Sluggish Penguins lose in Vancouver

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Jake Virtanen and Coraopolis native J.T. Miller scored power-play goals in the first period, leading the Vancouver Canucks to a 4-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night.

Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser also scored for the Canucks (18-15-4). Tyler Myers had two assists.

Jake Guentzel scored for the Penguins (21-11-4).

Jacob Markstrom made 28 saves for Vancouver. Matt Murray stopped 10 shots for Pittsburgh.

The game got off to a sluggish start, with 10 minutes, 24 seconds elapsing in the first period before Antoine Roussel recorded the game’s first shot on goal.

Soon after, the Canucks earned a long 5-on-3 power play. Dominik Simon received a double-minor for high-sticking Adam Gaudette, and Brandon Tanev was whistled for holding 29 seconds later.

Miller appeared to give the Canucks the lead during the 5-on-3 power play, but the goal was called back because of a coach’s challenge for offside.

Virtanen eventually opened the scoring with 4:50 left in the first. He scored on a slap shot from the left boards that beat Murray high to the glove side. With the Canucks still on the power play, Miller doubled Vancouver’s lead just 1:50 later. He picked up his 14th goal of the year by tipping a shot by Oscar Fantenberg over Murray’s glove.

Shots on goal were 5-0 for Vancouver at the end of the first period. It was the first time the Canucks held their opponents to no shots in a period since April 5, 2018.

In the second, the Penguins dominated play, outshooting Vancouver 20-6. Guentzel’s goal came off a rebound with 4:32 left to play, while Gaudette was serving a high-sticking double minor.

Less than a minute later, the Canucks replied, with Pettersson sending a rebound high over Murray’s glove after a shot by Tyler Myers. It was Pettersson’s 17th goal of the year and his fifth in six games.

In the third, the teams traded power-play chances before Boeser recorded his 13th of the year, converting a feed from Pettersson from behind the net. Vancouver finished the game 2 for 5 with the man advantage. Pittsburgh was 1 for 5.

Notes: Miller’s goal was his first in seven games, his longest stretch without scoring since he joined the Canucks. … Vancouver is 2-1-0 on its homestand. … Saturday marked Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan’s 500th career game as an NHL coach. Pittsburgh’s loss snapped a four-game winning streak.