In a decisive victory, the Boston Bruins triumphed over the Vancouver Canucks 5-1 on Saturday night, with David Pastrnak leading the charge by contributing a goal along with three assists. The offensive lineup was bolstered by Pavel Zacha, who netted a goal plus an assist, while Brad Marchand, Morgan Geekie, and Marc McLaughlin also found the back of the net. Goaltender Jeremy Swayman was solid in the crease, turning away 19 shots throughout the game.
On the other side, the Canucks saw Max Sasson score his first NHL goal, providing a glimmer of hope amidst the defeat. Goalie Thatcher Demko recorded 24 saves, but the loss marked Vancouver’s third in four games, leaving them with a record of 1-2-1.
The Bruins set the tone early when Marchand capitalized on a power play at just 5:12 into the first period. Geekie quickly followed with a goal less than three minutes later, pushing the lead to 2-0. The dominance continued in the second period with goals from Zacha and McLaughlin, and in the opening minute of the third, Pastrnak stretched the lead to 5-0. Sasson spoiled Swayman’s potential shutout midway through the final period with his goal.
Observing key takeaways from the matchup, the Bruins rebounded impressively after being outscored 13-2 in their previous two outings—suffering an 8-1 defeat to the Winnipeg Jets and a 5-1 loss to the Seattle Kraken. Former Canucks player Elias Lindholm played a pivotal role, assisting Marchand’s early goal and marking his first point in 11 games.
Conversely, the Canucks, fresh off a 4-0 win against Florida, faced difficulties both offensively and defensively, being outshot 29-20 by Boston, indicating a challenging night on the ice.
A highlight of the game was Marchand’s goal. After receiving a pass from Lindholm, he skillfully shot the puck past Demko from the side of the net and celebrated by raising his hand to invite the boos from the Vancouver crowd, marking his 13th goal of the season.
In noteworthy statistics, Pastrnak achieved his 400th career assist in the NHL, making him the 11th player in the history of the Bruins to reach such a milestone.
Looking ahead, the Bruins are set to face the Calgary Flames on Tuesday, while the Canucks will host the Colorado Avalanche on Monday, concluding a six-game homestand.
