In a thrilling exhibition matchup between the Vancouver Canucks and the Calgary Flames, it was Jake DeBrusk who stole the show with his second goal of the game just 58 seconds into overtime. The Abbotsford Centre was electric as DeBrusk netted the winner on a beautiful tick-tack-toe play with Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes.
The Canucks had to battle back from a late deficit, with Daniel Sprong coming up clutch with a power-play goal in the final seconds of regulation to force the extra period. It was a hard-fought game, with the Flames taking the lead in the third period thanks to goals from Dryden Hunt and Samuel Honzek. Jake Bean also contributed a goal for Calgary.
But Vancouver didn’t back down, as Max Sasson and DeBrusk found the back of the net in the closing seconds of both the first and second periods, respectively. The energy in the arena was palpable as the Canucks fought tooth and nail to come out on top.
The Flames were holding on to a slim 3-2 lead in the final minute of the third period when a crucial penalty by Martin Pospisil gave Vancouver a six-on-four power play. It was the break the Canucks needed, and they capitalized on the opportunity to tie the game and send it to overtime.
In his debut with the Canucks, goaltender Jiri Patera stood tall between the pipes, making 16 saves. The former Vegas Golden Knights netminder recently signed a two-year deal with Vancouver, and he showed why he was a valuable addition to the team.
On the other end, Calgary goalie Dustin Wolf put on a solid performance, stopping 17 of 19 shots in two periods of play. Devin Cooley replaced him in the third period and made 11 saves on 13 shots faced.
The game was full of excitement and drama, but it was Hunt’s breakaway goal in the third period that gave the Flames the lead temporarily. Basha’s perfect pass set up the goal, showcasing the chemistry and skill of the Calgary forwards.
Overall, it was a hard-fought battle between two talented teams, but in the end, it was DeBrusk and the Canucks who came out on top. The fans in Abbotsford were treated to a thrilling night of hockey, and both teams showed why they are forces to be reckoned with in the NHL.
