VANCOUVER — It was a great way for the Vancouver Canucks to move into the NHL All-Star break.
Tanner Pearson scored on the ability play and had an help because the Canucks outshot the San Jose Sharks 39-18 throughout a Four-1 victory Saturday night time.
Tanner Pearson, Vancouver Canucks (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)
The win was the 11th in 14 video games for the Canucks (27-18-Four) and prolonged their dwelling profitable streak to eight video games. Vancouver additionally moved into first place within the tight Pacific Division with 58 factors, yet one more than Edmonton, Calgary, Vegas and Arizona.
“Going into the break in a playoff spot is massive,” mentioned Pearson. “We’ve received to maintain it robust right here at dwelling (and) grow to be a greater highway workforce right here on out.”
Vancouver is 16-5-Three enjoying at Rogers Area however are 11-13-1 away from dwelling.
Loui Eriksson, J.T. Miller and rookie defenceman Quinn Hughes additionally scored for the Canucks. Jake Virtanen and Adam Gaudette, enjoying in his 100th NHL sport, each had two assists.
Eriksson, who has three objectives in his final seven video games, mentioned with the playoff race so shut there received’t be many simple video games down the stretch.
“It’s gong to be like this via the remainder of the video games,” he mentioned. “Tight video games and each sport goes to be massive to get factors.”
Barclay Goodrow scored for the Sharks (21-25-Four) who misplaced their third consecutive sport.
The Canucks outshot the Sharks 27-7 after two intervals, together with 18-Four within the second, however led simply 1-Zero.
In previous years Vancouver may need received pissed off and let the Sharks again within the sport. As a substitute the Canucks caught to their sport. Even after Goodrow scored to make it 2-1, Hughes responded 37 seconds later.
“In a sport like that, you’re peppering their goalie,” mentioned Pearson. “He’s saving all of them they usually’re not getting any photographs. It normally can go a technique or one other. Good factor it went our approach tonight.”
The win over San Jose comes after a very good defensive effort in a Three-1 win over Arizona Thursday night time.
“That was prime to backside one other good sport,” mentioned head coach Travis Inexperienced.
“The final two video games at dwelling had been fairly full video games by our group. We talked about being a dedicated group, resilient, and we had been tonight.”
The Sharks had received back-to-back video games at dwelling earlier than dropping on the highway to Arizona and Colorado earlier than heading to Vancouver. San Jose was outscored 14-Four within the three losses and Eight-1 within the final two video games.
“We just about didn’t present up the entire sport,” mentioned goaltender Aaron Dell, who made 35 saves.
“We simply stopped all the things that was profitable. That is just about the ramifications of that. I don’t know why it modified or when it modified.”
Ahead Kevin Labanc mentioned frustration led to a melee late within the sport that noticed 60 minutes in penalties handed out.
“All of us simply wish to win so badly,” mentioned Labanc. “We’re form of caught within the mud proper now.
“It’s not enjoyable. Pressure builds. Subsequent factor you recognize stuff like that occurs.”
Vancouver goaltender Thatcher Demko, making his third begin within the final 19 video games, stopped 17 photographs.
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko (Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports activities)
He admitted the dearth of labor made it a protracted night time.
“It’s somewhat tough, simply to remain in it,” he mentioned. ‘However in these video games, you’ve simply received to be prepared for no matter comes.
“I didn’t see our workforce take the foot off the gasoline in any respect so it was nice to see.”
NOTES
Canuck captain Bo Horvat introduced on social media that he and his spouse expect a child. … Vancouver’s longest home-ice profitable streak was 11 video games between Feb. Three and March 19, 2009. … The Sharks’ Joe Thornton performed his 1,616th sport to move Larry Murphy for 10th place in NHL historical past. … San Jose ahead Marcus Sorensen was a wholesome scratch for the primary time this season. … The groups performed 4 minutes, 11 seconds of the primary interval earlier than a whistle.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Jan. 18, 2020.
Jim Morris , The Canadian Press
