sports // no. 10 theotherpress.ca

Canucks bounce back after
long battle with COVID-19

>» This was a much-needed win for the team

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Mo Hussain
Sports Reporter

 

Ihe Vancouver Canucks came back with

a bang Sunday afternoon as they beat
the Toronto Maple Leafs 3 to 2 in overtime.
Captain Bo Horvat finished with two goals,
including the overtime game winner.
Goaltender Braeden Holtby finished with
39 saves.

This was a much-needed win for the
team after being out of action for over
three weeks due to complications with
COVID-19. It also doesn’t hurt that the win
was against one of the top teams in the
entire league.

“This isn’t just a regular win during the
regular season,” said Canucks head coach

Travis Green. “It’s a special win, we've gone
through a lot here with our group over the
last few weeks.”

The Leafs started the game with some
momentum as forward William Nylander
drew first blood with his 100th career goal
to start the game. The Leafs then extended
their lead in the second period as forward
Auston Matthew’s goal gave the team a 2 to
o lead.

However, just under two minutes after,
Canucks’ captain Bo Horvat brought the
Canucks to the scoresheet and cut the lead
in half. The Canucks then tied the game in
the third period as rookie Nils Hoglander
scored his eighth goal of the season.

When asked if his goal felt extra
important in this game, Hoglander said:

  

“Tt was a tight game—for me and the team
it was an important goal. It felt nice to get
that win today.’

Both teams then went into overtime
where Horvat sealed the deal for Vancouver
with his 16th goal of the season.

“T couldn't (be) prouder of our guys
in that room,” said Horvat. “The way they
manned up tonight and stuck with the
process and willed their way to that win.”

Canucks goaltender Braden Holtby
also commented on how special the win
was for the team: “It was a good game. I
think we battled hard—we're just happy
we pulled off a win. Winning creates some
much-needed energy that I think we're
gonna have to use to push through this
schedule we have ahead of us.”

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BHTCKETWASTER

Photo by Arnaldo Fragozo

Although Sunday’s win was a fantastic
outcome for the team to come back to, the
team needs to regroup quickly as they play
the Maple Leafs again Tuesday afternoon.
The Canucks are heading into Tuesday
having tied their season series against the
Maple Leafs, with three wins in six games.

This is the projected full schedule for
the rest of the week, (potentially subject to
change):

* Tuesday: Toronto Maple Leafs @
Vancouver Canucks

* Thursday: Ottawa Senators @ Vancouver
Canucks

- Saturday: Ottawa Senators @ Vancouver
Canucks

* Monday: Vancouver Canucks @ Ottawa
Senators