Canucks Edge Kings 4-2, Hiller Makes 30 Saves
Vancouver, BC - The Vancouver Canucks secured a hard-fought 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday night, thanks to a strong performance from veteran goaltender Jonas Hiller and a balanced offensive attack.
Hiller, making his first start since February 24th, stood tall in net for the Canucks, stopping 30 of 32 shots to secure the win. His stellar performance was particularly crucial in the third period, where the Kings mounted a late push to tie the game.
The Canucks opened the scoring in the first period with a goal from Bo Horvat, who tipped in a shot from the point by Alexander Edler. The lead was doubled just over a minute later when Sven Baertschi deflected a shot from Derek Dorsett past Kings goalie Jonathan Quick.
Los Angeles responded in the second period with a goal from Jeff Carter, who beat Hiller with a wrist shot from the slot. However, the Canucks regained their two-goal lead just over two minutes later on a power-play goal from Daniel Sedin, assisted by Henrik Sedin and Brandon Sutter.
The Kings cut the lead to one goal in the third period with a power-play goal from Tyler Toffoli, but they were unable to find the equalizer despite several scoring chances late in the game.
The win moves the Canucks one point closer to a playoff spot, while the loss drops the Kings further out of contention.
Key Takeaways:
- Jonas Hiller was the difference-maker for the Canucks, making several key saves in the third period to preserve the victory.
- The Canucks' offense was well-distributed, with four different players finding the back of the net.
- The Kings struggled to generate consistent offensive pressure, particularly in the third period.
Looking ahead:
The Canucks will look to build on this momentum as they head on the road for their next game. Meanwhile, the Kings will need to find a way to improve their offensive output if they hope to make a late-season push.