A couple of St. Louis Blues goals thanks to questionable refereeing and a heartbreaking tying goal with six seconds left in regulation wasn't enough to slow down the Vancouver Canucks today.
Another two goals from Bo Horvat lifted Vancouver to a massive 4-3 overtime win over the St. Louis Blues in game two.
Horvat scored a highlight reel goal in game one on Wednesday, but he found a way to top it to open the scoring in game two.
Bo Horvat walks in the icebreaker! 🚨
Advantage: @Canucks. #Canucks | #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/CUzMp3vcQT— #StanleyCup Playoffs on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) August 14, 2020
With the Canucks shorthanded, Horvat took the puck in the Canucks' defensive zone and went end to end, undressing a pair of Blues on the way, before slotting the puck past Jordan Binnington.
In the second, after a JT Miller goal was disallowed due to an offside, Tanner Pearson would officially extend the Canucks lead to 2-0 with a powerplay marker.
However, St. Louis tied it on a powerplay that came after a questionable call late in the second period.
After Brandon Sutter was hit from behind into the boards, Jay Beagle went after Sammy Blais and ended up taking the extra penalty, which allowed Ryan O'Reilly to tie up the game with the extra man.
Sutter gets hit directly in the numbers and somehow the Blues end up on the power play and score. Sure. Okay. pic.twitter.com/Hs7tcftduJ
— Daniel Wagner (@passittobulis) August 15, 2020
Elias Pettersson restored the Canucks two-goal lead in the final frame, but once again a questionable call allowed the Blues to get back to within one.
Alex Edler was high-sticked in the defensive zone, leading to a giveaway and a goal from none other than Blais.
It seemed like Vancouver still might be able to steer the game home for a big game two win, but the Blues were able to tie it up with the goalie pulled and just six seconds left on the clock.
BLUES TIE IT IN THE LAST SECONDS. WE GOT OT HOCKEY BABY. pic.twitter.com/iF6H1ZOIaQ
— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) August 15, 2020
At that point, it would have been easy for the young Canucks to roll over and let the defending champions come on strong, but that wasn't the case.
The team immediately came out strong in overtime and just over five minutes into the extra frame, Quinn Hughes found captain Horvat with an impressive stretch pass.
Horvat walked in on a partial breakaway and fired a snapshot between the legs of Binnington to give the Canucks the overtime win and a 2-0 series lead.
Horvat’s 2nd of the night is the OT winner! 🚨🚨
— theScore (@theScore) August 15, 2020
(🎥: @NHLonNBCSports) pic.twitter.com/MMtJdnMJkE
Normally at this point, you'd say Vancouver stole two on the road and is returning home with a 2-0 series lead, but since they're in the bubble, game three won't look much different than game two.
However, the 2-0 series lead is a shocker for most and a massive advantage for the young Canucks, who continue their quest to upset the defending champs.
Game three will be played on Sunday with a 7:30 pm PT puck drop and it'll be shown on Sportsnet and CBC.
