Golden Knights edge Canucks in overtime, strengthen Wild Card bid

VANCOUVER — Shea Theodore scored 2:05 into overtime and the Vegas Golden Knights eked out a 3-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday.

Jonathan Marchessault had a goal and assist, and Alex Pietrangelo also scored for Vegas (39-28-4), which stretched its win streak to five games.

The Canucks (32-28-10) went down 2-0 in the first period but rallied with goals from J.T. Miller and Bo Horvat in the third.

Robin Lehner returned from a lower-body injury to put up a 26-save performance for Vegas. The Swedish netminder made his first start since March 8.

Vancouver’s Thatcher Demko stopped 27-of-30 shots as the Canucks lost their third in a row.

The game marked the first half of a home-and-home series between the two sides, with the rematch set to go Wednesday in Vegas.

Vancouver came into Sunday’s game seven points behind Vegas in the Western Conference standings, with both teams still battling with the Winnipeg Jets, Dallas Stars and Nashville Predators for the two wild-card spots.

Canucks defenceman Tyler Myers nearly did away with the need for extra time with a close-range shot as the clock expired. But Lehner forced overtime by getting a piece of the puck with his glove.

Vancouver had a prime opportunity to pot the equalizer midway through the third after Marchessault was called for tripping Miller.

Horvat and Quinn Hughes troubled Lehner with tough shots, but the Vegas netminder held firm until his teammate Brayden McNabb put the puck over the glass with just three seconds left on the penalty.

McNabb was called for delay of game, gifting the Canucks a very brief five-on-three advantage.

The home side capitalized with an odd goal.

Horvat lost the faceoff to William Karlsson but the puck popped out, hitting the