The Vancouver Canucks seemed destined to begin their season with a bang.
After thumping the Edmonton Oilers 8-1 in last year’s opener, the Canucks looked like they were recreating that magic against the Calgary Flames.
Goals from Daniel Sprong, Brock Boeser and Conor Garland catapulted the Canucks to a 4-1 lead after 20 minutes. The power play, which struggled mightily towards the end of last season, got two goals.
Life was good. Until it wasn’t.
The Canucks looked like a different, much sleepier team after the first. That allowed the Flames back into this game.
Rasmus Andersson made it a 4-2 game before the end of the second. Then, Calgary exploded for three third period goals to take a 5-4 lead.
J.T. Miller tied the game and forced overtime, but Connor Zary’s goal gave Calgary a 6-5 victory in overtime.
More to come…