Demko makes 38 saves and Canucks top Flames 4-2

Thatcher Demko had 38 saves and the Vancouver Canucks withstood a late barrage Tuesday and held on for a 4-2 victory over the Calgary Flames.

Tyler Myers, Travis Hamonic and Brock Boeser each had a goal and an assist for the Canucks. Rookie Nils Hoglander rounded out the scoring for Vancouver with a goal in the closing minute of the first period.

The Canucks seemed poised for a shutout until Andrew Mangiapane scored for the Flames late in the third. Matthew Tkachuk added Calgary’s second goal with a minute left in the third period.

Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko makes a save against the Calgary Flames during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Tuesday, May 18, 2021. (Darryl DyckThe Canadian Press via AP)

Louis Domingue played his first game for the Flames and stopped 20 of 23 shots.

The Flames and Canucks will wrap up their seasons Wednesday with a matinee in Calgary.

Calgary holds a 6-3 lead in the 10-game season series between the two teams.

Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko skates away from the net after Vancouver defeated the Calgary Flames in an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Tuesday, May 18, 2021. (Darryl DyckThe Canadian Press via AP)

Boeser scored his team-leading 23rd goal of the year, sending a puck bouncing through the neutral zone and into the Flames net after Domingue was pulled in the game’s closing minutes.

Tkachuk brought Calgary within 3-2 with a minute remaining in the third, scoring his 14th goal of the season.

The Flames spoiled Demko’s shutout attempt with less than four minutes left on the clock.

Vancouver Canucks' Quinn Hughes (43) and Calgary Flames' Elias Lindholm (28) vie for the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Tuesday, May 18, 2021. (Darryl DyckThe Canadian Press via AP)

Adam Ruzicka went into the end boards, but stayed with the puck, getting it to a waiting Milan Lucic. Lucic then passed it to Mangiapane at the top of the crease and the Flames forward snapped it in for his 17th goal of the season.

The tally extended Mangiapane’s scoring streak to four games. He has four goals and an assist across the stretch.

Myers rifled a shot past Domingue from the bottom of the slot 9:28 into the third to give the Canucks a 3-0 lead.

Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko (35) makes a save as Calgary Flames' Milan Lucic (17) watches during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Tuesday, May 18, 2021. (Darryl DyckThe Canadian Press via AP)

Boeser earned an assist on the play, extending his point streak to four games. He has two goals and three assists since May 13.

A questionable hit midway through the second period prompted a skirmish in the Flames end.

Flames defenseman Connor Mackey tried to lay out Tanner Pearson along the boards, sending the Vancouver forward rolling on the ice.

Vancouver Canucks' Will Lockwood (58) and Calgary Flames' Nikita Nesterov (89), of Russia, skate during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia on Tuesday, May 18, 2021. (Darryl DyckThe Canadian Press via AP)

Canucks captain Bo Horvat took issue with the play and dropped the gloves with Mackey. Both were handed five-minute penalties for fighting.

It was the second game in a row where Mackey has fought a Canucks player. He tussled with Jonah Gadjovich in Calgary’s 6-5 overtime win on Sunday.

Vancouver briefly appeared to pad its lead 8:49 into the second when a long blast from Myers snuck under Domingue’s glove.

Vancouver Canucks' Alexander Edler (23) checks Calgary Flames' Elias Lindholm (28) in front of Vancouver goalie Thatcher Demko during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Tuesday, May 18, 2021. (Darryl DyckThe Canadian Press via AP)

The Flames challenged the play and video review determined Canucks forward Travis Boyd had been offside when he entered Calgary’s zone.

The Canucks went up 2-0 ahead of the first intermission after Hoglander scored with 48.6 seconds left in the opening period.

Matthew Highmore tried to jam a shot in from the top of the crease and Hoglander picked up the rebound and put a shot over Domingue’s glove for his 13th goal of the season.

Vancouver Canucks' Tanner Pearson, middle, reaches to deflect the puck in front of Calgary Flames goalie Louis Domingue while being checked by Flames' Christopher Tanev, left, during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Tuesday, May 18, 2021. (Darryl DyckThe Canadian Press via AP)

Hamonic put Vancouver on the board 9:43 into the first with a shot that sailed over Domingue’s blocker, clanking off the post and in.

It was the third goal of the season for the former Flames defenseman.

NOTES: Domingue’s previous game action was on March 1, 2020, when he played for Vancouver. The 29-year-old goaltender signed with Calgary as a free agent in October. ... Canucks forward Will Lockwood made his NHL debut. Vancouver selected the 22-year-old 64th overall in the 2016 draft. Lockwood had four goals and seven assists in 24 American Hockey League games this season.

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The teams will end the regular season on Wednesday afternoon in Calgary, Alberta.

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