Utah killed off three power plays in the third period, including a double minor to Keller for high-sticking at 10:43, during which the Canucks managed just four shots.
“When we took that, we never felt, ‘Oh my god,’ the panic or whatever,” Tourigny said. “It was ‘OK, it’s a key moment, let’s do that, let’s get at it,’ and that was more a challenge than a fear, so we’re progressing in that sense.”
Tourigny singled out Kerfoot for his work on the penalty kill.
“I really didn’t think they got many good looks,” Kerfoot said. “We did a good job denying entries, we’re winning face-offs, getting clears, and the few looks that they did have I think were from the outside. So, did a really good job, [Vejmelka] was great, but a four-minute kill at that point in the game is game-breaking.”
Keller scored into an empty net from center ice with 31 seconds left for the 3-1 final.
“The coaches, we’re a little frustrated. There’s a lot of plays there to be made, we just didn’t make them. … We needed somebody to take charge of it,” Vancouver coach Rick Tocchet said of the power play. “Go down low and we have a 3-on-2 or 3-on-1. It’s plain as day. I will say, we’re a little frustrated, the coaching staff, because when you go hard up high the puck has to go low. You’ve got to make a play. It’s there. So, I think we’re a little bummed.”
NOTES: Vejmelka was making his 10th straight start. … O’Brien is expected to miss four weeks with a lower-body injury. … Hughes has recorded a point in all three games (two goals, one assist) since returning from a lower-body injury. … Canucks forward Elias Pettersson had an assist to extend his point streak to four games (three goals, three assists). … Canucks forward Filip Chytil did not play after sustaining an upper-body injury with 4:56 remaining in the third period against the Blackhawks on Saturday. He is day to day.
