Tanev scores series-clinching OT winner for Canucks in Game 4
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Eleven seconds of extra time was all that was needed!
On a night that saw five different Canucks find the back of the net, it was veteran Chris Tanev who played the role of hero in Game 4.
Tanev tallied the series winner just 11 seconds into overtime, vaulting Vancouver to a thrilling 5-4 overtime victory against the Minnesota Wild.
The Canucks took care of business, winning the best-of-five series 3-1 and cementing their place in the next round of the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Chris Tanev with the OT series winner. Canucks move on pic.twitter.com/Ek6h6njWkn
— /Cam Robinson/ (@Hockey_Robinson) August 8, 2020
Vancouver now officially moves from ‘postseason team’ to a playoff team, becoming one of 16 clubs with a shot at the Stanley Cup this season.
The win also means Vancouver registers their first postseason series victory since the Cup run back in 2011.
The series-clinching moment even triggered the rarely-seen emotion from both head coach Travis Green and the Canucks brass.
Don't read lips… but Travis Green is a very happy man. #Canucks pic.twitter.com/gAzE5wyaZu
— Sportsnet 650 (@Sportsnet650) August 8, 2020
The celebration from the press box. #Canucks pic.twitter.com/yVorTdQoIf
— Sportsnet 650 (@Sportsnet650) August 8, 2020
“I’m so proud of all our guys,” said Canucks general manager Jim Benning. “They worked and competed the whole series, and when we lost some guys (to injuries), other guys stepped in.”
For the majority of Friday’s game, Vancouver played from behind. Minnesota was able to score the first goal of the night just a mere three minutes into the contest.
Despite Vancouver hanging around, the boys in blue had to dig themselves out of 3-1 and 4-3 deficits, however, the mix of young talent and seasoned veterans never seemed to lose their composure.
The entire roster put forward some of their best 5-on-5 hockey that we’ve seen during the four games against Minnesota, despite some shaky goaltending on the backend from Jacob Markstrom.
Canucks rookie Quinn Hughes, who led all Vancouver players in ice time with over 27 minutes, managed to snipe home the first playoff goal of his career in highlight reel fashion.
Witness: Quinn Hughes scores his first career playoff goal. 🤗🐻🚨 pic.twitter.com/rDF7odh5Cw
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) August 8, 2020
Hughes also added an assist in the contest, which means he now holds the record for most points by a Canucks rookie defenceman in a single playoff series with six.
With his 3-3 goal, Quinn Hughes sets record for most points by a #Canucks rookie defenceman in a single playoff series (6).
Previous mark Neil Belland: 5 points in 1982 Stanley Cup Semi-Final vs Chicago
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) August 8, 2020
The kicker? He only needed four games to do it.
Following the game, Tanev spoke extremely highly of his young partner on defence.
“He’s going to be the best defenceman in the league,” Tanev said of Hughes after his dominant performance.
#Canucks' Chris Tanev on defence partner Quinn Hughes: “He’s going to be the best defenceman in the league.”
— Rob Williams (@RobTheHockeyGuy) August 8, 2020
Tanev, not to be outdone by Hughes, added two assists to go along with his overtime winner — clearly showing his approval after the final whistle.
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) August 8, 2020
Forward Tanner Pearson was another guy who showed up when it mattered most. Pearson, who has previously won the cup with the Los Angeles Kings, scored the first goal of the night for Vancouver, while also assisting on captain Bo Horvat’s game-tying goal with 5:46 remaining to force overtime.
BOWIE WILLIAM HORVAT pic.twitter.com/iW173I1D1g
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) August 8, 2020
Horvat joined Pearson and Hughes with two points on the night.
Between the pipes, Jacob Markstrom — who had been in mid-season form for a large chunk of this series – did not put forward one of his best performances.
Despite coming off his first career playoff shutout in Game 3, the Wild were able to beat him not one, not two, but three times on his weak side with most of the attempts being ones that he should have handled.
That being said, he came up big a few times in the final frame to keep his team alive.
6:46 remaining. #Canucks down 4-3. 😳 pic.twitter.com/LdJmP7gKgm
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) August 8, 2020
“I screwed up and I want to thank all the players that they scored one more goal than I let in,” said a humble Markstrom during his post-game press conference.
Markstrom finished the contest with 21 saves to his name.
Horvat joined Pearson and Hughes with two points on the night as well.
The Game 1 shutout loss to the Wild is very much in the rear-view mirror for Canucks fans as many just appear happy to not only be in contention, but return to old traditions.
Honestly don’t think there are bigger #Canucks fans than those out at Scott Rd and 72nd. This is the scene there tonight. #planningtheparade pic.twitter.com/ozePmYRVar
— Farhan Mohamed (@farhanmohamed) August 8, 2020
For anyone keeping track, Canucks’ first-round draft pick in 2016, Olli Juolevi, also played his first NHL game, filling in for an injured Oscar Fantenberg.
Some might say that the team has overachieved this season, others might have been believers all along, but one thing is becoming more evident… if the club can keep this young core intact, we will be in good hands for several seasons to come.
The boys will now take a much-needed breather this weekend before looking ahead to the next round.
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