Tyler Myers contributed a goal and an assist, while Thatcher Demko made 39 saves in his return from a knee injury as the Vancouver Canucks defeated the Calgary Flames 4-1 on Tuesday night, securing the Pacific Division title.
Nils Hoglander, Dakota Joshua, and J.T. Miller also scored for Vancouver, marking their first division title since 2013. The Canucks are currently two points behind Dallas for the top spot in the Western Conference, with one game remaining for each team.
Demko, who had been sidelined for 14 games due to injury, expressed his excitement about the team’s achievement but emphasized that they remain focused and hungry for more success.
Brayden Pachal scored the lone goal for the Flames, breaking Demko’s shutout bid in the third period. Despite the goal, Pachal acknowledged the disappointment of not being able to secure the win.
Miller sealed the victory for the Canucks with a goal late in the game, extending his impressive point streak to 11 games.
After J.T. Miller scored, the crowd cheered his name at Rogers Arena. Despite the outcome, Flames coach Ryan Huska praised his team’s effort, highlighting their strong play throughout the game.
Vancouver took the lead with a short-handed goal late in the first period. Tyler Myers received a pass from Teddy Blueger and found the net with a powerful shot, putting the Canucks ahead 1-0.
Shortly after, Nils Hoglander increased the lead to 2-0 with a goal assisted by Elias Pettersson. Hoglander capitalized on a quick pass from Pettersson, scoring past the Flames’ goalie Jacob Markstrom.
In the second period, Dakota Joshua extended the Canucks’ lead to 3-0 with a well-placed snapshot from close range.
Tensions rose in the middle of the period when Hoglander and Brayden Pachal engaged in a physical altercation, leading to a scuffle between players from both teams. Conor Garland and Adam Klapka were ejected from the game for rough play, while Hoglander received a penalty for cross-checking.
