Brock Boeser scored on the power play to break a 1-1 tie midway through the third period as the Vancouver Canucks defeated the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 Saturday night.
Defenceman Filip Hronek had a goal and an assist for the Canucks (26-18-11), who have won three straight games and six of their last eight (6-1-1).
Morgan Rielly scored for the Leafs (33-20-2), who lost for the first time in their four-game Pacific Division road swing.
Thatcher Demko started in goal for the Canucks and played 10 minutes, stopping all six shots he faced, before being replaced by backup Kevin Lankinen who made 21 saves.
Toronto goalie Joseph Woll made 23 saves.
Prince Harry, in Vancouver for the opening of the 2025 Invictus Games, dropped the puck before the game.
It was the last game for both teams before the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, which runs Feb. 12-20 in Montreal and Boston.
Celebrating the start of the @InvictusGames25!
鈥� Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) February 9, 2025
Today we welcomed Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, joined by Invictus Games competitors, to @RogersArena ahead of the games taking place in Vancouver and Whistler over the next 8 days. pic.twitter.com/r6HgoeQBXd
TAKEAWAYS
Canucks: The Canucks played without defenceman Quinn Hughes who skated in the morning but missed his fourth straight game with an undisclosed injury. Hronek鈥檚 goal was his third of the season. He last scored in a Jan. 23 loss in Edmonton. Centre Elias Pettersson鈥檚 goal drought extended to nine games. Vancouver鈥檚 longest winning streak this year is four games, all in October.
Leafs: Rielly鈥檚 goal was his sixth of the season and just his second in 40 games. The Leafs outshot Vancouver 14-6 in the second period. Auston Matthew鈥檚 assist on Rielly鈥檚 goal was his seventh in the last three games. Toronto鈥檚 longest winning streak this season is five games.
KEY MOMENT
With just 1:57 left in the game, and the Leafs on a power play, Lankinen slid across the crease to make a diving save to stop a Matthews鈥� shot, keeping the score 2-1 for Vancouver.
READ MORE: Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes missing 4th straight game with injury
KEY STAT
The Canucks are 10-1-0 in their last 11 home games against the Leafs.
UP NEXT
Maple Leafs: Host the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday, Feb. 22.
Canucks: Visit the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday, Feb. 22.
Jim Morris, The Canadian Press
