VANCOUVER — Justin Faulk had a purpose and an help and the St. Louis Blues overpowered the undermanned Vancouver Canucks en path to a 3-1 victory on Sunday.
Brayden Schenn, on a 2nd length chronic play, and Jordan Kyrou additionally scored for the Blues (25-11-5), whilst Vladimir Tarasenko registered a couple of assists.
Tanner Pearson had the lone purpose for the Canucks (18-19-4), who’ve six avid gamers and two assistant coaches within the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol.
St. Louis were given stellar goaltending from Ville Husso, who stopped 38-of-39 photographs and has a .963 save share in his final 5 video games.
Michael DiPietro had 14 saves in his season debut for Vancouver, turning into the fourth goalie to play for the crew this season.
Canucks all-star Thatcher Demko, backup Jaroslav Halak and taxi squad netminder Spencer Martin are all within the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol along forwards Bo Horvat, Conor Garland and J.T. Miller. Assistant coaches Scott Walker and Kyle Gustafson had been added to the listing on Sunday.
Arturs Silovs of the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks has additionally examined sure for the virus, forcing Vancouver to signal College of B.C. goalie Rylan Toth to an novice tryout settlement so he may just act as DiPietro’s backup.
Down 3-1 with not up to 90 seconds at the recreation clock, the Canucks pulled DiPietro in favour of an additional attacker.
Tarasenko just about potted an empty-net strike, however was once swarmed through a trio of Canucks intent on no longer giving up any other purpose.
Kyrou cushioned St. Louis’ lead 16:43 into the second one length, sending a rocket of a shot thru site visitors. The puck perceived to ping off the shaft of DiPietro’s stick and in.
Faulk and Tarasenko each assisted at the play. Tarasenko has issues in his final 9 video games, with six targets and 9 assists around the stretch.
He additionally figured within the power-play purpose that put the Blues up 2-1 early in the second one length after the Canucks had been known as for too many males.
Tarasenko sliced a go to Schenn, who was once stationed on the again door. Schenn poked it in for his 9th purpose of the yr.
St. Louis was once 1 for three at the chronic play Sunday whilst Vancouver went scoreless on 4 alternatives with the person benefit.
Faulk drew St. Louis even forward of the primary intermission. Oskar Sundqvist blasted a go to Faulk on the entrance of the web and the defenceman deflected it from between his legs, sending the puck careening into the crossbar and in on the 18:33 mark.
Two Blues had simply stepped out of the field when the Canucks put away the primary purpose of the sport 16:30 into the primary length.
Vancouver’s Matthew Highmore were given knotted up with each Ivan Barbashev and Torey Krug in St. Louis territory. Barbashev was once known as for roughing and Krug for putting off Highmore’s helmet.
Vancouver controlled 5 photographs at the resulting five-on-three chronic play, however Husso became all of them away. Because the consequences expired, Pearson picked up Alex Chiasson’s rebound together with the web and rifled it over the goalie.
Elias Pettersson registered an help at the play, marking the one hundredth of his NHL occupation.
Sunday marked a big milestone for Canucks head trainer Bruce Boudreau, who coached his 1,000th NHL recreation.
Employed through Vancouver on Dec. 5, the 67-year-old former NHL centre has labored at the back of the bench for the Washington Capitals, Anaheim Geese and Minnesota Wild. In 2008, he received the Jack Adams Award because the league’s most sensible trainer after guiding the floundering Caps thru a bounce-back marketing campaign.
Boudreau’s spouse Crystal and two in their youngsters had been within the crowd Sunday because the milestone was once marked with a video tribute prior to puck drop. A number of of the trainer’s former avid gamers _ together with Marcus Foligno, Alex Ovechkin and Kevin Bieksa _ and associates like Stan Bowman delivered congratulatory messages. Boudreau looked to be emotional at the bench.
The Blues are set to stand the Flames in Calgary on Monday. The Canucks wrap a three-game homestand after they host the Oilers on Tuesday.
NOTES: Pavel Buchnevich did not make the travel to Vancouver along with his Blues teammates. The left-winger was once returned from COVID protocol to play in St. Louis’ 5-0 win over the Kraken in Seattle on Friday, however may just no longer pass the border into Canada as a result of he had examined sure for the virus within the final 10 days. ? Sunday marked the primary time the 2 groups have performed since Jan. 27, 2020 when the Canucks beat the Blues 3-1 in Vancouver.
