Key Takeaways
- Marc Gatcomb scored the game-winning goal late in the second period as Vegas defeated Vancouver 3-2.
- Paul Cotter and Jonathan Lekkerimaki scored for Vancouver, while Kevin Lankinen made 25 saves.
- The Canucks dropped to 2-2-0 after beginning the season with two wins and two losses.
Canucks Fall Short After Trading Goals With Vegas
The Vancouver Canucks opened their homestand with another dramatic finish, but this time the comeback did not arrive. Vegas Golden Knights escaped Rogers Arena with a 3-2 victory Sunday, handing Vancouver its second loss in four games.
Vegas Finds the Decisive Goal
Vancouver struck first at 18:52 of the opening period when Paul Cotter redirected Filip Hronek’s pass for his fourth goal of the season. The goal also came in Cotter’s 300th NHL game, giving the Canucks an early advantage.
Vegas answered through Mitch Marner at 9:01 of the second period. Victor Olofsson then put the Golden Knights ahead on a power play at 14:30, but Vancouver quickly responded.
Jonathan Lekkerimaki tied the game at 17:54, only for Marc Gatcomb to restore Vegas’ lead 34 seconds later. Gatcomb converted a rebound from Braeden Bowman’s wraparound attempt, scoring his first goal as a Golden Knight and ultimately the game-winner.
Vancouver Could Not Complete Another Comeback
The Canucks had chances to respond during the third period, but neither side scored in the final 20 minutes. Vegas goaltender Adin Hill finished with 17 saves, while Vancouver’s Kevin Lankinen stopped 25 shots.
The defeat came one night after Vancouver produced a four-goal third period to beat Calgary 4-1. That win had given the Canucks a 2-1 start before the back-to-back schedule caught up with them.
Why This Result Matters
Vegas improved to 2-1-0 and extended its winning streak against Vancouver to eight games. For the Canucks, the early season has already shown both promise and inconsistency, with the team now 2-2-0.
TwikUp’s Perspective
The encouraging sign for Vancouver is that it continues to create scoring opportunities and respond when games swing against it. The bigger challenge is closing tight contests. Against an experienced Vegas lineup, one defensive breakdown late in a period was enough to decide the result.
With the season still young, the Canucks have plenty of time to correct that issue. But close games like this can quickly become important when playoff positioning is eventually decided.