Brock Boeser and J.T. Miller scored 1:52 apart early in the third period, Jaroslav Halak stopped 32 shots and the Vancouver Canucks beat the NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche 3-1 on Wednesday night.
Boeser got things rolling by taking advantage of a turnover with a goal 1:23 into the final period. Miller knocked in another off a rebound moments later. Bo Horvat added an empty-net goal as the Canucks finished 1-2 against the Avalanche this season. They avoided being swept by Colorado for the first time since 1996-97 in the season series.
The Avalanche have been the third-period comeback kings this season, but couldn鈥檛 add to their total of 10, tied for tops in the league. Nazem Kadri鈥檚 power-play goal made it 2-1 early in the third.
Halak came up big down the stretch, with one sprawling save after another.
Halak gets his paddle on it for his 23rd save of the night! pic.twitter.com/hgSyhg0Ojf
鈥� Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) March 24, 2022
Darcy Kuemper made 24 saves in a game filled with plenty of skating and not a lot of whistles. There were long stretches with no breaks.
Miller added an assist on Horvat鈥檚 empty-netter with 17.6 seconds remaining. Miller now has 31 points (10 goals, 21 assists) over his last 17 games.
Andrew Cogliano made his Avalanche debut after being acquired from San Jose at the trade deadline. The veteran forward nearly scored an early goal and demonstrated his tenacity by getting into a minor scuffle after being called for tripping.
The defence ruled the night over the opening 40 minutes. Kuemper withstood 18 shots through two periods, while Halak turned back 23 鈥� and got some help with Kadri hitting the post.
The Avalanche have a big lead in the standings, but no plans of cruising toward the finish line. It鈥檚 full throttle all the way with three straight second-round playoff exits as motivation.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e always a good team until someone shows you you鈥檙e not,鈥� Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said.
The Canucks face an uphill climb to claim one of the final playoff spots. Just don鈥檛 tell them that.
鈥淯ntil we鈥檙e done, we鈥檙e playing every game as if it鈥檚 our last game,鈥� Canucks coach Bruce Boudreau said after the morning skate. 鈥淒on鈥檛 necessarily look at the standings, just play it. Eventually, if you have some success, you鈥檒l be where you want to be.鈥�
READ MORE: Canucks make deadline deals with eyes on the future
THIS & THAT
Colorado forward Artturi Lehkonen will have to wait to make his Avalanche debut as he works through immigration issues. Lehkonen was acquired from Montreal at the trade deadline. 鈥� Singer Hazel Miller initially struggled with the start of 鈥淥 Canada,鈥� apologized to the crowd and then began again. She followed with 鈥淭he Star-Spangled Banner鈥� that received a loud applause.
FAMILY FIRST
Cogliano hopes to soon be joined in Denver by his wife and two young children. The couple鈥檚 1-year-old daughter, Olive, is dealing with complications related to asthma that鈥檚 led to a few trips to the hospital this season.
鈥淲e鈥檙e on the right path to figuring it out,鈥� he said.
UP NEXT
Canucks: At Minnesota on Thursday.
Avalanche: Host Philadelphia on Friday.
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