VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Thatcher Demko recorded 25 saves to secure his ninth career shutout as the Vancouver Canucks triumphed over the Colorado Avalanche with a score of 3-0 on Tuesday night.
Jake DeBrusk contributed significantly with a goal and an assist, while Brock Boeser and Drew O’Connor also found the back of the net. Additionally, Filip added two assists to help the Canucks notch this victory, placing them in a tie with Calgary for the second wild card spot in the Western Conference. Over their last six games, Vancouver has posted an impressive record of 4-1-1.
Mackenzie Blackwood kept busy in the Avalanche net, making 28 saves during the match, despite his team’s recent success where they had won three out of the last four games.
DeBrusk opened the scoring when he netted his team-leading 19th goal of the season early in the second period. He later assisted Boeser with a power-play goal midway through the third period. O’Connor capped off the scoring with an empty-net goal, marking his first with the Canucks, just 8.7 seconds before the final buzzer.
The third period witnessed a surge in intensity as skirmishes broke out on several occasions, leading the officials to hand out 26 minutes in penalties. Notably, Miles Wood of the Avalanche received a game misconduct for a high poke on Vancouver forward Linus Karlsson.
In terms of personnel, Vancouver played without their captain, Quinn Hughes, for the second consecutive game. Hughes skated briefly on Tuesday morning, yet coach Rick Tocchet deemed it prudent to keep him out of the lineup, indicating that his undisclosed injury would be assessed on a day-to-day basis.
For the Avalanche, DeBrusk’s goal at 4:26 in the second period interrupted Blackwood’s impressive 146-minute and 55-second shutout streak. Colorado entered the game exhibiting a strong form, having outscored their opponents 9-5 in their last three outings.
A critical moment came midway through the second period when Demko made a series of remarkable saves that helped maintain the Canucks’ one-goal lead. His quick reflexes allowed him to deflect a shot from Cale Makar, followed by a swift move across the crease to use his left toe and kick away a shot from Artturi Lehkonen.
Interestingly, the Canucks’ power play has been particularly effective recently, converting on five out of 16 attempts over the last five games.
Looking ahead, the Avalanche is set to face Calgary on Thursday, while the Canucks will make their way to San Jose for their next game.
