The Vancouver Canucks used a torrid start to ensure a 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames in Game 2 of their first round playoff series on Friday.
Canucks vs. Flames, 2015 NHL playoffs results: Vancouver evens series with 4-1 win
Calgary couldn’t duplicate their Game 1 success.
Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Vancouver jumped out of the gates with aplomb and vigor, outshooting the Flames 11-2 midway through the first period. Their top line broke the scoring early, as Henrik Sedin assisted on Daniel Sedin's goal just three minutes in. Chris Higgins followed with a tally of his own shortly after, firing a wrist shot past Flames goalie Jonas Hiller to extend Vancouver's lead to 2-0.
An uneventful second period followed, as Calgary countered with a barrage of scoring chances of their own. The Flames outshot Vancouver 11-9 in the second, but Canucks goalie Eddie Lack was once again up to the challenge.
Vancouver wasted no time in trying to bury the Flames further in the third period. Ronalds Kenins scored less than three minutes into the final frame to give the Canucks a huge 3-0 lead and a mountain for the Flames to climb. Calgary was not up to the task, and finally lost their first playoff game of the year.
The series now shifts back to Calgary, all tied up at 1-1.
3 Things We Learned
1. Vancouver looks right at home again.
A couple of years outside the playoffs hasn’t dulled the shine in Vancouver when the Canucks are playing playoff hockey. The crowd was strong, and the Canucks had that familiar extra jump in their stride we’ve become accustomed to over the years. Though perhaps that was more due to their opponent than the occasion itself. Speaking of...
2. A Flames player needs to stand out eventually.
If you were waiting for on Calgary player to step up and take command of the game on Friday, you were kept waiting a long time. That's not the kind of game the Flames play, but it was something they desperately needed against the Canucks. The first Flames player to record a second shot on goal was Mikael Backlund at the end of the second period.
3. Canada’s game stood out, but for the wrong reason.
The Canucks-Flames game is so friggin' normal and not hitty or intense or interesting. Canada gets the worst hockey.
— Kid Ish (@kid_ish) April 18, 2015 See More:
