Vancouver fans salute Sedins as Golden Knights hold off Canucks in SO
Swedish stars announced Monday they are retiring at season's end
In his third last game wearing a Vancouver Canucks uniform Henrik Sedin had a chance to do something he'd never done in his 17-year NHL career.
The Canuck captain, who plans to retire at the end of the regular season along with his twin brother Daniel, was sent over the boards during Tuesday's home shootout against the Vegas Golden Knights. Given the opportunity to win the game, and add another chapter to his storybook career, he missed.
"It didn't really matter," said Sedin, who is now 0-6 on shootout attempts. "It was nice to get out there to get the ovation from the fans."
Many in the announced crowd of 18,865 at Rogers Arena probably won't remember defenceman Shea Theodore scored right after Henrik's attempt to give the Golden Knights a 5-4 win.
What most will remember is Henrik and Daniel skating around the rink after the game to a standing ovation, waving and acknowledging the crowd.
"It was fun to be part of it," said Daniel. "It takes us back to a playoff atmosphere. It was fun to be part of that again.
"It's been a while since this building has been this exciting to play in. It's a great feeling."
Theodore, the fourth Vegas shooter, beat Canuck goaltender Jacob Markstrom on a backhand. He is now 2 for 2 on shootouts. It was the first time the 26-year-old from the Vancouver suburb of Langley, B.C., has decided a shootout.
"I was just trying to keep it as simple as I could," said Theodore. "Sometimes when you overthink it the pucks ends up in going in the corner. I just tried to make a fake and tried to catch him biting on it."
It was a game the Golden Knights almost let slip through their fingers. They led 4-1 with just over two minutes gone in the third period. The Canucks battled back with three goals in 5:01.
Nikolay Goldobin made it 4-4 at 10:53 with his second goal of the night when an innocent looking tip squirted past Vegas goalie Malcolm Subban.
"We had good control of the game . . . and fell asleep a little bit," said Vegas coach Gerard Gallant.
Subban, who finished with 21 saves, wasn't happy.
"You never want to win that way," he said. "You want to shut the door and not lose focus. I felt I lost focus there a little bit and they capitalized on it. "
Brandon Pirri led the Golden Knights with two goals in his first NHL game of the season.
Pirri was called up Monday after playing the entire season with the AHL Chicago Wolves. The two goals give him 100 points over eight NHL seasons with five teams.
William Karlsson had a goal and two assists for the Knights (51-22-7). Tomas Tater also scored for first-year Vegas, which clinched top spot in the Pacific Division Saturday.
Bo Horvat and Brandon Sutter also scored for the Canucks (30-40-10), who saw a four-game winning streak snapped. Daniel Sedin earned an assist on Horvat's goal.
Sedins get standing ovation
The game was the first for Daniel and Henrik Sedin since announcing Monday they are retiring after Saturday's season-ending game in Edmonton. In the third period the brothers stood at the bench and waved to the crowd who gave them a standing ovation. Vegas players banged their sticks on the ice.
They love the Sedins in Vancouver. <a href="https://t.co/CNBS0vm1aW">pic.twitter.com/CNBS0vm1aW</a>
—@NHLGIFsBefore the game fans, many waving signs thanking the brothers or holding up jerseys, pressed along the glass and stood four or five deep in the isles during the warmup.
The last home game for the twins will be Thursday against Phoenix.
The overtime was just 15 seconds old when Vancouver's Jake Virtanen was called for hooking. Theodore scored for Vegas on the power play, but the goal was overturned due to goaltender interference.
Daniel was the third Canuck in the shootout but hit a post.
"Once Danny went, I think I had to go," laughed Henrik. "I was going slapshot the whole way."
Subban came out to reduce the angle and Henrik didn't get a shot off.
Daniel, who is 4 for 30 on shootout attempts, chided his brother.
"He had no backup plan," said Daniel.
The brothers know the electricity in the building will be even higher Thursday night.
"We want to play hard these last two games," said Daniel. "It will be a lot more fun leaving that way."