VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Erik Brannstrom scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the Vancouver Canucks added a pair of late empty-netters in a 4-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday night.
Elias Pettersson scored in the second period and J.T. Miller and Quinn Hughes both put the puck into an empty net. Arturs Silovs made 28 saves.
Click to Gallery
Chicago Blackhawks' Connor Bedard (98) waits for a face off against the Vancouver Canucks during third period NHL hockey action in Vancouver, B.C., Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks' Jake DeBrusk (74) and Chicago Blackhawks' Jason Dickinson (16) vie for the puck during third period NHL hockey action in Vancouver, B.C., Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks' Danton Heinen (20) and Chicago Blackhawks' Craig Smith (15) vie for the puck as Chicago goaltender Arvid Soderblom (40) watches during third period NHL hockey action in Vancouver, B.C., Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks' Danton Heinen (20) and Chicago Blackhawks' Craig Smith (15) vie for the puck during third period NHL hockey action in Vancouver, B.C., Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Arturs Silovs (31) stops Chicago Blackhawks' Nick Foligno (17) as Vancouver's Erik Brannstrom (26) defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks' Erik Brannstrom (26) celebrates his goal against the Chicago Blackhawks with Jake DeBrusk (74) during third period NHL hockey action in Vancouver, B.C., Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Former Canuck Ilya Mikheyev scored against his old team to give Chicago an early lead but star forward Connor Bedard was held off the scoresheet in his first NHL game in his hometown.
Arvid Soderblom stopped 29 shots for the Blackhawks.
Mikheyev opened the scoring at 6:50 of the first period, flipping a rebound past a sprawling Silovs.
The Canucks evened the score on their first power play of the game in the second period, when Pettersson deflected a no-look feed from Miller past Soderblom off the skate of Chicago's Connor Murphy.
Brannstrom one-timed a long deflection along the left boards toward the front of the net and through Soderblom’s legs.
Canucks: After a disappointing 5-2 loss to the New York Islanders on Thursday, the Canucks got better against Chicago as the game went on.
Blackhawks: Skating on Chicago’s top line with Ryan Donato and Philipp Kurashev, Bedard was held off the scoresheet for a third-straight game.
With 5:45 remaining in the second period and the score tied 1-1, Silovs squeezed his pads together to thwart an in-tight breakaway chance by Nick Foligno.
Pettersson’s power-play goal was his fifth of the year, but the fourth in his last six games.
Canucks: Will play their first set of back-to-back games this season when the Nashville Predators visits on Sunday.
Blackhawks: Open a two-game homestand against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Chicago Blackhawks' Connor Bedard (98) waits for a face off against the Vancouver Canucks during third period NHL hockey action in Vancouver, B.C., Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks' Jake DeBrusk (74) and Chicago Blackhawks' Jason Dickinson (16) vie for the puck during third period NHL hockey action in Vancouver, B.C., Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks' Danton Heinen (20) and Chicago Blackhawks' Craig Smith (15) vie for the puck as Chicago goaltender Arvid Soderblom (40) watches during third period NHL hockey action in Vancouver, B.C., Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks' Danton Heinen (20) and Chicago Blackhawks' Craig Smith (15) vie for the puck during third period NHL hockey action in Vancouver, B.C., Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Arturs Silovs (31) stops Chicago Blackhawks' Nick Foligno (17) as Vancouver's Erik Brannstrom (26) defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks' Erik Brannstrom (26) celebrates his goal against the Chicago Blackhawks with Jake DeBrusk (74) during third period NHL hockey action in Vancouver, B.C., Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — On a raucous Saturday night between the hedges, Carson Beck once again looked like a quarterback who could lead Georgia to another national title.
Showing off his arm and his legs, Beck silenced his critics by throwing for two touchdowns and running for another, leading the No. 11 Bulldogs to a 31-17 victory over No. 6 Tennessee that gave a huge boost to their College Football Playoff hopes.
Georgia (8-2, 6-2 Southeastern Conference, No. 12 CFP) bounced back from a 28-10 loss at Ole Miss that left the Bulldogs just outside the provisional 12-team postseason field.
Now, they are positioned for a likely playoff berth — and a shot at winning their third national championship in four years — if they can close out the regular season with wins over UMass and Georgia Tech.
“The way we were able to bounce back from last week, I'm just so proud of these guys,” Beck said. “The word that really identifies us is resilient. We stay so composed in high-pressure moments. Although it might not look perfect, it might not look pretty, we're gonna get the job done.”
Tennessee (8-2, 5-2, No. 7 CFP) could have moved a big step closer to a berth in the SEC championship game, but the Vols' postseason prospects are now a whole lot murkier after what had all the makings of a playoff elimination game.
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said he has “no idea” where his team stands now in the playoff picture.
“All I know is this league is college football as good as it gets,” he said. "It’s hard to win in this league. It’s a good football team that we just played. ... We’re a good football team, too.”
In the midst of a disappointing season, Beck came up huge for the Bulldogs when they needed him most, guiding them to a 29th straight home victory in an FBS-leading streak that dates to 2019.
Beck connected on a pair of touchdown passes to tight end Oscar Delp in the first half and scrambled for the go-ahead score in the third quarter, darting 10 yards to the end zone for his first rushing TD of the season.
Georgia sealed the victory with a 92-yard drive — its longest of the season — in the closing minutes. Freshman Nate Frazier finished it off with a 2-yard touchdown run with 2:26 remaining.
“A week ago, we were dead and gone,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “People had written us off.”
Beck, who had thrown 12 interceptions in the previous six games, didn't have any picks against the Volunteers. He completed 25 of 40 passes for 347 yards.
With quarterback Nico Iamaleava cleared to play after going through concussion protocol, Tennessee jumped to a 10-0 lead on Miles Kitselman’s 1-yard dive and Max Gilbert’s 52-yard field goal, dampening the mood of more than 93,000 at Sanford Stadium.
But the Bulldogs, after a sluggish start that has become their trademark, grabbed the lead as Beck connected with Delp on similar-looking scoring passes of 19 and 4 yards in the back of the end zone.
Dylan Sampson put the Vols back in front with his 21st rushing touchdown of the season, a 27-yard scamper through a huge hole right up the middle.
But Beck guided the Bulldogs into position for Peyton Woodring’s 36-yard field goal with 5 seconds remaining in the half, sending the teams to the locker room tied at 17.
The Georgia quarterback isn't known as much of a runner, but he posted a career-high 32 yards on three carries — all of them huge plays for the Bulldogs.
A bruising 14-yard run set up his first touchdown pass to Delp, an 8-yard run on third down extended the drive that led to Woodring's field goal near the end of the first half, and the touchdown run came on third-and-7 from the 10.
“He's a good athlete,” Smart said. “He can make plays with his feet.”
Tennessee: The Vols defense had not allowed more than 19 points all season, but they couldn't contain the Beck-led offense. Georgia piled up 453 yards and 24 first downs while converting eight of 13 third-down opportunities. Tennessee just doesn't have an answer for the Bulldogs, who have dominated the series with eight straight victories — all of them by margins of at least two touchdowns.
Georgia: The Bulldogs played without top running back Travis Etienne, who was sidelined by a rib issue, and the offense took another blow when receiver Dillon Bell went out with an ankle injury sustained on a hit along the sideline late in the first half. But Frazier, the first true freshman to start at tailback for the Bulldogs since 2014, rushed for 68 yard and London Humphreys stepped up to make three huge catches for 63 yards. Big kudos, as well, to the offensive line, which did not give up a sack after Beck was dumped five times the previous week by Ole Miss.
Tennessee: The Vols return home next Saturday to take on UTEP before wrapping up the regular season with a short trip to Nashville to face Vanderbilt on Nov. 30.
Georgia: With their SEC schedule complete, the Bulldogs close out the regular season with two non-conference games at home. UMass (2-8) shouldn't present much of a problem next Saturday.
Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll
Georgia wide receiver Nitro Tuggle (2) loses his helmet as he is tackled by Tennessee defensive back Andre Turrentine (2) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart reacts on the sideline during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Tennessee, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Georgia quarterback Carson Beck (15) reacts after a Georgia touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Tennessee, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Georgia quarterback Carson Beck (15) and assistant coach Josh Crawford run off the field after defeating Tennessee in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel yells to an official during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Georgia , Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Georgia running back Nate Frazier (3) is stopped by Tennessee defensive back Andre Turrentine (2), defensive back Boo Carter (23) and linebacker Jeremiah Telander (22) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Georgia tight end Ben Yurosek (84) run s after a catch during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Tennessee, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) Tennessee
Tennessee running back Peyton Lewis (27) tries to brel free from Georgia's CJ Allen (3) and Jalon Walker (11) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Georgia defensive lineman Warren Brinson (97) react after Bulldogs sacked Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava (8) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava (8) thros a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Georgia, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Georgia quarterback Carson Beck (15) throws from behind offensive lineman Dylan Fairchild (53) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Tennessee , Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Georgia wide receiver Cole Speer (83) can not reach a pass as Tennessee defensive back Jermod McCoy (3) defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava (8) is sacked by Georgia defensive lineman Xzavier McLeod (94) and linebacker Chaz Chambliss (32) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Georgia quarterback Carson Beck (15) looks for an open receiver during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Tennessee, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
