Lindholm leads Canucks over Detroit, 4-1 Forward picks up double in win

In Vancouver, Elias Lindholm hit for a double on Thursday, as the Canucks drifted past he Detroit Red Wings, 4-1.

“It felt pretty good,” Lindholm said. “We didn’t give them too much, obviously that’s a skill. We stayed pretty compact and kept them to the outside.”

Thatcher Demko made 27 saves i the win, he was busy in the third where he stopped 15 shots.

Canucks improved to 37-12-6 for 80 points on the season.

“I like the effort,” Canucks coach Rick Tocchet said. “It was a long road trip coming back with the one-day turnaround and I thought the effort was there. We hung in there, [Demko] was great … I thought the guys did a really great job.”

Elias Pettersson  picked up three assists in the win.

The Canucks took a 1-0 lead on a marker from J.T. Miller at 7:37 of the opening stanza.

Lindholm potted his first f of the game two minutes  later for a 2-0 advantage to the Canucks.

The Red Wings dropped to 27-20-6.

“It was a frustrating night in that you come in here, you limit a team like that to 21 shots and might be a handful of chances, might have given up six chances all night long, and we just didn’t generate enough offense,” Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said.

In the middle frame, Nikita Zadorov  scored at 12:51 for a 3-0 lead to the Canucks, it was his first goal with the Canucks since arriving from Calgary in November off a trade.

“We were solid from the start,” Zadorov said. “Another home win and we’re still trying to establish home ice here.”

J.T. Compher was the lone striker for the Red Wings, he scored at 14:25 of the second to trim the deficit to 3-1.

Neither team had success on the power play. Detroit was scoreless in five chances, and the Canucks missed on their only opportunity.

“Obviously going 0-for on the power play stung,” Lalonde said.

Lindholm collected his double at 12:59 of the third period, the goal came on a delayed penalty.

Alex Lyon made 17 saves in the loss.

“I didn’t love my game tonight,” Lyon said. “I’ll say it flat out, but that being said, I gave up seven last game and so it was just about re-engaging and then you give up two quick and it turns into a mental grind … and I felt like I found a groove later in the game.”