Blasting Boeser pots hat trick
Canucks continue to light the lamp. dominate the Kings in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES There is no doubt the Vancouver Canucks are having a whole ton of fun playing hockey to open the 2019-20 season.
They’ve been scoring goals in bunches of late and Wednesday night was no exception as the Canucks scored four more in a 5-3 defeat of the Los Angeles Kings at the Staples Center.
The Canucks were led by Brock Boeser, who tallied his third career hat trick on the night.
The hometown Kings didn’t put up much of a fight, either, as the Canucks dominated shots 49-24. It was the first time all season an opponent had outshot the Kings.
It’s also the eighth-straight game the Canucks have outshot the opposition, a remarkable trend given that trailing teams tend to carry the play and get more shots.
On top of the hat trick from Boeser, the Canucks got a goal from Bo Horvat and another by Elias Pettersson, while the Kings’ goals were scored by Jeff Carter, who had two, and Anze Kopitar.
Here’s what we learned ...
BOESER’S BLASTING
Which was the better goal: Boeser’s snipe from the corner on a first-period power play after a great Pettersson cross-ice pass, or his second-period breakaway deke after a spectacular stretch pass by Pettersson?
Both were cases of a player who is feeling very confident about things to start the season. Boeser did miss the beginning of pre-season, but has been in fine form since almost the first game of the regular season.
Coming into the season, out of the 2015 NHL draft only Connor McDavid had a better goal-scoring rate than Boeser: McDavid at 0.45 goals per game, Boeser at 0.42. Boeser’s third goal was also on the power play, as he fired a puck on net from the right boards. It rattled off a Kings defender before finding the twine behind goaltender Jonathan Quick.
The winger wasn’t sure if it had also hit J.T. Miller, who was tangled up in front. He asked Miller as the Canucks came together to celebrate. Boeser’s face lit up with delight when he was told it was his goal.
Pettersson nearly set up a fourth for Boeser after he knocked Alec Martinez to the ice with a heavy hit on the side boards to win the puck. He then slid the puck over to Boeser, but Quick turned the shot aside. He’s now scored seven goals in 12 games this season. A healthy Boeser is a marvellous thing.
ROAD POWER PLAY
The Canucks’ four power play goals against the Kings gives them seven road power play goals on the season. They have five at home.
Boeser’s was a masterwork by Pettersson. The Swede had a one-timer off the right side blocks — the Canucks had swapped back to the formation with their two shooters on the off-wings — and when the puck came back to him he wound up like he was going to shoot but instead wired it over to Boeser.
The second was a tip in the slot by Horvat off a Quinn Hughes point shot. The Canucks’ power play has now scored in 35 per cent of the power plays they’ve had since Hughes was moved on to the first unit.
FERLAND’S FIGHT
The first-period fight that ended Micheal Ferland’s night served no purpose. The feisty Canucks winger faced up with the Kings’ Kyle Clifford off a faceoff, one where they’d been jawing at each other.
It was a staid battle, with nary a combatant landing much of a punch, though each did land glancing blows on the other’s head.
Ferland did not return to the game afterwards, as the Canucks announced he’d suffered an “upper-body” injury.
TALLY IT UP
There’s only one NHL forward with more assists than Pettersson so far this season: McDavid.
He’s also only the second Canuck to ever record 14 assists in October. Henrik Sedin had 15 in 2013.
MILLER’S SHIFT
Miller had a shift early in the second period where he found himself on a half-breakaway. He went with the unconventional Thomas Vanek-style slap shot from the top of the faceoff circle. Quick knocked it wide, but was sprawled out in the crease and the puck ricocheted off the end boards back to Miller as he arrived at the goal-line. He tried to flip the puck in off the scrambling Quick, but the veteran netminder was ready.
The puck was then cycled out to the point, where Alex Edler fired it on goal. Miller got a nice tip, but again Quick made a tricky stop.
Miller then looked to the rafters with an “are you kidding me” look on his face.
TRADE, ANYONE?
The press box featured an intriguing number of opposing teams’ executives. On top of the Canucks’ executive staff, led by general manager Jim Benning, Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman and assistant coach Marc Crawford were there; Chicago plays against the Kings on Saturday. The Jets’ GM, Kevin Cheveldayoff was there. The Jets played the Ducks on Tuesday and are in San Jose on Friday. So were the Canadiens’ Scott Mellanby and Lorne Henning; the Habs are on a road trip and will host the Kings in Montreal on Nov. 9. And so was Senators GM Pierre Dorion; his team hosts the Kings two days before the Canadiens do.