BIG GAME FROM BOESER
Winger scores hat-trick versus Blues
CANUCKS 6, BLUES 1
ST. LOUIS For more than two years, the baffling Blues had their way with the Canucks.
For one afternoon, Elias Pettersson had his way — and that’s what was really at play as Vancouver won consecutive games for the first time in five weeks on Sunday with a resounding 6-1 triumph at the Enterprise Centre.
Pettersson’s second five-point outing of the season, including a three-point explosion in the opening 14:06 which featured his 15th goal of the season, was instrumental in linemate Brock Boeser striking for two goals in the opening 20 minutes and finishing with his second career hat trick.
The Blues simply didn’t have an answer in their first look at attempting to defend against Pettersson, the Calder Trophy front-runner.
And for a Blues club that had all the answers in its last nine meetings with the Canucks — five-straight wins and an 8-01 advantage — it was another wild roller-coaster ride after blanking the Jets in Winnipeg on Friday.
Here’s what we learned as the Canucks chased yet another starter in Jake Allen to get a three-game road trip off on the right note:
PETTERSSON THE PASSER EQUALS DEKEY PETE
For everything the slick Swedish centre can do when he decides to dangle or shoot — the puck-onthe-string stuff and the one-knee, one-timer that is heavy and accurate — it’s the playmaking prowess that doesn’t get enough of the ongoing accolades.
It was evident early and often Sunday.
On the opening goal by Boeser, the Blues simply weren’t aware of how well Pettersson can move as he easily set up the winger with a slot feed from the corner.
On his goal, the Blues should have been aware how calmly Pettersson buys time and space by hanging on to the puck long enough for defenders to retreat and provide him with a shooting lane. And when he did, Pettersson’s wrist shot had enough velocity to find the glove side even after the attempt hit the blade of defenceman Jay Bouwmeester.
Pettersson then fed Boeser again for a wrister ripper, put one on a tee for Nikolay Goldobin at the side of the net and started the sequence for the hat trick goal.
“Yeah, it was fun out there for sure,” said Pettersson. “I’m trying to create as much space as possible when I get the puck. Sometimes, it goes better and sometimes not as good as I want. The wins feel very good. We talked about continuing that way and being honest with ourselves. The way we played these last two games we’re going to be successful and we have to bring it every night and good things will happen.”
Like five points?
“Well, I really don’t know what to answer,” he shrugged. “I just try to create chances and the points will come and that’s all I’m thinking of.”
BOESER GETS THE BOUNCE, THE HAT TRICK
The pre-game buzz was how Boeser would benefit from playing the ‘bumper’ position to score his first power play goal of the season. What he benefited from was an improved stride and drive and Pettersson playing keep-away with the Blues.
Boeser’s first goal looked more like a field-goal attempt. It was like he didn’t realize he was that wide open or that he cradled the puck before putting it high off the glass. It nearly hit the netting but bounced back down and off the left pad of a startled Allen.
Boeser then looked like he did a year ago. He quickly got to open ice, took a sublime saucer pass from Pettersson and didn’t hesitate to go glove for his eighth goal in 19 games.
He then finished off the hat trick outing, his first since Nov. 4, 2017 when he scored three against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Rogers Arena, with a shot from the point that deflected in off a Blue.
“The first goal, I just wanted to get a shot on net and it hit the guy’s skate and went off the back glass and then I saw it go up and then hit him (Allen),” said Boeser. “You just have to laugh. There are other chances you get in games where you should score that are legit goals and something like that goes in. It’s hard not to laugh.”
It shouldn’t have been that surprising. Boeser had two goals in his previous five games and despite 20 shots and 38 shot attempts, he hit posts and crossbars and was been robbed on several occasions.
EARLY PENALTY KILL WAS REALLY A THRILL
When Erik Gudbranson took a four-minute high-sticking minor on Alex Steen with the Canucks only up 1-0, it could have been a game-changer.
The Blues’ home-ice power play was ranked 10th but didn’t muster a single shot as the pairings of Jay Beagle with Markus Granlund and Antoine Roussel with Loui Eriksson shut the door. And the fact the Canucks took just one infraction is
a testament to helping the 27thranked penalty kill finds its legs.
MARKSTROM GETS WIN, ALLEN GETS HOOK
Jacob Markstrom’s big save off a hot Vladimir Tarasenko shot from the slot not only triggered Boeser’s second goal in transition, it chased Allen from the net after allowing three goals on just six shots.
Allen made 26 saves in a 1-0 shutout win at Winnipeg on Friday and entered Sunday’s test with a 1.92 goals-against average and .937 save percentage. Markstrom looked more stable and square to shooters and didn’t over-react to first shots and when he had to, made a sprawling move on his back for a snow-angel save off a secondperiod turnover.
He also got to the post to take away a high chance for Zach Sanford and stopped Robert Thomas with a dash off the wing.
He lost his shutout bid in the third period on the 20th shot when Robert Bortuzzo’s stick broke on a shot and Markstrom was prone as Jordan Kyrou jumped on the loose puck.
“He goes for the one-timer and everybody is playing that shot and there are bodies in the lane,” said Markstrom. “I kind of lose track of the puck and it hits off my arm and goes in. But it’s a great win. If we keep playing like this, we’re going to get rewarded with points most nights. This is the consistency we need.”
The way we played these last two games we’re going to be successful and we have to bring it every night.