stick was knocked out of his hands on a Calgary power play. The puck landed on top of the Vancouver net and the goalie clamoured to get a glove on top of it, prompting a whistle from the officials.
Calgary bit into the home side’s lead 38 seconds into the third.
Tyler Toffoli sent a pass to Dillon Dube, who dished it off to Lindholm and the Swedish forward fired a shot past Demko from the faceoff circle to make it 2-1 with his eighth shot of the night and 22nd goal of the season.
The Flames penalty kill nearly cashed in late in the second after Calgary was called for too many men.
Blake Coleman and Lindholm streaked down the ice on a short-handed two-on-one, and Coleman sliced a pass to his teammate across the slot. Lindholm sent a shot soaring at the Vancouver net, only to see Demko dive and snatch the puck out of mid-air with a stunning glove save.
The Canucks took a 2-0 lead with a short-handed tally after Quinn Hughes was sent to the box for tripping in the first.
Miller broke up a Flames pass at the blue line and sliced the puck up to Pettersson for a breakaway. The Swedish centre sprinted up the ice and blasted a shot past Markstrom from the bottom of the slot for his 38th goal of the season 13:09 into the first.
Vancouver’s penalty kill has been an offensive threat in recent months. The team has 15 short-handed goals this season, with 13 coming since Rick Tocchet took over as head coach on Jan. 22.
McWard opened the scoring 9:03 into the game, sending a blast through traffic and past Markstrom from inside the blue line for his first NHL goal.
The 21-year-old defenceman made his league debut Thursday after signing a two-year, entry-level deal with Vancouver on Tuesday after completing his second season at Ohio State University. He had nine goals and 12 assists in 39 games for the Buckeyes this season.
A LITTLE EXTRA
Three of four matchups between the Flames and Canucks went to extra time this season. The Canucks chalked up a 4-3 shootout win on Dec. 14 before dropping a 3-2 decision on Dec. 31. The Flames then took a 5-4 overtime victory on March 31.
MILESTONE SHORTIES
Pettersson’s goal marked the ninth short-handed point of the season for both Pettersson and Miller, tying Pavel Bure (1992-93 and 1997-98) and Russ Courtnall (1995-96) for most by a Canucks player in a single season.
UP NEXT
Canucks: Visit the L.A. Kings on Monday.
Flames: Host the Nashville Predators on Monday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 8, 2023.
