Big second period powers Canucks past Wild
SAINT PAUL, Minn. -- Reid Boucher scored twice and Brock Boeser scored his first NHL goal in his pro debut as part of a four-goal second period to jump start the Vancouver Canucks to a 4-2 win over the Minnesota Wild on Saturday.
Vancouver backup goaltender Richard Bachman made 25 saves in limiting the Wild to late third-period goals by Ryan Suter and Eric Staal.
After a scoreless first period, Vancouver began the second period with 1:40 of power-play time courtesy of Ryan Suter's slashing penalty. The Canucks needed only 19 seconds of that to take the lead on Boucher's fifth goal after a scramble in the low slot.
Just over five minutes later, Boucher's wrister from the left circle appeared to hit a post and play continued. But 30 seconds later, the arena horn sounded to stop play as officials in Toronto saw reason to review the shot.
After a brief delay, replays clearly indicated that Boucher's shot over Minnesota goaltender Darcy Keumper's right shoulder went under the crossbar and deflected off the goal cam. Boucher was awarded his sixth of the season and time was restored to the game clock.
Bo Horvat's hard drive to the Minnesota net did not find its way in, but Boeser pounced on a loose puck in the crease to score at 11:51. The Minnesota native, Vancouver's 2015 first-round draft pick, signed an entry-level contract with the Canucks prior to the game.
It only took the Canucks another 1:46 to make it 4-0 on left wing Jack Skille's fifth goal off a faceoff in the Minnesota zone won by Brandon Sutter.
The Canucks nearly grabbed the game's first lead at the 12:22 mark of the first period when Sutter pick-pocketed Minnesota's Zach Parise just inside the Wild blue line and went in alone on Kuemper, who smothered Sutter's shot.
Minnesota's Nino Niederreiter had a chance to put the Wild in front with 3:08 to go in the opening period but his wrist shot from the left circle was picked out of the air by the glove hand of Bachman.
Skille had to be helped from the ice after receiving a hit from Minnesota right winger Charlie Coyle with 3:30 to play in the second period.
The team announced Skille suffered an ankle injury on the play and would not return to the game.
NOTES: Vancouver LW Jack Skille sustained an ankle injury in a collision with Minnesota RW Charlie Coyle with 3:30 to go in the second period and did not return. ... Burnsville, Minn., native, LW Joseph LaBate, made his hometown debut as a pro. ... Minnesota D Christian Folin returned to the lineup after a 10-game absence due to an arm injury suffered March 5 vs. San Jose ... D Alex Biega and D Philip Larsen were healthy scratches for the Canucks, while C Jordan Schroeder and D Nate Prosser sat out for Minnesota. ... Saturday's game marked the fourth in a five-game trip that concludes Sunday at Winnipeg. ... The Wild hit the road for one game at Detroit on Sunday before returning home to host Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals on March 28.