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Suter scores twice as 91Ô­´´ Canucks down Columbus Blue Jackets 5-2

VANCOUVER — Pius Suter scored twice and the 91Ô­´´ Canucks came all the way back to top the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-2 on Friday.
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91Ô­´´ Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen (32) watches as Columbus Blue Jackets' Adam Fantilli skates with the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game in 91Ô­´´, on Friday, December 6, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

VANCOUVER — Pius Suter scored twice and the 91Ô­´´ Canucks came all the way back to top the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-2 on Friday.

The Blue Jackets (11-12-3) took a 2-0 lead midway through the first period thanks to goals from Mathieu Olivier and Damon Severson.

Brock Boeser and Kiefer Sherwood replied for the Canucks (14-7-4) in the second before Suter gave 91Ô­´´ the lead early in the third.

Jake DeBrusk added an insurance goal midway through the final frame and Suter put a puck into the empty net with 65 seconds left in the game.

Kevin Lankinen stopped 30 of the 32 shots he faced for 91Ô­´´ and Columbus netminder Elvis Merzlikins made 12 saves.

All-star goalie Thatcher Demko returned to the Canucks' lineup for the first time since April 21, backing up Lankinen.

The 28-year-old American netminder has been out since 91Ô­´´'s first game of the playoffs recovering from a knee injury.

The Canucks now have points in four straight games (3-0-1), while the Blue Jackets have lost three in a row.

TAKEAWAYS

Canucks: DeBrusk scored at home for the first time as a Canuck on a power play 10:22 into the third. The left-winger has goals in four straight games and leads the team with 12. Boeser registered an assist on DeBrusk's goal, marking his 400th NHL point.

Blue Jackets: The visitors struggled with the man advantage, going 0-for-5 on the night. Columbus came into Friday's game with its power play ranked 29th in the league (17.2 per cent).

KEY MOMENT

An ill-timed play by Merzlikins allowed the Canucks to tie the game at 2-2 with a minute left in the second period. The goalie came out to the top of the left circle to chase down a loose puck but sent it into 91Ô­´´ centre Teddy Blueger along the boards. Blueger quickly dished off to Sherwood, who blasted a shot in past Zach Werenski as he attempted to protect the yawning net.

KEY STAT

91Ô­´´ has made a habit of mounting comebacks this season — the Canucks are 9-5-1 when their opponent scores first.

UP NEXT

Canucks: Continue a six-game homestand Sunday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Blue Jackets: Visit the Jets in Winnipeg on Sunday.

This report by The 91Ô­´´ Press was first published Dec. 6, 2024.

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The 91Ô­´´ Press