In Vancouver, Tyler Toffoli got on the scoresheet with two goals for the first time since being traded to the Canucks.
Bo Horvat was one of a few strikers for the Canucks – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
Then again, people in the stands were scoring Saturday night as the Canucks posted a 9-3 shellacking of the visiting Boston Bruins.
“It feels good,” he said. “Obviously scoring a goal this early makes it a little easier, but at the same, you’ve just got to keep working. It sounds cliche, but keep trying to build these guys, not just my linemates, but everybody. Lots of talk and lots of work, and we’re going to have some fun.”
Jacob Markstrom made 34 saves to help the Canucks stay in the second spot in the Pacific Division.
“They’re the best team in the League,” J.T. Miller said. “The crowd was awesome. Big rivalry, they have some really good players. It’s an exciting game to get up for, and I think it’s a good test, obviously. We played a really good game. Everybody was going, worked hard, wore them down. It feels really good in here.”
David Pastrnak struck for two goals for Boston.
“You’re going to have games like this, so I’m not going to lose sleep over this hockey game,” Boston head coach Bruce Cassidy said. “Sooner or later, during the course of 82 games, you’re going to have ones where the other team is clearly better than you. We’re not going to beat ourselves up over this loss.”
Troy Stecher got the offense going for the Canucks when he staked them to an early 1-0 lead.
After Pastrnak tied the game, Bo Horvat, Adam Gaudette, Tanner Pearson, Loui Eriksson, and Elias Pettersson pushed the Canucks to a 6-1 advantage.
“It was a great game by everybody all the way through the lineup,” Horvat said. “It was nice to finally start getting some bounces. I know Loui missed about four open nets in the past two games. For him to get finally rewarded definitely feels good. Then everybody else, the secondary scoring.”
Chris Wagner got the Bruins as close as 6-3.
“We’re still in first place,” Cassidy said. “That’s our goal, to finish there. We had a nice run, and typically what we’ve done in the past is work to start a new one, so that’s the goal.”
Jake Virtanen scored the final goal for Vancouver.
“I don’t think we stopped competing, but we weren’t tight enough defensively,” Wagner said. “They got a couple bounces off guys, and the puck was laying there and then it just got out of hand.”
[WATCH:Â All Bruins vs. Canucks highlights]
Tuukka Rask got the start for the Bruins , but was given the hook after 21 saves and yielding six goals.
“I should have made a couple saves in the first there, maybe get us in it,” Rask said. “The way I look at it from a goalie’s perspective, it’s one of those when it rains, it pours type of things.”
Jaroslav Halak made five saves after entering the shooting gallery in the third period.
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