“Canucks” lost to Seattle “Kraken” in overtime with a score of 4:5 (1:0, 2:1, 1:3, 0:1) at home.
Blügers was on the ice for 15 minutes and eight seconds, scored twice, used one power play, won eight of 13 shots and had a neutral efficiency ratio. This season, in 35 matches, the Latvian scored five goals and provided 12 assists, as well as accumulated a negative efficiency coefficient of -1.
The Canucks took the lead four minutes before the end of the first period when Brock Besser put his stick in front of the opposing goal on a flying puck. In the second minute of the second period, Matty Benir took a shot after sliding into the zone, and although Thatcher Demko saw it, the puck went out of his glove and into the goal – 1:1.
The home team returned to the lead in the ninth minute of the second period, when the puck bounced from the Canucks’ hockey player Carson Soucy to Blüger, who found Conor Garland with a sharp and long pass, the American made it 2-1 after the exit. Five minutes before going to the break, Vancouver hockey players broke the opponent’s defense and Besser scored a goal after Soucy’s pass.
In the fourth minute of the third period, Jake Debrask scored the fourth goal for the home team after a game across the field, but five minutes before the end of the regular time, the “Canucks” lead was reduced by Jayden Schwartz, as the puck from the Vancouver hockey player entered the goal.
With 72 seconds left until the final whistle, Vince Dunn brought the Seattle team within one shot. 50 seconds before the end of regular time, Schwartz broke the tie, as the guests played the last minutes with an empty goal.
The fight continued in extra time, and in the third minute, Dan scored a goal in a counterattack, giving the “Kraken” team a victory. Dan finished the game with three RBIs.
“Canucks” goalkeeper Artūrs Shilov is currently at the disposal of the American Hockey League (AHL) team.
The Vancouver team is seventh in the Western Conference with 42 points in 35 games, while “Kraken” is in 12th position with 34 points in 37 matches.
The Canucks will play their next game on New Year’s Eve, visiting the Calgary Flames.
Meanwhile, defender Uvis Jānis Balinskis did not save the Florida “Panthers” team from losing on Saturday.
The current Stanley Cup holder “Panthers” lost at home with 0:4 (0:0, 0:3, 0:1) against the Montreal Canadiens.
The home team scored the first three goals in the second period, and Balinskis was also on the ice in two of these episodes. The Latvian defender played 19 minutes and 54 seconds, scored twice, intercepted one puck, blocked two shots and had a negative +/- of -2.
In the second minute of the second period, after an attack introduced by Patrik Laine, “Canadiens” played to the front of the goal, where Kirby Dak was unattended – 1:0. In the 14th minute of the third period, Dak skated alone against Spencer Knight in the counterattack and strengthened the lead, also assisting Alex Newhook in this goal. Less than three minutes before the break, Sam Reinhart was fouled in the majority, allowing Jake Evans to make it 3-0.
In the third period, when there were less than six minutes left until the end of regular time, Cole Coffield sent the fourth puck into the Panthers’ goal on a quick counterattack.
Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobeš remained unbeaten in his NHL debut, with the 23-year-old Czech making 34 saves. Knight managed 20 carries.
With 46 points in 37 games, the “Panthers” are in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, where the “Canadiens” are in 13th position with 33 points in 35 games.
“Panthers” will play their next match on Monday against New York “Rangers”.