On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
Rookie Jonathan Lekkerimaki scored a goal in regulation, then notched the deciding tally of a shootout to give the Vancouver Canucks a dramatic 4-3 win over the New Jersey Devils on Monday in Newark, N.J.
The Canucks trailed 3-2 with 36 seconds left in regulation before Pius Suter deposited the equalizer -- his second goal of the night -- after a scramble in front of New Jersey's net.
The game remained tied through overtime. Vancouver's Jake DeBrusk scored in the second round of the shootout and Jesper Bratt pulled the Devils even in the third round before Lekkerimaki ended the proceedings.
The Canucks improved to 1-1-1 over the first three stops of a six-game road trip. Vancouver (33-26-12, 78 points) moved to within three points of the idle St. Louis Blues for the final Western Conference playoff spot.
Suter now has six goals in his past seven games. Lekkerimaki scored the Canucks' other goal in regulation time.
Vancouver goalie Thatcher Demko stopped 22 of 25 shots, including a game-saving sprawl to deny Paul Cotter in overtime. Demko looked sharp in his return to the ice after missing Vancouver's previous 15 games recovering from a lower-body injury.
The Devils are 1-3-1 in their past five games overall and 2-5-1 in their past eight home games.
Timo Meier scored two goals for New Jersey (37-28-7, 81 points), and Erik Haula produced the Devils' other tally. Jacob Markstrom made 25 saves.
The Canucks opened the scoring midway through the first period when Marcus Pettersson sent a nice pass to a wide-open Suter in the slot for a one-timer.
Meier collected the equalizer during a power play 10:24 into the second period, off assists from Dawson Mercer and Bratt.
The teams exchanged goals within a 45-second span in the third period. Meier tallied his second of the game at 11:02, but Lekkerimaki quickly responded to again level the score.
Soon after that quick flurry, Haula restored New Jersey's lead 13:25 into the third frame. Haula won a faceoff in Vancouver's zone, then deposited the rebound after Brian Dumoulin's initial shot was stopped.
More must-reads:
- With Boston College's season over, Canadiens eye star goalie
- Avalanche sign superstar's younger brother to entry-level deal
- The 'Most runs scored in an MLB season since 2000' quiz
Trending News
TODAY'S BEST
Rangers' Team Bus Collides With Sharks' Star's Car After 6-1 Victory
The New York Rangers finally secured a victory in their west coast road trip by routing the San Jose Sharks 6-1 on Saturday. Unlike previous efforts, the Rangers won puck battles, outshot the opponent and found ways to strike the back of the net, scoring six unanswered goals. After having lost five of their last seven games, they quietly moved into the second Eastern Conference wild card spot. "Tonight, I thought there was a directness to our game," Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said. "Moving the puck north, getting pucks to the net. We were pretty consistent with it the entire game." The Rangers held Sharks' star rookie and 2024 No. 1 overall pick Macklin Celebrini off the scoresheet at SAP Center, though that wasn't the worst part of the 18-year-old's evening. According to a witness, Ashley Frame, the Rangers' team bus backed into Celebrini's Range Rover in the player's parking lot. Celebrini was not in the vehicle. Frame posted a video of Celebrini on his phone in while standing next to his car following the incident. The vehicle wasn't severely damaged other than some paint getting scraped off. Sharks defenseman Henry Thrun was also almost hit by the Rangers' bis while leaving the lot in his car. The Sharks wasted no time departing San Jose, taking a charter flight to Los Angeles ahead of their Sunday night matchup against the Kings. Before Sunday’s game, Celebrini ranked as the Sharks’ second-leading scorer with 53 points in 60 games. He remains a top contender for the Calder Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s rookie of the year.
Browns owner says team 'took a big swing and miss' with Deshaun Watson
A report from January indicated that at least some veteran players with the Cleveland Browns at that time were done with quarterback Deshaun Watson after he suffered a torn Achilles on Oct. 20 and then tore the Achilles again during his recovery. While speaking with reporters on Monday, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam seemed to close the door on the club's disastrous Watson era. "We took a big swing and miss with Deshaun," Haslam acknowledged, as shared by Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "We thought we had the quarterback. We didn’t, and we gave up a lot of draft picks to get him. So, we’ve got to dig ourselves out of that hole." The Browns controversially sent three first-round picks and other draft assets to the Houston Texans to acquire Watson in March 2022 after he sat out the 2021 season amid his desire to be traded. Allegations of sexual misconduct during massage sessions hovered over Watson's status when Cleveland gave him a fully guaranteed five-year, $230M contract to accept the trade, and he ultimately served an 11-game suspension related to those accusations in 2022. Two grand juries declined to pursue criminal charges against Watson before he was suspended. Watson's 2023 campaign ended prematurely because of a shoulder injury, and he was one of the league's worst starting quarterbacks this past season before he went down with the torn Achilles. Many who cover the team believe Watson will never play another meaningful down of football with the Browns even if the club doesn't select a signal-caller such as Colorado's Shedeur Sanders with the second pick of the 2025 draft. In total, Watson has made just 19 regular-season starts since the end of the 2020 campaign. "He’s had three horrific injuries in what, a 15-month period, right? Shoulder, tears his Achilles and re-tears his Achilles," Haslam said about Watson. "I think the focus now is on getting him healthy, and how long does that take, and when can he be healthy? So, that’s the main thing we’d be focused on." Outsiders may never know exactly what was said during conversations involving Haslam, Browns co-owner Dee Haslam, general manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski back in the fall of 2021 that resulted in the team replacing fan-favorite Baker Mayfield with Watson. On Monday, Jimmy Haslam accepted the blame for that decision. "I’ve said this, I think, numerous times, [that the Watson move] was an entire organization decision, and it ends with Dee and I. So, hold us accountable," Jimmy Haslam added during his comments. One can't help but wonder if Watson, who hasn't been shy about sending strong messages to critics in the past, will respond to Haslam's comments.
Mike Vrabel has telling response to question about Bill Belichick
Mike Vrabel may have won three Super Bowls under Bill Belichick as a player with the New England Patriots, but the former Pro Bowl linebacker wants all of that to remain separate from his coaching career. Vrabel played under Belichick in New England for eight seasons from 2001-08. He does not view himself as being part of the so-called Belichick coaching tree, however, as he was never a coach on Belichick's staff. Vrabel reiterated that during an interview with Michael Felger of 98.5 The Sports Hub on Monday. "When you see me and you see me coach or you see me interact, do you feel like I'm from that lineage? Me neither," Vrabel said. "I never worked for Bill Belichick as a coach. There's a lot of things I learned from him as a player that I've used. But just like with Urban Meyer or just like with anybody else that I've worked for, I try to take those things but do it in my own personality and my own style." That was Vrabel's way of making it clear that he does not model his coaching style after that of Belichick, who is now the head coach at North Carolina. Vrabel was then asked if he would hire Belichick if Vrabel owned an NFL team. His response to that question was even more telling. "We'd go through the process," Vrabel said with a smile. "There's a hiring process." If you add all of that together, it sounds an awful lot like there are aspects of Belichick's coaching style that Vrabel does not agree with. Of course, the former Tennessee Titans coach also knows first-hand that Belichick's methods helped build six Super Bowl-champion teams. There is nothing wrong with Vrabel wanting to separate himself from Belichick, especially now that the former has taken over as head coach in New England. Vrabel reached the playoffs three times in six seasons with the Titans. He has already proven himself, and he wants to continue to do things his own way. That is part of why he appealed to Patriots ownership as they look to move on from the Belichick era.
Vikings Target Versatile Defender in Latest Scheduled Visit
With limited draft pick options in 2025, each Minnesota Vikings selection becomes much more critical for the future. Minnesota only had four picks in this year's NFL Draft, and most analysts predict the Vikings will pick a defensive player. Most mock drafts have the Vikings going after a defensive back or an interior defensive lineman in the first round. With rookies going on their 30 visits before the draft commences on April 24, the Vikings have one coming in that could do it all on defense. On Monday, a source told The Draft Network's Ryan Fowler that Kentucky defensive back Zion Childress has scheduled 30 visits with the Vikings. He is also expected to visit the Houston Texans. "Versatile secondary piece totaled over 850 snaps at nickel, in the box, and at free safety during his collegiate career." Childress spent his first two seasons in college at Texas State before transferring to the Wildcats in his last three years. Last season at Kentucky, he made 55 tackles, a career-high six tackles for loss, two pass deflections, one forced fumble, and one sack in 12 games. Draft projections have Childress as a day-three selection. The best part of his game is his ability to switch between linebacker and safety. His time playing quarterback in high school helped him develop a high football IQ, allowing him to understand what quarterbacks think. Minnesota's defense is about finding versatile players to fit into defensive coordinator Brian Flores' defensive system so that Childress can fit as a safety or outside linebacker. Childress would have to make it on the team as a special teams player on kickoff coverage. The Vikings' picks on day three are more important, with two of the four picks on that day. While the team could be busy making trades, finding sleepers in the draft will be just as essential.
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
