Canucks score back-to-back short-handed goals in 3rd period to beat Maple Leafs

Back-to-back short-handed goals powered the Vancouver Canucks to a 4-1 victory over the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.

Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller each scored and notched an assist for the Canucks (25-32-5) during a Leafs power play midway through the third period.

Andrei Kuzmenko and Nils Aman also found the back of the net for Vancouver, and Brock Boeser contributed a pair of helpers.

Thatcher Demko stopped 36-of-37 shots for Vancouver and Toronto's Matt Murray made 20 saves in his first game since Jan. 17.

The 28-year-old Leafs goalie missed 17 games with an ankle injury.

Toronto pulled Murray in favour of an extra attacker with more than three minutes left on the game clock and Pettersson nearly added to the Canucks tally, ringing a shot off the post.

Vancouver sealed the score with the lone even-strength goal of the game 12:34 into the third.

Boeser spotted Aman unmanned at the side of the Toronto net and put the puck on his tape. Aman tipped it in, giving the Canucks a 4-1 cushion with his third goal of the season.

LEFT HIM ALONE AT THE BACK DOOR! <a href="https://t.co/C6sbfsPQfR">pic.twitter.com/C6sbfsPQfR</a>

Toronto got an opportunity to take the lead midway through the third when Vancouver's Phillip Di Giuseppe was called for high-sticking, but it was Vancouver that found the back of the net with a pair of short-handed goals 44 seconds apart.

Miller and Pettersson sparked the offensive outburst with a 2-on-1. Miller sent Pettersson the puck at the hash marks and the Swedish centre popped it under Murray to put the Canucks up 2-1 at the 6:39 mark.

The goal was Pettersson's 29th of the campaign.

SHORTY FROM EP40! <a href="https://t.co/TXL3fbS5VQ">pic.twitter.com/TXL3fbS5VQ</a>

Moments later, it