VANCOUVER, British Columbia — J.T. Miller scored the shootout winner, giving the Vancouver Canucks a 2-1 victory over the visiting Boston Bruins on Wednesday night.
The Canucks winger patiently outwaited Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman, and tucked a shot in behind his right skate. Bo Horvat also scored in the shootout.
Brock Boeser scored in regulation for Vancouver, which improved to 2-0 under new coach Bruce Boudreau.
Boston Bruins defenseman Connor Clifton (75) tries to clear Vancouver Canucks center J.T. Miller (9) from in front of Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) during the second period of an NHL game Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021, in Vancouver, British, Columbia. Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP
Patrice Bergeron got a power-play goal for Boston on a 5-on-3 advantage early in the third.
Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko made 35 saves on his 26th birthday. Jeremy Swayman stopped 31 of 32 shots for Boston.
The Canucks won consecutive home games for the first time this season.
The Canucks took a 1-0 lead into the third period despite being outshot 16-13.
Boston got a two-man advantage early in the third period and tied the score at 1-all.
Juho Lammikko was called for slashing and the Canucks were working off the penalty before Miller ran into Swayman and was called for goaltender interference.
Just seconds into the 5-on-3 stretch, David Pastrnak sent a shot from inside the blue line and Bergeron deflected it in from in front of the net 4:51 into the third. It was the ninth goal of the season for the Bruins captain.
Brad Marchand flattened Vancouver’s Travis Hamonic along the boards midway through the second frame, leaving the Canucks defenseman with an apparent leg injury. Hamonic limped to the bench, not putting any weight on his right leg, and was helped down the tunnel by a trainer. He did not return.
Marchand got an interference penalty for the play and the Canucks capitalized at the 15:01 mark.
Miller uncorked a shot from the top of the faceoff circle and Boeser tipped it in past Swayman from low in the slot for his sixth goal of the season.
Both sides were 1 for 4 with the man advantage.
The Bruins briefly had reason to celebrate earlier in the second. Boston picked off a puck deep in Vancouver territory and got it up the wall to Erik Haula, who went 1-on-1 with Demko before sending a backhanded shot up over the goalie’s left pad. The Canucks challenged for offside and after a video review, officials called the goal off.
NOTES: The Canucks lost 3-2 to the Bruins in Boston on Nov. 28. … Canucks defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson was scratched from the lineup with an undisclosed injury. … Miller has seven points (two goals, five assists) in his last five games.
UP NEXT
Bruins: At Edmonton Oilers on Thursday for the second of a three-game trip.
Canucks: Host Winnipeg Jets on Friday in the fourth game of a six-game homestand.
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