Dakota Joshua scored the game-winner as the host Vancouver Canucks edged the Arizona Coyotes 2-1 on Thursday.
Elias Pettersson had the other goal for Vancouver, while Thatcher Demko, who was playing in his 200th career NHL game, made 20 saves to improve to 11-1-1 in his last 13 games.
With the victory, the Canucks improved to 15-4-1 on home ice this season and are 8-2-1 over their past 11 games. Vancouver has just one regulation loss in their last nine games (7-1-1).
Travis Dermott had the lone Coyotes goal. Connor Ingram stopped 24 shots in the loss for Arizona, who has dropped six of their last eight games. The Coyotes are now 8-10-3 on the road this season.
Joshua gave Vancouver a 2-1 lead with 58 seconds remaining in the middle frame, putting home his own rebound for his career-high 12th of the season.
Despite the Canucks outshooting the Coyotes by a 14-4 margin in the first period, the two teams were tied 1-1 after one.
Pettersson opened the scoring on a power play with 3:11 remaining in the first period, one-timing a Quinn Hughes pass past Ingram for his 24th goal of the season. Pettersson now has nine goals and five assists in his last seven games.
With the assist, Hughes has 11 points over his last 11 games. J.T. Miller had the secondary assist on the goal and has 10 helpers in 11 games.
Dermott, the former Canucks defenseman, responded 1:51 later, picking up a loose puck and beating Demko short-side for his first goal of the season.
Coyotes forward Nick Schmaltz missed his first game with an undisclosed injury suffered in Tuesday’s game in Calgary.
Thursday was the first of three meetings between the two clubs. Vancouver visits Arizona on April 3, and the Canucks and Coyotes conclude the season series on April 10 in Vancouver.
–Field Level Media
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