Vancouver Canucks defenceman Quinn Hughes (43) skates with the puck against Arizona Coyotes centre Alex Kerfoot (15) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Vancouver Canucks defenceman Quinn Hughes (43) skates with the puck against Arizona Coyotes centre Alex Kerfoot (15) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Garland scores late winner, Canucks trip Coyotes 2-1 in Arizona

Vancouver extends lead atop NHL’s Pacific Division

Conor Garland scored the tie-breaking goal with 1:51 remaining and the visiting Vancouver Canucks beat the Arizona Coyotes 2-1 on Wednesday night.

Garland grabbed the rebound of Quinn Hughes’ missed shot and fired it past Connor Ingram to give the Canucks a seven-point lead in the Pacific Division with six games remaining.

Hughes scored on the power play midway through the second period and rookie Arturs Silvos had 22 saves for Vancouver.

Silvos, in just his second game of the season and eighth of his career, didn’t have much work in the first two periods as Arizona only managed eight shots. He was called up last month to replace No. 1 goalie Thatcher Demko, who has been sidelined since March 9 with a lower-body injury but is expected back as soon as next week.

The Coyotes applied more pressure with 15 shots in the third, and Dylan Guenther tied it midway through the period with a power-play goal. Clayton Keller had an assist on the play, extending his points streak to nine games.

Connor Ingram stopped 31 shots for the Coyotes, who had trouble generating any offense, managing just three shots in the first period and five in the second.

Josh Brown was in the penalty box for delay of game when Hughes scored on a shot from between the circles. J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson assisted on the goal, Hughes’ 16th of the season.

The Canucks’ Miller and the Coyotes’ Jack McBain fought in the second period.

READ MORE: THE MOJ: 2 points better than none but Canucks need to shake off staleness

NEXT

Canucks: At Los Angeles on Saturday.

Coyotes: Host Vegas on Friday night.

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