TORONTO — Kevin Lankinen achieved his fourth shutout of the season and seventh of his career by making 20 saves, leading the Vancouver Canucks to a 3-0 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night. Quinn Hughes contributed significantly with a goal and an assist during the match, helping Vancouver end a frustrating four-game losing streak.

Alongside Lankinen’s impressive goaltending, Brock Boeser and Kiefer Sherwood also found the back of the net, while Tyler Myers provided two assists for the Canucks. The Maple Leafs, on the other hand, saw Dennis Hildeby stop 15 shots in his fifth career start, coming off a challenging 6-3 loss to Carolina on Thursday, which had ended a five-game winning run for Toronto.

The scoring began just 31 seconds into the game when Boeser tipped in the opening shot, a point effort from Myers, putting Vancouver ahead 1-0. Hughes extended the lead late in the second period when he scored on a delayed penalty situation, marking his ninth goal of the season. Sherwood sealed the game in the early moments of the third period with the third goal for Vancouver.

One noteworthy aspect of the game was Coach Rick Tocchet’s comment regarding the team’s late arrival in Toronto. The Canucks didn’t reach their hotel until around 2 p.m., even with a police escort from the airport. For the Leafs, Hildeby’s start marked an opportunity for Joseph Woll to rest. Hildeby had previously won a game against the Philadelphia Flyers, stopping 30 shots in a 3-2 overtime win back in early January. Meanwhile, the injured Anthony Stolarz, who began the season strong, remained on the injured reserve list following knee surgery last month.

A crucial moment came late in the second period when the Canucks were poised for their first power play. However, Hughes managed to increase the lead before the penalty could take effect, finding the net with a shot that deflected in past Hildeby.

Before this decisive victory, Vancouver had struggled, winning just once in their last seven games (1-3-3) and registering only one regulation win since mid-December.

Looking ahead, the Canucks will complete their five-game road trip with a match against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night, while the Maple Leafs will continue their three-game homestand that same evening, facing off against the Dallas Stars.