Boeser’s hat trick leads Canucks to win
Brock Boeser didn’t need much help during a breakout 2017-18 season. Now he’s getting plenty from another star rookie in Elias Pettersson.
Boeser scored his second career hat trick, Pettersson had a goal and four assists and the Vancouver Canucks beat the St. Louis Blues 6-1 on Sunday.
Pettersson became the second rookie to have two fivepoint games before the end of December. He assisted on all three of Boeser’s goals to become the second Canucks rookie to have multiple fourpoint games after Boeser achieved the feat last season.
“He can make passes that most guys can’t,” Boeser said. “You’ve always got to be ready.”
Bo Horvat and Nikolay Goldobin also scored for the Canucks, who won consecutive games for the first time since winning three straight from Oct. 29 through Nov. 2. Vancouver was 2-10-2 in its previous 14 games.
Jacob Markstrom made 22 saves to improve to 10-9-3 on the season and 2-4-0 lifetime against St. Louis.
Jake Allen stopped three of six shots in 14:06 before being pulled in favour of Chad Johnson, who made 12 saves. Allen recorded his first shutout of the season Friday at Winnipeg.
Boeser fired a shot from just inside the blue line that appeared to deflect off Blues defenceman Joel Edmundson 8:45 into the third period to match his career high of three goals. His previous hat trick was Nov. 4, 2017 against Pittsburgh.
“It was nice,” Boeser said. “I’ve been battling through some injury. I feel like I’ve been getting chances lately and our line has been playing solid hockey. It’s nice to get a few lucky bounces and get the hat trick.”
Boeser scored his first goal on a shot that deflected off the end boards and hit the back of Allen’s leg pads before trickling into the net.
“Whenever a goal scorer gets a lucky-bounce goal, you’re hoping it’s the start of something good,” Canucks coach Travis Green said. “Our two young guys, they were great tonight. It’s great to see.”
St. Louis had won five consecutive games against Vancouver and had recorded a point in their nine previous games. The Blues are 2-11-1 when surrendering the first goal.
“We’re a fragile group,” Blues centre Brayden Schenn said. “It comes with losing.”
Pettersson expanded the lead to 2-0 when he buried a feed from Troy Stecher 31 seconds after Vancouver killed off a four-minute power play. Pettersson previously had five points Nov. 2 versus Colorado.
“I don’t really know what to answer,” Pettersson said when asked about his offensive output. “I’m just trying to create chances and points will come when you play good. That’s all I’m thinking of.”