Miller ices Bruins with shootout winner as Canucks take 2nd straight win under Boudreau
Demko makes 35 saves, Boeser scores lone regulation goal in Vancouver win
A new coach seems to have gifted the Vancouver Canucks with a renewed sense of optimism.
After struggling through the start of the season, the Canucks persevered for a 2-1 shootout win over the Boston Bruins in Vancouver on Wednesday, earning their second straight victory under bench boss Bruce Boudreau.
"I think everyone feels confident that we can go into the next one and get another [win]," said defenceman Quinn Hughes. "We're taking it one game at a time and one week at a time and that was the message when coach came in. For the first two games, I think we're doing really good. And the amazing thing is I think we can play better, too."
Bo Horvat also scored for Vancouver (10-15-2) in the shootout while Thatcher Demko stopped both David Pastrnak and Charlie Coyle.
Boudreau took over the team late Sunday night and has little time to come up with a shootout strategy. He said he relied on statistics Wednesday.
"I wanted [Elias Pettersson] to go first. I think he was at 40 per cent in his career," the coach said of the Swedish centre who was stymied by Swayman. "And then J.T. I know loves the pressure. I know that already after about four days."
WATCH | J.T. Miller scores shootout winner to lift Canucks past Bruins:
Brock Boeser scored in regulation for Vancouver and Patrice Bergeron got a power-play goal for Boston (12-8-2).
Demko registered 35 saves to collect a win on his 26th birthday, while Swayman stopped 31-of-32 shots for the visitors.
The Canucks took a 1-0 lead into the third period but were outshot 16-13 across the final frame.
Boston got a two-man advantage early in the frame and used the opportunity to knot the score at 1-1.
Just seconds into the 5-on-3 stretch, David Pastrnak sent a shot flying from inside the blue line and Bergeron deflected it in from in front of the net 4:51 into the final frame.
"Obviously [Pastrnak] has that shot where they need to be in the shooting lane so it usually opens up a bit of a passing lane for a shot tip and especially 5-on-3 and we tried to use that to our advantage," said the Bruins captain, who collected his ninth goal of the year. "We talked about it before the face off on that play that it should be there."
Hamonic goes down but Canucks find a way
He did not return to the game, leaving Vancouver with just five defencemen.
"I think as far as the five going there, I think we played really good and strong," Hughes said. "And it was just about playing smart hockey with five guys there and taking short shifts and I think we did really good with that."
Marchand was handed an interference penalty for the play and the Canucks capitalized at the 15:01 mark.
Gaining confidence
Miller uncorked a rocket from the top of the faceoff circle and Boeser tipped it in past Swayman from low in the slot for his sixth goal of the season.
After going 13 games in a road without scoring, Boeser has power-play goals in back-to-back games.
"I've talked about how I want to produce for this team and help us win hockey games," he said. "And to get a couple in the last couple wins, I think it means a lot and it's big for my confidence."
Both sides were 1 for 4 with the man advantage Wednesday.
The revelry was brief, though, as the Canucks challenged for offside and after a video review, officials called the goal off.
Bruins assistant coach Joe Sacco said the game was tight at even strength.
"Both teams had some opportunities but probably not as much as we would have liked, especially speaking for our group. We had some opportunities," said Sacco, who's filling in as head coach while Bruce Cassidy is in COVID-19 protocol. "We passed up on some shots, I thought. I'd like to see us play off the shot a little bit more at times, but some of that has to go their credit as well. They defended hard."
Boston will be back in action Thursday, visiting the Oilers in Edmonton. Vancouver continues a six-game homestand Friday when it hosts the Winnipeg Jets.
