Pius Suter's late goal propels Canucks past Sharks

Pius Suter scored his second goal of the night in the final minute to give the visiting Vancouver Canucks a wild 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks Saturday night.

Jake DeBrusk also scored for the Canucks, who snapped a two-game winless skid. Goaltender Kevin Lankinen made 21 saves.

Nico Sturm and Mikael Granlund replied for the Sharks, who saw their modest three-game winning streak snapped. Goalie Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 25 shots.

With overtime looming thanks to a late game-tying tally by Granlund, Suter notched the winner with 25.7 seconds remaining on the clock. Suter found a soft spot in the left circle and ripped a one-timer set up by Conor Garland for his second of the game and fourth of the season.

The Canucks have won 11 of the last 12 meetings with the Sharks, and this one was as much of a thriller as any of those victories.

After a scoreless opening frame, Sturm opened the scoring at 2:37 of the second period. Luke Kunin willingly took a hit in the slot to fire a shot on net and Sturm was on the spot for the long rebound for his second goal of the season.

Suter tied the clash at 14:41 of the second period. Shortly after Lankinen denied William Eklund on a golden chance at the other end, Garland forced a turnover that eventually sent the puck to Suter in the left circle, and he whipped a top-shelf wrist shot.

DeBrusk gave the Canucks their first lead of the clash with 4:22 remaining in regulation. Seconds after Brock Boeser rang a shot off the post on a breakaway chance, DeBrusk was set up in the slot and unloaded a glove-side, top-corner shot for his first of the season.

However, Granlund tied the game with 77 seconds remaining in regulation with a seeing-eye shot that found its way through the screen and into the cage for his sixth of the season.

The Sharks pushed in a frantic finish but could not find the equalizer.

Canucks defenseman Filip Hronek collected an assist in his 400th NHL game on his 27th birthday and teammate Derek Forbore skated in his 500th game.

--Field Level Media