Wild 3, Canucks 2 (OT): Fire of desire burns bright to prove another point in trip finale

Article content

Fire alarms went off during the warm-up skate Tuesday at the Xcel Energy Center.

Article content

Article content

Article content

It was a symbolic warning to the Vancouver Canucks that they could go up in flames if they didn’t arrive on time to douse the stingy and opportunistic Minnesota Wild. They led the NHL standings based on winning points percentage, had allowed the fewest goals and Kirill Kaprizov was leading the league in scoring.

The rallying cry was a total team effort and no passengers.

Quinn Hughes opened scoring on the power play, Jake DeBrusk was another net-front menace with his team-leading 11th goal and Kevin Lankinen kept them within striking range. The issue was finally settled in overtime when Kaprizov converted a cross-ice feed with a one-timer with 23.4 seconds left in the extra session for the 3-2 triumph.

It came after Lankinen had denied Joel Eriksson Ek on a breakaway, Erik Brannstrom and Conor Garland were thwarted and Brock Boeser hit the post. The Canucks nearly won it in the final minute of regulation when Hughes spun at the point and had his shot deflected on net by Pius Suter.

Article content

It was just another example of a never-quit attitude.

“Great game. Everybody really played hard tonight,” lauded Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet. “A hell of a road trip and we could have easily won the game. The guys should feel good about themselves. We played a solid game and everybody was scrappy.

“I like the attitude. Guys are engaged and it will be good to get home. Tough trip.”

The Canucks came in with the fewest first-period shots entering the finale of a revealing six-game, 11-day road trip where resilience and resolve became their calling cards. So, it shouldn’t be surprising that they were in it to win it and made another impressive impression.

Article content

Already beset by injuries, misfortune, and an indefinite leave of absence by J.T Miller, the Canucks had another bomb drop Tuesday. With Filip Hronek having a non-surgical, lower-body procedure — and not needing surgery to mend his right shoulder — the top-pairing defenceman is sidelined for two months.

Article content

Article content

It’s what made this 4-1-1 road trip and enviable 11-2-1 record away from Rogers Arena a true measure of being true road warriors.

Here’s what else we learned as the Canucks now return home to open a six-game home stand on Friday against Columbus:

DeBrusk big net-front menace

When the light bulb went on for the hulking winger to realize that goals are scored five feet from the net, he went to work.

After opening the season with no goals in nine games, the free-agent acquisition stopped freewheeling on the perimeter and set up shop where it matters. He has the size and strength to set screens and execute deft deflections, but his ability to pivot and find loose pucks to show off some soft hands has been rewarded in a big way.

Article content

DeBrusk snapped a 1-1 draw late in the second period to cap off strong shift. A Carson Soucy point shot found Elias Pettersson, who got a backhand away, before DeBrusk pounced on the rebound to ram home his sixth goal in the last eight games and 11th overall to lead the club. And all 11 goals have come on the road.

He’s thriving because Pettersson is much more engaged. His two assists Tuesday upped his production to 10 points on the six-game trip (1-9), but his encouraging turnaround occurred weeks ago. When Pettersson started practising harder, it translated to his game presence and eight points (4-4) in six games before this latest sojourn out east. It was proof of the desire.

His 56th multi-point game Tuesday vaulted Pettersson into ninth place in franchise history.

Article content

“That’s pretty cool,” said Pettersson. “I’m very honoured by that but it would have tasted better with a win today.”

Tocchet lauded Pattersson for pulling on the rope and helping the club overcome a trying trip.

“It’s like the whole team, having a game plan and working hard and staying in the moment,” said Tocchet. “He’s getting some points for us and that’s good.”

Said Pettersson: “I really liked our battle. We did enough to win but a few mistakes. I missed a block and screened Lankinen. Small details to improve.”

Lankinen deserves Four Nations nod

The Canucks starter has already etched his name in the league record books by going 10-0-0 on the road to start a season.

He surpassed Glenn Hall (1965-66) and Cam Talbot (2022-23) on Sunday, and if the Finnish committee needed a nudge to add Lankinen to its Fourth Nations tournament roster Wednesday — along with his former crease mate Juuse Saros and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen — he provided more evidence Tuesday with a 30-save effort.

Article content

The Wild held an 6-1 and 11-5 shot advantages in the first period and Lankinen was pressed early to get a right pad on a Marco Rossi deflection. He then got a glove on a hot Matthew Boldy shot before Hughes would strike for the opening goal on the power play.

It took a neutral-zone gaffe in the second period, after the Canucks had started well in the frame to control play, to finally get to Lankinen. Frederick Gaudreau was sprung on a 3-on-1 advantage and his quick snap shot to the glove side drew the Wild even. He then stopped Devin Shore off a turnover.

Early third-period pressure by the top Wild line allowed Jake Middleton to pouce on a loose puck and go blocker side to make it 2-2. But Lankinen then got his glove on a redirect chance by Ryan Hartman

Article content

There’s no place like home

Brock Boeser scored his first career NHL regular-season goal in his first game and the setting couldn’t have been better.

After signing a three-year, entry-level contract on March 25, 2017, the Burnsville, Minn. native scored his first goal at 11:15 of the second period — depositing a Bo Horvat shot off the rush — to provide a 3-0 lead en route to a 4–2 win over the Wild. He had four shots, three hits and a takeaway in 12:44 as a precursor to what would become a dramatic rookie season. 

On Nov. 4, 2017, Boeser had a hat trick to become the first Canucks player at the age of 20 or younger accomplish that feat since Trevor Linden on Dec. 20, 1990, as well as the third-youngest behind Linden and Tony Tanti.

Article content

On Tuesday, Boeser could have used a goal and had three glorious chances, including one on a third-period power play. He now has no goals in six games, and missing seven games to a concussion had the winger on the regroup to gather his game. It looked better Tuesday.

OVERTIME — Kiefer Sherwood had six hits to increase his league-leading total to 150 while Vincent Desharnais had five shot blocks.

[email protected]

Article content