Pius Suter scored his second goal in the last minute to help the Vancouver Canucks win a thrilling 3-2 game against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night.
Jake DeBrusk also scored for the Canucks, who ended a two-game stretch without a win. Goaltender Kevin Lankinen made 21 saves during the game.
For the Sharks, Nico Sturm and Mikael Granlund scored, but their three-game winning streak came to an end. Goalie Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 25 shots.
As overtime seemed likely after Granlund tied the game late, Suter scored the winning goal with just 25.7 seconds left. He found an open spot in the left circle and fired a one-timer set up by Conor Garland for his second goal of the night and fourth of the season.
The Canucks have now won 11 of their last 12 games against the Sharks, and this match was just as exciting as the others.
After a scoreless first period, Sturm got the scoring started at 2:37 of the second period. Luke Kunin took a hit in the slot to shoot on net, and Sturm was there to grab the long rebound for his second goal of the season.
Suter evened the score at 14:41 of the second period. Soon after, Lankinen made a great save against William Eklund’s big chance. Then, Garland caused a turnover that led to Suter getting the puck in the left circle, where he fired a wrist shot into the top corner.
DeBrusk gave the Canucks their first lead with 4:22 left in the game. Just after Brock Boeser hit the post on a breakaway, DeBrusk received a pass in the slot and took a shot that went in on the glove side for his first goal of the season.
However, Granlund tied the game again with 77 seconds left in regulation. He scored with a shot that found its way through traffic and into the net for his sixth goal of the season.
The Sharks made a strong push at the end but couldn’t find the tying goal.
Canucks defenseman Filip Hronek got an assist in his 400th NHL game on his 27th birthday, while his teammate Derek Forbore played in his 500th game.
