The Vancouver Canucks scored three goals in the first half and Thatcher Demko scored 27 saves in a 4-0 win over hosts Winnipeg Jets on Monday night at Bell MTS Place.
Nate Schmidt, JT Miller and Nils Hoglander scored early on as the Canucks (9-14-2) ended the Jets’ winning streak in four games. Elias Pettersson sealed the win with a clean sheet.
Demko’s first career break helped the Canucks to their first win in five games.
The teams will compete against each other again on Tuesday evening in the final of the four-game homestand of the jets.
After Nate Schmidt had saved a shot on goal in the first eight minutes, he sent a fluttering shot from the high slot past a shielded Connor Hellebuyck at 8:28 a.m.
A similar game just 18 seconds later doubled Vancouver’s lead. This time Schmidt’s Point Shot was redirected by Miller at 8:46.
Vancouver’s second power play session used the same formula to extend the 2:50 pm lead. Tyler Myers sent a wrist shot from the blue line, which Hoglander tipped to make it 3-0.
🙌 FIRST CAREER SHUTOUT FOR DEMKO! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/YKZDe9xiFY
– Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) March 2, 2021
Demko was meanwhile stable in the Vancouver network, albeit unspectacular, gave up only a few rebounds and got through when necessary.
The Jets, which fell to 8-4-1 at home, seemed more inspired by the second phase, but struggled to maintain sustained pressure.
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Winnipeg (13-7-1) squeezed intermittently in the third. Mark Scheifele had two good chances mid-way through the period and Blake Wheeler was knocked down after a sly distraction in a shot from Sami Niku.
The jets pulled Hellebuyck by more than five minutes. Winnipeg hit the post with a deflected shot, but Pettersson put the game down at 4:26 pm.
The Canucks had 19 shots on goal and improved to 4-8-0 on the road.
After Tuesday’s game, the Jets will take to the streets for 12 of their next 14 games.
The Canucks are returning home for a five-game homestand against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Rogers Arena on Thursday.
THE CANADIAN PRESS
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