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Sluggish Penguins lose in Vancouver

Associated Press
| Sunday, December 22, 2019 1:23 a.m.
AP
Vancouver’s J.T. Miller (9), who was raised in Coraopolis, scores on Penguins goalie Matt Murray as defenseman Kris Letang watches during the first period Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

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.


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