Miller’s Clutch OT Goal Lifts Canucks Over Kings

J.T. Miller has been a part of two overtime goals for Vancouver in the last two weeks and tonight he called game.

In a game that had a playoff feel and sense of urgency from both sides, these kinds of wins give the team confidence that they can be successful in tight games.

“We scored at a very high clip at the beginning of the year and now it is a little harder to come by. Teams are tightening up a little defensively, goals are grittier, harder to get to as you alluded to and I think our group is doing a good job of trying to navigate and being patient,” Miller said.

Miller said their consistent pressure in the second period was one of the keys to the game.

With the win, Head Coach Rick Tocchet has 60 wins through his 100 games behind the Canucks bench.

Thatcher Demko stopped 23 of 24 shots, including leaping across the crease to save off L.A. winger Alex Turcotte’s shot. 

“He’s unbelievable and it’s saves like that that keep us in such an important game for our group,” Miller said. “He is such a big part of our team and when we see [a save like] that it’s almost like a get out of jail free type of situation on a breakdown, he’s been unreal for us ever since I’ve been here for the last five years.”

Game Recap

Kings’ forward Trevor Moore scored to put L.A. up 1-0 in the first and they kept the one goal lead heading into the intermission.

In the second period, shots on goal favoured Vancouver 16-9 and at 16:36, the Canucks found the back of the net. Elias Pettersson danced through the defence to tie the game 1-1 going into intermission.

Quinn Hughes assisted on Pettersson’s goal, tallying 60 assists on the season and making him the fourth blueliner in NHL history with three-straight 60-assist seasons — joining Paul Coffey, Bobby Orr and Ray Bourque.

There were some close calls in the third period for both teams, but neither Demko nor Cam Talbot conceded goals during the final period, sending the game into extra time.

In overtime, a Kings’ delayed penalty gave the Canucks a four-on-three opportunity and Miller connected from the left faceoff circle off a pass from Brock Boeser to give Vancouver the win.

Hughes was also credited with an assist on Miller’s goal, good for two points on the evening and a grand total of 61 assists on the year.

The Canucks will roll the dice when they head to Vegas for a tilt with the Golden Knights Thursday, March 7th at 7 p.m. PT.