College 1 day, goal in debut next
Brock Boeser’s college career ended in crushing fashion Friday night. Scoring in his NHL debut the next day in front of his family and friends wasn’t a bad consolation prize.
Boeser scored in his first NHL game a day after signing with Vancouver, Reid Boucher added two scores in a four-goal second period and the visiting Canucks defeated the slumping Minnesota Wild 4-2 on Saturday.
Boeser was Vancouver’s first-round pick in the 2015 draft. His North Dakota team lost to Boston University in double overtime Friday in the NCAA tournament in Fargo. The Burnsville, Minn., native joined the Canucks in St. Paul in time for Saturday’s matinee.
“It’s been crazy — obviously a heartbreak loss there with my North Dakota team,” Boeser said. “But, you know, I had to regroup there and focus on this game. I definitely think adrenaline kicked in here.”
The Canucks surprised Boeser by bringing his parents to the locker room before the game.
Then he went out and scored Vancouver’s third goal of the second period, scoring off a rebound on a 2-on-2 rush.
“It’s good for him,” Canucks coach Willie Desjardins said. “It’s a great story for him playing at home, and to get (a goal), it was good.”
The Wild were shut out for almost 57 minutes by Richard Bachman, Vancouver’s thirdstring goalie, and they were no match for a Canucks team that was 1-5-2 in its previous eight games.