Just one change to the Canucks’ lineup from their win over the Dallas Stars on Thursday night, as Teddy Blueger came in for Aatu Räty. Tonight marked Blueger’s season debut after getting hurt in the preseason.

It didn’t take long for Kiefer Sherwood to take the game’s first power play, and it took even less time for Frank Nazar to put the hold on Conor Garland to take Chicago off the power play. Back at even strength, the two sides went back and forth through the neutral zone but didn’t do much in the way of creating any real chances.

Much was made about Kiefer Sherwood’s comments about Jason Dickinson’s dirty hit on Filip Chytil last season, and while Dickinson said he’d be ready for whatever came his way tonight, nothing happened in that department during the first period.

Evander Kane took a pretty soft slashing call to put the Hawks back on the power play, and Chicago didn’t take long to make good on their opportunity:

The Canucks got better as the period went along, and notably, the Calder Cup Champion line that gave the Canucks so much energy in Dallas was back up to their old tricks. Arshdeep Bains made a great play to shake off a defender and create a solid chance in front as the Canucks began to tilt the ice.

Unfortunately, the Blackhawks managed to score a late one after Kevin Lankinen lost his stick while taking contact from Tyler Bertuzzi at multiple points during the shift.

2-0 Blackhawks. Canucks got them right where they want them… right?

Some takeaways from the first:

-This is a pretty boring period.
-Somebody fight Dickinson already.
-Cal Raleigh ties it up!
-Oh my goodness, legacy game from Geno Suarez. (If these comments bother you, be sure to read bluejaysnation.com!)

Obviously, we were all waiting to see how the Canucks would follow up their second period effort from last night, but that had to be put on hold briefly, as Tyler Myers took a holding penalty. Once again though, the Hawks quickly conceded their power play by taking a penalty of their own. This time it was Connor Bedard taking a frustration slash penalty on Jake DeBrusk, leaving the two sides to skate at 4-on-4 for just under a minute.

That left the Canucks’ power play with a shade over 50 seconds to work with, and they picked up right where they left off from last night. They gained the zone with ease, got set up multiple times, and got a couple of solid looks off on Spencer Knight. The best chance of the sequence came after Elias Pettersson ripped a shot off the crossbar.

They didn’t have to wait long for another opportunity, as Ryan Donato quickly took a slashing penalty. On their third opportunity of the night — and their first full two minute chance of the night — the Canucks’ first power play unit continued to look good. This time, it was Conor Garland sweeping the puck into the blue paint for birthday boy Jake DeBrusk to bang home.

Back at 5v5, the Pettersson line turned in an excellent shift after an offensive zone faceoff win. Pettersson pulled off a perfect saucer pass to Victor Mancini, whose shot attempt was stopped by Knight.

Shortly after, Kevin Lankinen came up with two huge saves off of Connor Bedard.

This swung the momentum in the Canucks’ favour, and the Abby line went ahead and took that as an opportunity to take matters into their own hands. After some strong work on the forecheck and along the walls, Linus Karlsson found Filip Hronek in the slot, and Hronek found a streaking Max Sasson, who tapped home his second goal in as many games.

This one was all tied up heading into the third.

Some takeaways from the second:

-Really impressive stuff from the Canucks’ first power play unit.
-Seeing how the Canucks came back last night, combined with Adam Foote’s post game comments in Dallas, gave us a very interesting glimpse into what kind of communicator Foote might be as a coach. His tone after losses seems similar to his tone after wins. Don’t get too high, don’t get too low seems like a smart way to lead a fragile team that had so much go wrong for them last year.
-Elias Pettersson has been far more noticeable these past two games. Of course you want to see more from him, but these past two games have been a decent start. I’m sure everyone will be totally normal about this takeaway in the comments section.
-The Kid Line has so much speed. What a success story for this organization’s development system.

Future Canuck Lukas Reichel high-sticked Quinn Hughes five minutes into the third, giving the Canucks’ now-hot power play got a chance to pull ahead. This time, they struggled to get set up, and at the end of it, the Canucks nearly allowed the Hawks to score on a breakaway opportunity.

The Hawks were better in the third period, and the Canucks needed Lankinen to be sharp. It was more back and forth than each of the first two previous periods, with the Hawks turning in a strong effort. Chicago thought they tied things up with five minutes remaining, but Tyler Bertuzzi’s goal was waved off due to goalie interference. The Hawks challenged and lost, giving the Canucks their fifth power play opportunity of the night.

The Canucks got set up once again, Elias Pettersson wasn’t afraid to shoot, Jake DeBrusk got another great chance on the door step, the puck went through the crease but a touch wide for Pettersson to bury, but the Canucks couldn’t find twine as this one remained tied.

Noted double agent Connor Bedard took a holding penalty with just over two minutes remaining, giving the Canucks’ power play a golden opportunity to take the lead late. PP1 continued to look sharp, getting multiple looks off on Spencer Knight, but the Hawks’ PK did a good job of defending the middle of the ice. This one needed overtime.

Some takeaways from the third:

-Heavy dose of Victor Mancini playing with Quinn Hughes. Can he be Hronek-lite?
-Splitting up Hughes-Hronek so that Pettersson can play with Hronek and Mancini can play with Hughes is an interesting adjustment from Adam Foote. Would love to hear his thought process post game.

The Canucks put on a posession clinic in overtime, and Elias Pettersson set up brock Boeser from behind the net for the Canucks’ best early chance of OT, but Boeser’s shot hit the post and stayed out.

Chicago got a 2-0, but Filip Chytil hustled back after bobbling the puck to break up the Hawks’ opportunity. The Canucks’ best chance once again came thanks to Elias Pettersson, who did his dekes and cut his way to the front of the net and pulled off the move he wanted on Spencer Knight.

This one needed a shootout.

Teravainen: STOPPED by Lankinen.
Pettersson: Stopped by Knight.
Bedard: STOPPED by Lankinen.
Garland: Stopped by Knight.
Nazar: STOPPED by Lankinen.
DeBrusk: Hit the crossbar. On his birthday? How rude, universe.
Donato: STOPPED by Lankinen.
Boeser: SCORES! Canucks win!

Great game for Kevin Lankinen, right through the end of the shootout. That’s two straight wins.

What’s your instant reaction to tonight’s game? Let us know in the comments section below!