Lawson Crouse scored a tiebreaking goal midway through the third period and the Arizona Coyotes tightened the playoff race in the Western Conference with a 4-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday night.
The teams combined for five goals and two lead changes in a wild third period.
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Lawson Crouse scored a tiebreaking goal midway through the third period and the Arizona Coyotes tightened the playoff race in the Western Conference with a 4-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday night.
Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson scored less than three minutes apart for the Canucks, who lost their fourth consecutive game.
Toffoli tied the game 1-1 at 3:19 on a power play. He took a pass at the side of the net from J.T. Miller and lifted a shot into a tight space over Kuemper’s shoulder for his 23rd goal of the season.
Crouse put the Coyotes ahead at 12:29 by tipping in an Ekman-Larsson point shot.
Demko later made a big leg save on a Taylor Hall shot and stopped Phil Kessel on a partial breakaway.
NOTES: Canuck rookie defenseman Quinn Hughes dressed despite missing the Wednesday morning skate and skating by himself on Tuesday. ... Vancouver defenseman Tyler Myers didn’t dress after missing practice Tuesday but skating Wednesday morning. ... Oscar Fantenberg was in the lineup to replace Myers. ... Coyote defenseman Jakob Chychrun is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury but could join the team later on their three-game trip. ... Vancouver has recalled defenseman Guillaume Brisebois and Jalen Chatfield under emergency conditions from their AHL farm team in Utica.
Canucks: Host Colorado Avalanche on Friday.
Crouse and Nick Schmaltz scored goals 2:29 apart for Arizona. Carl Soderberg had a goal and an assist for the Coyotes, who have won two in a row and three out of four. Oliver Ekman-Larsson added an empty-net goal and an assist.
Arizona Coyotes goalie Darcy Kuemper (35) stops Vancouver Canucks' Tyler Motte (64) as Arizona's Nick Schmaltz, back, watches during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 4, 2020, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl DyckThe Canadian Press via AP)
Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson scored less than three minutes apart for the Canucks, who lost their fourth consecutive game.
The win moves the Coyotes into a three-way tie with Vancouver and Winnipeg in points (74) for the two wild-card playoff spots in the Western Conference.
Arizona goalie Darcy Kuemper made 36 saves. Vancouver goaltender Thatcher Demko, making his fourth start for the injured Jacob Markstrom, stopped 36 shots.
Vancouver Canucks' Adam Gaudette, right, skates with the puck past Arizona Coyotes' Brad Richardson during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 4, 2020, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl DyckThe Canadian Press via AP)
Toffoli tied the game 1-1 at 3:19 on a power play. He took a pass at the side of the net from J.T. Miller and lifted a shot into a tight space over Kuemper’s shoulder for his 23rd goal of the season.
Pearson made it 2-1 when he knocked in the rebound of a Jake Virtanen shot at 6:16.
Schmaltz tied the game for Arizona at 10:10. He tipped a shot that Demko stopped, but slipped in the rebound.
The puck deflects off Arizona Coyotes goalie Darcy Kuemper's mask during the second period of the team's NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday, March 4, 2020, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl DyckThe Canadian Press via AP)
Crouse put the Coyotes ahead at 12:29 by tipping in an Ekman-Larsson point shot.
The Coyotes led 1-0 after 40 minutes on the strength of a strange first-period goal.
With the Coyotes on a power play, Soderberg ran into Canuck defenseman Oscar Fantenberg behind the net. The puck flipped into the air and over Demko’s shoulder into the net at 7:27.
Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko (35) stops Arizona Coyotes' Carl Soderberg (34), of Sweden, as Vancouver's Alexander Edler (23), of Sweden, watches during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 4, 2020, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl DyckThe Canadian Press via AP)
Demko later made a big leg save on a Taylor Hall shot and stopped Phil Kessel on a partial breakaway.
Kuemper had a busy second period, stopping Virtanen on a breakaway, blocking a Toffoli drive from the face-off circle, and stopping a tip on a power play.
There were also some anxious moments when Demko ventured out of his net and was knocked down in a collision with Hall and Canuck defenseman Chris Tanev. Demko looked to be in pain but stayed in the game after the training staff examined his left leg.
Arizona Coyotes' Phil Kessel (81) passes the puck from his knees while being checked by Vancouver Canucks' Elias Pettersson, of Sweden, during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 4, 2020, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl DyckThe Canadian Press via AP)
NOTES: Canuck rookie defenseman Quinn Hughes dressed despite missing the Wednesday morning skate and skating by himself on Tuesday. ... Vancouver defenseman Tyler Myers didn’t dress after missing practice Tuesday but skating Wednesday morning. ... Oscar Fantenberg was in the lineup to replace Myers. ... Coyote defenseman Jakob Chychrun is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury but could join the team later on their three-game trip. ... Vancouver has recalled defenseman Guillaume Brisebois and Jalen Chatfield under emergency conditions from their AHL farm team in Utica.
UP NEXT
Coyotes: At Calgary Flames on Friday.
Vancouver Canucks' Adam Gaudette (88) skates with the puck as Arizona Coyotes' Oliver Ekman-Larsson (23), of Sweden, defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 4, 2020, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl DyckThe Canadian Press via AP)
Canucks: Host Colorado Avalanche on Friday.
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Arizona Coyotes goalie Darcy Kuemper is struck on the mask by the puck during the second period of the team's NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday, March 4, 2020, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl DyckThe Canadian Press via AP)