Vancouver Canucks players celebrate a goal as Vegas Golden Knights William Carrier (28) looks on during first-period NHL Western Conference Stanley Cup playoff action in Edmonton, Alberta, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020 | 9:16 p.m.
For the second year in a row, the Golden Knights lost a 3-1 series lead and are going to a Game 7.
The Golden Knights came out slow and never fully recovered, failing to score a goal for the first time in their last 32 playoff games, losing Game 6 to the Vancouver Canucks 4-0 at Rogers Place in Edmonton.
Vegas has lost two in a row to Vancouver and will play Game 7 as part of a back-to-back Friday. Puck drop is scheduled for 6 p.m.
The Canucks came out of the gate playing like a team one loss from elimination. They fired the first eight shot attempts of the game and scored at the 2:50 mark, a Jake Virtanen wraparound that was the first goal by Vancouver’s bottom-six forward group this series.
The Golden Knights settled in after that, not allowing a Vancouver shot on goal for almost a full period — 19:23 of game time. Vegas had three power plays in the second period, but couldn’t beat Thatcher Demko, who once again stood tall after beating Vegas in Game 5.
The Canucks added to their lead early in the third thanks to a terrific individual effort from Calder Trophy finalist Quinn Hughes. He stole the puck in the neutral zone and drove all the way down the ice, wrapping around the net and back to the blue line, where he dished the puck off to J.T. Miller, who didn’t wait long. He unleashed a shot through a screen that beat Robin Lehner, and Vancouver led 2-0 at 1:03 of the third.
Hughes added an insurance goal at 8:16 to make it 3-0, and Bo Horvat it sealed it with an empty-netter with 4:38 to go in the third.
Vegas led in shots on goal 48-23.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
