Canucks score 3 in third period to top Seattle Kraken 5-2

Jan 1, 2022, 10:27 PM

Seattle Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer, right, makes a stop as Kraken defenseman Adam Larsson (6) and Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks center Matthew Highmore (15) slide against him during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Rod Masters, who played the organist in the 1977 hockey movie "Slap Shot," is shown on a video scoreboard as he plays during the second period of an NHL hockey game between the Seattle Kraken and the Vancouver Canucks, Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022, in Seattle. The Kraken announced recently that Masters will be the team's new in-house organist. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Seattle Kraken center Calle Jarnkrok (19) greets teammates after he scored a goal against the Vancouver Canucks during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes, left, tries to keep the puck away from Seattle Kraken right wing Jordan Eberle during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Vancouver Canucks left wing Tanner Pearson, left, fights with Seattle Kraken defenseman Carson Soucy, right, during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Vancouver Canucks fans cheer during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Seattle Kraken, Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Vancouver Canucks left wing Nils Hoglander (21) passes the puck to center Bo Horvat (53) as Seattle Kraken center Colin Blackwell (43) defends in front of goaltender Philipp Grubauer during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko, right, eyes the puck after making a stop of a shot by Seattle Kraken left wing Max McCormick (71) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Vancouver Canucks right wing Vasily Podkolzin, second from right, is greeted by teammates after he scored a goal against the Seattle Kraken during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Associated Press

SEATTLE (AP) — Vasily Podkolzin and Nils Hoglander scored first-period goals, Tyler Motte and Conor Garland scored in the third period, and the Vancouver Canucks stayed hot with a 5-2 win over the Seattle Kraken on Saturday night.

Canucks employee thanks Seattle Kraken fan for spotting cancer

Vancouver improved to 8-0-1 since Bruce Boudreau took over as coach last month and have won both games in Seattle against its new Pacific Northwest rival this season (the Kraken come to Vancouver in April). Tanner Pearson added an empty-net goal in the closing minutes.

The Kraken lost their fifth straight and eighth in the past nine games. Seattle also has not won at home since Dec. 3 when it beat Edmonton.

Vancouver Canucks 5, Seattle Kraken 3: Box score

Podkolzin scored at 8:53 to give the Canucks an early lead, followed by Hoglander’s power-play goal later in the period for a 2-0 advantage.

Motte made it 3-1 at 4:46 of the third period with his third goal of the season, and Garland provided a quick answer after Will Borgen pulled Seattle to 3-2 midway through the period.

First NHL goal for Will Borgen (@wborgen19)! 🚨

📺: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/4KjbdjVctF #NHLonSN pic.twitter.com/9vS2Lgvo4b

— NHL (@NHL) January 2, 2022

Thatcher Demko was terrific on Oct. 23 when the Canucks beat the Kraken in their first home game in franchise history. He made 30 saves this time, and Vancouver’s defense limited the number of dangerous chances for Seattle.

Calle Jarnkrok scored midway through the second period for Seattle and Borgen scored his first NHL goal midway through the third to pull Seattle within one. Jordan Eberle beat Demko but hit the crossbar on a late power play for Seattle.

One of Seattle’s problems was defensive mistakes, and the Canucks capitalized on them. The goals by Podkolzin and Motte both came off turnovers by Borgen in Seattle’s defensive zone. Garland’s goal came less than a minute after Borgen scored in part because Mark Giordano lost his stick after colliding with teammate Jamie Oleksiak behind the Seattle goal.

Philipp Grubauer made 30 saves for Seattle.

COVID CHANGES

Seattle got a boost with the return of forward Ryan Donato from the NHL’s COVID-19 protocols on Saturday, but defenseman Jeremy Luzon was added to the protocols. Defenseman Vince Dunn also came out of the protocols but was not activated to play. Seattle has two in protocol.

Vancouver thought it was clear, announcing after the morning skate there weren’t any additions to its COVID-19 protocols. But before the game, the Canucks said forward Jason Dickinson had been added to the protocol list. Vancouver now has four in protocols.

NOTES

Vancouver’s J.T. Miller has a point in nine straight games after getting an assist on Pearson’s late goal. … Seattle F Jaden Schwartz was scratched for a second straight game due to an upper body injury. … Garland had one goal and one assist in the first matchup against Seattle in October. … Jarnkrok has a point in three straight games and has five points over that three-game span.

UP NEXT

Canucks: Off for a week, and will host Ottawa next Saturday.

Kraken: Off until Thursday, when they host Ottawa.

Eide: Seattle Kraken should give Chris Driedger more time in net