In Vancouver, the Canucks scored twice in the back half of the third period on Saturday to force extra time with the visiting Boston Bruins.
Brock Boeser hit for his second goal of the game, off the power play, at 1:34 of the extra session and a 3-2 win to the Canucks.
“I feel like we outplayed one of the best teams in the League today for 60 straight minutes even though we were losing,” Vancouver’s J.T. Miller said. “So, it feels good. Let’s not make it more than it is, it’s just a hockey game in February, but timing-wise it feels good just for the way it’s been going a little bit lately.”
The win snapped a four-game skid.
“A [heck] of an effort,” Canucks coach Rick Tocchet said. “They’ve been a resilient group. [Miller] willed the game. His third period was incredible.”
Thatcher Demko made 20 saves in the win.
The Canucks moved to 38-16-6.
“Our bench was pretty calm in the sense that we weren’t panicking. I like that,” Tocchet said. “The last three, four games, the bench would have been a little different, see a little bit of frustration, slamming and sticks and stuff. I didn’t see that tonight. There wasn’t frustration even though we’re down 2-0.”
The Canucks tied the game, 2-2, when Boeser scored at t 12:49 to trim the deficit to 2-1.
Filip Hronek tied the game 2-2 with 71 seconds left on the regulation clock for a 2-2 tie headed to extra time.
Boston dropped to 34-12-3.
“I just don’t think we played the right hockey in the third period,” the Bruins’ Brandon Carlo said. “From getting pucks north out of the [defensive] zone, to getting pucks behind them, playing the right style of game to kind of limit their chances, I don’t think we did a good enough job at that.”
Boston took a 1-0 lead at 5:27 of the middle frame off a breakaway goal by Jesper Boqvist.
“I just found the puck and I heard the bench yell ‘two,’ so I tried to look over and put it to an area because I know how fast he is and how skilled he is,” Bostons; Justin Brazeau, said. “So, it was a nice play by him.”
Danton Heinen pushed the Bruins lead to 2-0 with a marker at 11:15 of the second.
“I kind of know he’s going to try to put it far post across the crease there, so just try to stay kind of backdoor and luckily I chipped it in,” Heinen said. “I guess that’s where you got to go to score goals.”
Jeremy Swayman made 36 saves in the loss.
“I knew he was winding up, and it was good flash screen by the guy in front of me, but obviously I want that back,” Swayman said. “It’s one of those things where it can be a positioning save, and it’s just unacceptable. We can’t be losing games like that.”
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