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National Hockey League
Vancouver 5, Seattle 2
When: 10:00 PM ET, Saturday, January 1, 2022
Where: Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, Washington
Referees: Tom Chmielewski, Furman South
Linesmen: Steve Barton, Vaughan Rody
Attendance: 17151

Tanner Pearson had a goal and an assist as the Vancouver Canucks defeated the host Seattle Kraken 5-2 Saturday night.

Vasily Podkolzin, Nils Hoglander, Tyler Motte and Conor Garland also scored for the Canucks, who improved to 8-0-1 since Bruce Boudreau took over as coach for the fired Travis Green. Goaltender Thatcher Demko made 30 saves.

Calle Jarnkrok and Will Borgen scored for expansion Seattle, which is winless in its past five games (0-4-1). Philipp Grubauer stopped 30 of 34 shots.

Turnovers by Borgen, who was inserted into the lineup because defenseman Jeremy Lauzon was placed in the NHL's COVID-19 protocol earlier in the day, led to two Vancouver goals.

Podkolzin opened the scoring at 8:53 of the first period, intercepting a clearing attempt by Borgen near the top of the right faceoff circle and quickly putting a wrist shot past Grubauer.

Hoglander extended the lead to 2-0 with a power-play goal at 14:49 of the first. Brad Hunt's shot from the top of the right faceoff circle was saved by Grubauer, but Hoglander dug the puck out from some skates at the top of the crease and lifted the rebound over the prone goalie.

Jarnkrok got the Kraken on the board at 9:10 of the second with a shot from along the boards near the top of the left faceoff circle that made it past a screened Demko.

Motte gave the Canucks a 3-1 lead at 4:46 of the third after Juho Lammikko forced Borgen into a turnover behind his own net. Matthew Highmore collected the puck and fed Motte at the top of the crease, and he slid the puck just inside the right post.

Borgen got one back with his first career goal at 10:43 with a slap shot from the right point. But 46 seconds later, Garland beat a screened Grubauer with a slap shot from just above the left faceoff circle to restore Vancouver's two-goal edge.

Pearson got an assist on Garland's goal and added an empty-netter at 17:43.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Vancouver   Seattle
Tanner Pearson 2 Points Will Borgen 1
Tanner Pearson 1 Goals Will Borgen 1
Tanner Pearson 1 Assists Yanni Gourde 1
Nils Hoglander 1 Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Thatcher Demko .938 Save Percentage Philipp Grubauer .882
Thatcher Demko 30 Saves Philipp Grubauer 30
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Vancouver 35 5 1-2 2-2 9 32
Seattle 32 2 0-2 1-2 9 34
Upcoming Games
  • Seattle will play their next game at home against NY Islanders. The Kraken have a W/L % of .273 after a win and .318 after a loss.
  • Vancouver will play their next game at home against NY Islanders. The Canucks have a W/L % of .533 after a win and .421 after a loss.