Canucks complete third-period rally, beat Flames 4-1 after scoring four in the final frame

The Story

The Vancouver Canucks scored four goals in the third period to complete a 4-1 comeback win over the Calgary Flames at Rogers Arena on Saturday.

Liam Ohgren led the way with a goal and an assist, while Drew O’Connor, Aatu Raty and defenseman Elias Pettersson also scored for Vancouver. Leevi Merilainen made 23 saves in his first start for the Canucks after being claimed off waivers from the Ottawa Senators on Sept. 25. Tom Willander and Linus Karlsson each recorded two assists.

Vancouver improved to 2-1-0 after rebounding from a 9-7 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. Calgary dropped to 0-2-0 after its season-opening loss on Thursday, a 6-1 decision against the Seattle Kraken.

Calgary opened the scoring when Matt Coronato scored on the power play at 14:51 of the first period to make it 1-0. Ohgren levelled the game at 1-1 at 1:28 of the third period after his shot was initially waved off before video review confirmed the puck crossed the goal line.

Ohgren then set up Pettersson from the left point, and Pettersson scored at 9:04 to put Vancouver ahead 2-1. O’Connor extended the lead at 16:33, finishing a 2-on-1 with a wrist shot over Calgary goaltender Devin Cooley’s glove.

Raty added the final goal at 17:16 to make it 4-1.

Ohgren said Vancouver started slowly and then “stepped up in the third period.”

Calgary coach Ryan Huska said his team was “a much different team” than it had been in its first game of the year.

In pre-game and lineup notes, Flames forward Connor Zary was a healthy scratch and was replaced by Brennan Othmann, who made one shot and three hits in 10:30 of ice time in his season debut. Canucks forward Jake DeBrusk did not play because of illness after skating as the extra forward in practice on Friday. Vancouver forward Paul Cotter recorded an assist to give him at least a point in all three games this season and five total points (three goals, two assists).