In Vancouver, the Canucks’ Thatcher Demko made 22 saves in a 5-0 shellacking of the st Louis Blues on Friday night.
Quinn Hughes scored once in the first period, and a second time in the middle frame for a 2-0 lead to the Canucks.
“It’s probably one of the better starts I’ve seen us have in my career,” Demko said. “I’m really proud of that effort in the first. Coming back home, we wanted to make sure we established home ice … try to build that culture at home the rest of the year.”
Vancouver out shot the Blues, 19-3, in the first period.
“You’re going to lose hockey games, but you can’t be losing them like that,” St. Louis captain Brayden Schenn said. “You’re not even giving yourself a chance. We have to clean that up and we can’t be ‘A’ game and then ‘D’ game. … We’ve got lots to work on and obviously, being consistent is one.”
Phillip Di Giuseppe scored off a breakaway at 6:58 of the middle frame for a 3-0 lead.
“I knew it was going to be a tough game, we all did,” Blues coach Craig Berube said. “They’re rested here at home and waiting for us, but that’s not us. We didn’t play our game here tonight and it’s hard to find anybody out there you liked.”
J.T. Miller hit off a shorthanded play for a 4-0 lead after two periods of play.
Ilya Mikheyev scored off a breakaway with seven minutes gone in the third for the 5-0 final.
“I don’t think I’ve had too many of those, so nice,” Demko said. “It’s a team effort. It’s a little bit easier when the team is scoring and playing that well.”
Jordan Binnington made 30 saves in the loss.
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