Hughes scores 51 seconds into OT as Canucks down Golden Knights for 4th win in a row

Quinn Hughes scored 51 seconds into overtime and the Vancouver Canucks kept their dim playoff dreams alive with a 5-4 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday in Vancouver.

The result moves Vancouver within three points of Vegas, with both teams grasping for the Western Conference wild card spots.

Elias Pettersson had goal and a pair of assists for the Canucks (36-28-10) in regulation, while Bo Horvat had one of each. Vasily Podkolzin and Brad Richardson rounded out the scoring for the home side, which has won four straight games.

Vancouver got a stellar 41 save performance from Thatcher Demko and Robin Lehner stopped 22-of-27 shots for Vegas.

The Golden Knights pulled Lehner with 1:46 left on the game clock in favour of an extra attacker.

Quinn Hughes wins it in OT for the <a href="https://twitter.com/Canucks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Canucks</a>! <a href="https://t.co/85LupE6Tez">pic.twitter.com/85LupE6Tez</a>

With 41.4 seconds to go, Theodore launched a rocket from the top of the faceoff circle and the puck flew over Demko's glove for the equalizer.

Theodore brought Vegas within one 6:27 into the third period, whipping a shot past Demko's blocker side from the faceoff dot.

The native of Langley, B.C., now has 12 goals on the season.

The Golden Knights were a force to start the third, outshooting the Canucks 8-0 across the first 10 minutes of the frame.

Pettersson set up Vancouver's fourth goal of the night with a highlight-reel play midway through the second, intercepting the puck in the neutral zone and streaking down the ice with Richardson on a two-on-one.

Vegas cut the deficit to a single goal 4:35 into the second when Amadio's shot from the low slot deflected in off of Horvat to make it 3-2.

Vancouver took a