Sherwood scores hat trick in Canucks’ shootout win vs. Blues

First Period

It took 33 seconds for the Canucks to lose another player, as a shot from Elias Pettersson, the defenceman, caught Brock Boeser below the belt. Boeser went down in a heap and needed to be helped off the ice. He did not return tonight.

Shortly after, the Blues got on the board. Kevin Lankinen stopped Dylan Holloway’s first shot, but couldn’t stop the second one.

1-0 Blues. 

The Canucks’ first chance to come back in the game came after Drew O’Connor drew a high-sticking penalty. Shockingly, the Canucks’ power play without Quinn Hughes, Brock Boeser, and Conor Garland didn’t look very dangerous. They did not score, and didn’t create many chances to score.

Kevin Lankinen made some great saves to keep the Canucks in this one early. He wasn’t great in his last start, and given how good Demko has been, it was important that Lankinen bounced back and gave the Canucks a fighting chance in this one. He kept this game close long enough for Logan Mailloux to take another penalty. This time, the Canucks’ power play got their hands a bit dirty, and potted a greasy one. Arshdeep Bains pressured Jordan Binnington, who came out to play the puck, and Evander Kane pounced on Binnington’s pass and sent it to the net front, where Kiefer Sherwood was waiting to bury home the loose puck.

1-1.

The Canucks actually had some good jump down the homestretch of the first period, but were tested when Marcus Pettersson was called for holding. Not only did the Canucks’ PK keep the puck out of their net, Elias Pettersson, the forward, set up Kiefer Sherwood for a shorthanded chance that Sherwood hit the bar on. Wouldn’t that have been something?

Some takeaways from the first:
-Do you think Kiefer Sherwood thought he’d get PP1 time when he signed here?
-Solid start for Kevin Lankinen.
-Can the Canucks start bubble wrapping players?
-All five of Evander Kane’s assists this season have been primary assists. Shout out to JPat for that stat.

Second Period

Aatu Räty blocked a shot late in the first and did return for the second after going down the tunnel. Good news! Brock Boeser did not return though. Bad news. More bad news: St. Louis scored before the late power play they got in the first period came to a close.

2-1 St. Louis.

More good news though! Kiefer Sherwood is a Canuck. And he’s got great hands. He found himself on a breakaway, and made no mistake in burying the puck past Jordan Binnington.

Sherwood is now up to eight goals on the season. 2-2. 

The shot totals favoured St. Louis, but the Canucks certainly weren’t getting dominated in this game. Despite being undermanned, the Canucks did not go down without a fight. They spent a good amount of time in the Blues’ end, and despite this game being tied, the Canucks’ second period effort was a strong one.

Kevin Lankinen was called for tripping with just over a minute to go, meaning the Canucks had another penalty to kill, with the Blues’ power play already being 1-for-1 on the night. They managed to kill off the first half of it, but had a minute still to deal with in the third.

Third Period

The Canucks began the third by killing off the remaining time on the Blues’ power play, but St. Louis sure came close. Thankfully, the Blues missed the net twice from prime scoring locations.

At 7:04 of the third period, it happened. The Canucks took their first lead of the night when Kiefer Sherwood scored his third goal of the game.

3-2 Canucks. 

Sherwood’s second career hat-trick puts him in a five-way tie for the NHL lead in goals with nine on the season already. And it’s not even November yet! I think his next contract will be for more than $1.5 million…

Kevin Lankinen continued to be great for the Canucks in this one and made a marvellous save shortly after Sherwood’s goal. Marcus Pettersson was called for cross-checking, giving the Blues their third power play of the game. Lankinen again made the saves he needed to, but unfortunately, the puck took a St. Louis bounce in the dying moments of the power play, and old friend Pius Suter was there to put home the loose puck.

3-3.

With just under three minutes remaining, Evander Kane was rewarded for yet another strong forechecking effort with what seemed to be his first goal as a Canuck.

The Blues challenged the goal for goalie interference, and were successful in that challenge. I didn’t think that was goalie interference, personally. That outcome doesn’t change that Kane has started to find his stride at an opportune time as the Canucks try to withstand all these injuries. Kane was a beast on the forecheck tonight and deserved a goal. This one remained tied and needed overtime.

Overtime

The Canucks gained possession and immediately sent out their superstar forward: Kiefer Sherwood. He didn’t score his fourth of the game, and instead went off on a line change. Pius Suter had a grade-A chance, but Kevin Lankinen had another great save in him. The final shots after regulation and OT? 39-18 St. Louis.

This one needed a shootout.

Shootout

Kyrou: STOPPED by Lankinen.
Sherwood: Hits the post behind Binnington.

Snuggerud: STOPPED by Lankinen.
Pettersson: Stopped by Binnington.

Schenn: Loses the handle…
DeBrusk: SCORES the winner.

What’s your instant reaction to tonight’s game?