In Vancouver, the Canucks downed the visiting San Jose Sharks on Monday, 3-1, to snap a two-game skid.
Quinn Hughes hit for a goal and two points in the win to extend his point streak to eight games.
“It doesn’t really mean much at the end of the day,” Hughes said. “I want to be in the playoffs and be on a successful team and successful organization. We’ve been successful to start the year and have to keep going.”
Thatcher Demko made 27 saves in the win.
The Canucks improved to 13-5-1.
Hughes scored his goal at 13:07 of the first to give the Canucks a 1-0 lead.
“I can’t get caught being satisfied or happy,” Hughes said. “I think that I’ve been really good at sticking day to day and attacking each day.”
The Sharks dropped to 3-14-1.
“Listen, we’ve come a long way in two and a half weeks (since a 10-1 loss to Vancouver on Nov. 2) and we’re getting there,” San Jose coach David Quinn said. “A lot I liked about our game.”
Sam Lafferty ruined a Sharks five-minute power play with a shorthanded strike with one second left in the middle frame for a 2-0 lead.
“To get that two-goal cushion, a short-handed goal, it got us some juice,” Tocchet said. “After that we had a bunch of O-zone time, a bunch of guys getting chances.”
Tomas Hertl scored off the power play for the Sharks in the 48 seconds into the third period to trim the deficit to 2-1.
“The power play has to be better. It’s especially on me,” Hertl said. “I have to make a stronger play and we just can’t give up a goal with a second left.”
J.T. Miller replied for the Canucks at 7:10 to give the Canucks some breathing room in the 3-1 final.
“[Miller] drives the play. When we’re playing a little bit slow or we’re not on our game, he demands the puck by going to areas,” Tocchet said. “He drives the play with his attitude and his north style. It’s infectious.”
Mackenzie Blackwood made 34 saves in the loss.
“It’s obviously tough, but we just keep going, play our game,” San Jose’s Fabian Zetterlund said. “We played way better than the last time we played them, but it’s a tough loss.”
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