Paul Cotter scores on the power play as Canucks’ bid falls short against Golden Knights

The Story

Paul Cotter scored for the Vancouver Canucks with a power-play opener against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday night, but Vancouver ultimately fell 3–2 at Rogers Arena.

With Jake DeBrusk still ill, Cotter drew into the top power-play unit, where he scored late in the first period on a chance created after Arshdeep Bains won the puck and set up the play. Brock Boeser then tied up Brayden McNabb, leaving Cotter wide open to tip in Filip Hronek’s pass.

The Golden Knights nearly opened the scoring earlier in the first period on a chaotic sequence involving a shot that caromed off Kevin Lankinen and Tomas Hertl and landed on top of the net. Zeev Buium then swatted at the puck as it sat near the crossbar, keeping it out and bouncing it behind the net.

In the second period, Vegas took control of the game’s tempo and scored twice, while Vancouver answered once to keep the score close. Mitch Marner scored for the Golden Knights at 9:01, converting after a bad bounce that reached Marner in the slot and beat Lankinen.

Jonathan Lekkerimäki tied the game at 17:54, firing under Adin Hill’s blocker from a tight angle after pushing up the right wing. Marc Gatcomb then restored the Golden Knights’ lead at 18:28, finding space behind Elias “Junior” Pettersson before Braeden Bowman set him up for the finish.

Vegas continued to generate chances in the third period, and Vancouver pressed hard but couldn’t break through. The Canucks generated limited danger from dangerous areas, and Hill made key saves and clearances to protect the lead.

Pettersson said the Golden Knights gained momentum in the middle of the game. “I thought in the second period, we gave them a little too much respect,” Pettersson said. “They gained momentum, scored some goals on us.”

Cotter spoke after the game about the group’s mindset following the win-or-lose swing of the match. “For a team that everybody in the world has said is going to be last in the league, I’m pretty happy with how we’ve been doing,” Cotter said. “We have a great group… a very egoless group.”