Boeser’s Late Goal Lifts Canucks Over Blue Jackets 4-3
The Vancouver Canucks pulled off an exciting 4-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday at Rogers Arena, thanks to a clutch third-period goal by Brock Boeser. With the game tied late in the final frame, Boeser seized the moment, collecting a cross-ice pass from Kiefer Sherwood at the Columbus blue line and firing a wrist shot from inside the right face-off dot. The puck bounced off the glove and shoulder of goalie Elvis Merzlikins before finding the back of the net at 14:15, giving Vancouver the lead they would not relinquish.
“It was nice to see Brock get one,” said Canucks forward Jake DeBrusk, who also contributed a goal. “We needed it. That timing was huge. That’s what he can do—he’s pretty clutch.” On the other side, Columbus coach Dean Evason was frustrated with his team’s defensive lapse. “When we’ve got an even hockey game at that stage, there’s no chance anyone should be getting in behind us for any type of a breakaway,” he said.
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Vancouver got on the board first in the opening period when DeBrusk scored on a breakaway at 5:28, finishing a slick pass from Drew O’Connor. Columbus quickly responded with goals from Kirill Marchenko and Dmitri Voronkov to take a 2-1 lead in the first half of the game. However, O’Connor tied the score for Vancouver just before the end of the second period, setting up a thrilling final twenty minutes.
The third period continued the back-and-forth action. Conor Garland gave Vancouver a 3-2 edge early in the period, only for Marchenko to respond with his second goal of the night at 9:47, tying the game at 3-3. Marchenko’s performance extended his point streak to seven games, showcasing his chemistry with teammate Voronkov, who assisted on both of Marchenko’s goals.
Ultimately, Boeser’s timely strike proved decisive, and Kevin Lankinen, who made 29 saves in goal, helped secure the Canucks’ win. Vancouver now sits at 8-8-0 and has the chance to win consecutive games for the first time since mid-October when they face the visiting Colorado Avalanche on Sunday.
For the Blue Jackets, the loss marked their third straight defeat on a challenging five-game road trip. Elvis Merzlikins stopped 21 of 25 shots but struggled with the late game-winner. Despite strong performances from Marchenko and Voronkov, the rest of the team struggled to generate consistent offense. Columbus will look to bounce back in their next matchup against the Edmonton Oilers.
It was a game filled with intensity, skilled plays, and a nail-biting finish, and in the end, Boeser’s clutch goal made all the difference, giving the Canucks a hard-fought win over a determined Blue Jackets squad.
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