Boeser scores in debut as Canucks win
Posted March 25, 2017 2:01 pm.
Last Updated March 25, 2017 2:06 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
MINNESOTA (NEWS 1130) – It was a debut to remember for Brock Boeser as a Vancouver Canuck in front of friends and family in Minnesota.
The rookie scored in his first NHL game, just one day after ending his college season to help the Canucks to a 4-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild.
While Boeser may still be the story of the day, it was Reid Boucher who got the party started for the Canucks with two goals in the second period. The first came on a powerplay, while the second came after a review, as a hard shot beat Darcy Kuemper short side – the puck went crossbar-camera-and out, but stood after the officials had a look. Boucher now has six goals on the season and was dangerous for most of the afternoon.
That set up Boeser’s tally, as he drove the net on a Bo Horvat rush, stopped on the puck in the crease, and tapped home a rebound for his first goal as a pro. The team made his contract signing official earlier on Saturday morning, and he flew from Fargo, North Dakota to St. Paul that same morning.
Canucks goaltender Richard Bachman improved his record to 2-1-0, making 27 saves. His shutout bid was broken up by a pair of quick goals from Ryan Suter and Eric Staal late in the third, but the Canucks were able to hang on for the final two minutes.
Jack Skille scored the other goal for the Canucks, but he left this game in the second period with what the team said was an ankle injury. Skille took a hit along the boards from the Wild’s Charlie Coyle, and his left leg buckled akwardly. Canucks head coach Willie Dejardins said after the game that they shouldn’t expect to see Skille in the lineup for a little while.
With the win, Vancouver has now won four of six away from Rogers Arena.
The Wild squandered an opportunity to clinch a playoff spot with the loss, and have now won just twice in the last 11 games.
