Kiefer Sherwood had an unforgettable night on the ice, delivering his first NHL hat trick to lead the Vancouver Canucks to a commanding 3-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Monday night. Thatcher Demko, the Canucks’ goalie, proved his mettle, denying the Avalanche with 30 saves. The Canucks secured their second win in their last five outings (2-2-1).
Avalanche’s Late Surge Falls Short
Colorado’s Valeri Nichushkin found the back of the net with 46 seconds remaining, but it was too little too late for the Avalanche. Goalkeeper Mackenzie Blackwood managed 22 saves on the night. Sherwood, the star of the show, scored a goal at even strength, a crucial short-handed goal, and an empty-netter to seal the deal. With this performance, he has now surpassed his previous career-best of 10 goals in a season, reaching a new high of 11.
Rantanen Continues Point Streak
Mikko Rantanen managed to secure an assist for the Avalanche, extending his impressive point streak to six games, with a total of three goals and nine assists over this period.
Game Highlights
Canucks’ Response to Coach’s Criticism
After a disappointing 5-1 loss to Boston on Saturday, Coach Rick Tocchet had some stern words for his players, specifically calling out a handful who were “struggling to get emotionally invested.” The Canucks responded with a physical and disciplined game against the Avalanche, successfully neutralizing four penalties, blocking 18 shots, and registering 30 hits.
Avalanche’s Scoring Drought
The usually high-scoring Colorado team experienced a rare quiet night, managing just one goal despite having secured four wins in their last five games. Prior to this, the Avalanche had outscored their opponents 18-9.
Decisive Moment
The game pivoted when Sherwood extended Vancouver’s lead with a short-handed goal with just under four minutes left in the second period. Sherwood intercepted a puck off Nathan MacKinnon near the benches, dashed down the ice, and skillfully lifted a shot over Blackwood’s outstretched glove to make it 2-0.
Key Statistic
The Avalanche failed to convert on four power-play opportunities, leading to a dismal 1 for 19 record over the last seven games.
What’s Next?
Upcoming games see the Avalanche heading to San Jose on Thursday, while the Canucks are set to visit Utah on Wednesday, kicking off a two-game road trip.
