Sharks jump on rivals’ poor fin-ish
Another third-period lead evaporates, but Miller blames high stick for igniting comeback
The Vancouver Canucks had a one-goal lead entering the third period. What could possibly go wrong?
Quite a bit, actually. As we’ve learned this National Hockey League season, a third-period lead doesn’t mean much for the Canucks, who gave away another game in the final 20 minutes on Thursday.
The San Jose Sharks got thirdperiod goals from Brent Burns and Patrick Marleau as they rallied to beat the Canucks 3-2 at Rogers Arena.
It marked the 11th time this season the Canucks have lost a game they led after two periods.
“There have been a few too many games this year where we had the lead in the third and we have been sitting back too much,” said winger Daniel Sedin. “We have to learn. It has happened way too many times this year, where they come hard in the third and we have to respond. We have to understand that is when we have to get pucks deep, hold on to pucks down low and get some zone time and get the momentum back.
“There is way too much back and forth. We are playing well for 10 minutes and then they take over for too long.”
Burns scored on a power play 43 seconds into the third to tie the game. His shot from just inside the blue-line beat Vancouver goalie Ryan Miller short side. Less than five minutes later, Marleau finished off a 2-on-1 rush with Joonas Donskoi to give the Sharks the lead for good.
It was the second time in five days San Jose has come from behind in the third to beat the Canucks. On Sunday, the Sharks scored four unanswered goals in the third to win 4-1.
The Canucks actually had a 2-0 lead after the first period Thursday, but the Sharks cut that lead in half midway through the second period on a controversial goal by Tomas Hertl.
Hertl’s stick appeared to be well above the crossbar when he tipped a Burns shot past Miller. The play was reviewed by the NHL situation room, but the goal was allowed to stand after the league said a video review was “inconclusive.”
Miller was seething about the call after the game.
“I just watched the replay and I think it’s a high stick for sure,” Miller said. “I don’t think I have got a high-stick call since I have come here. I don’t know what’s going on. (Martin) Hanzal last year, who’s 6-foot-5, Hertl who is 6-3 and if you watch, it hit the tip of his blade at the apex of his hands.
“I don’t know what the league is looking at. Just because it is (ruled) a goal on the ice, get it right. Or just get rid of the rule. It’s wishy-washy, a big game for us. ... It’s definitely a high stick and they missed it.”
Although the game ended badly for the Canucks, they played one of their best periods of the season in the opening 20 minutes. Vancouver dominated the Sharks, outshooting them 15-7 and built that 2-0 lead.
The new line of Markus Granlund, Sven Baertschi and Jake Virtanen led the way.
Virtanen opened scoring at the 7:14 mark with his sixth of the season on a nice individual effort. Virtanen powered his way down the left wing and tested San Jose netminder Martin Jones with a shot, took the rebound behind the net and then threw a backhand in front that bounced off San Jose forward Joe Pavelski and past Jones.
“Just a shot off the wing, followed it up and got the rebound and tried to find a guy in front,” Virtanen said. “Luckily, it just went in off a skate and in the net it went.”
That line struck again at 18:31 of the first when Baertschi fought off a check by Sharks defenceman Brenden Dillon and tipped a Dan Hamhuis shot past Jones. Virtanen picked up the second assist on Baertschi’s 13th goal of the season. But in what has been an all-too-familiar story this season, the Canucks have had trouble holding onto momentum when they get it. The Sharks came at them hard in the second and were the better team early in the third when the game was on the line.
“We had a good period and you want to keep doing that,” Virtanen said.
“It is something you have to learn from. We are young guys still and we have to be consistent throughout the whole game. We’ll be working on that for sure.” ICE CHIPS: Rookie Brendan Gaunce made his homeice debut for the Canucks. He skated on a line with Bo Hor
vat and Linden Vey and had three shots on goal ... San Jose has now beat the Canucks seven straight games at Rogers Arena ... The loss, Vancouver’s third straight, ended a five-game homestand.