SPORT / MISCELLANY
Canucks crush Kraken
Hosts bounce back from one goal down
Published: Feb 22, 2022 05:42 PM
Vancouver Canucks forward Tyler Motte (No.64) scores against Seattle Kraken goalie Chris Driedger on February 21, 2022 in Vancouver, Canada. Photo: IC

Vancouver Canucks forward Tyler Motte (No.64) scores against Seattle Kraken goalie Chris Driedger on February 21, 2022 in Vancouver, Canada. Photo: IC

Tyler Motte scored 11 seconds into the game and Bo Horvat added a goal 35 seconds into the third period on Monday as the Vancouver Canucks used a quick-strike offense to rally for a 5-2 victory over the visiting Seattle Kraken.

Travis Hamonic, Vasily Podkolzin and Tanner Pearson each added goals as the Canucks rebounded from a one-goal first-period deficit to win for the third time in four games.

Thatcher Demko made 25 saves for Vancouver, which improved to 3-0-0 against the Kraken this season 

while outscoring the expansion club by a combined 14-6. Elias Pettersson, Juho Lammikko and J.T. Miller each had two assists for the Canucks.

Jared McCann and Mark Giordano each scored first-period goals for Seattle. McCann scored in his 400th career game.

Chris Driedger stopped 41 shots for the Kraken, who dropped their fourth consecutive game. The Canucks took a season-high 46 shots, while the Kraken took 27.

The Canucks won the opening ­faceoff, with Motte dumping the puck behind the net. Lammikko delivered a centering pass from behind the goal, and Motte connected for his sixth goal of the season.

The Kraken answered quickly when McCann scored at 3:12 of the opening period. It was McCann's team-leading 21st of the season as he finished a two-on-one with Marcus Johansson with a shot from the left side of the crease.

Giordano gave Seattle a 2-1 lead with a short-handed goal at 14:26 of the opening period. His fifth tally of the season came off a nifty pass from Joonas Donskoi that was flipped over the top of the Vancouver defense from near center ice.

Hamonic got Vancouver even at 3:45 of the second period, his first of the season and his 200th career point.

Podkolzin put the Canucks on top for good with a score off a rebound from a Driedger save at 16:41 of the second. It was his eighth goal of the campaign.