Brock Boeser has torched the Los Angeles Kings throughout his NHL career.
He didn’t get the opportunity to continue his hot streak against the Kings in this one.
Entering this contest, the Vancouver Canucks winger had 17 goals in 20 games against LA. However in the first period of this contest, Boeser was smoked directly in the chin by the shoulder of Kings forward Tanner Jeannot.
Jeannot was assessed a match penalty on the play. The call was undoubtedly the right one, as Jeannot had time to let us after Boeser had passed the puck.
Tanner Jeannot is handed a match penalty for this hit on Brock Boeser 🤕 pic.twitter.com/m4vbDlpRi0
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) November 8, 2024
“For the refs to call five minutes…it’s a dangerous hit, let’s leave it at that,” Quinn Hughes told reporters postgame.
The Canucks were able to avenge Boeser’s loss on the scoreboard, by beating the Kings 4-2.
However, losing their star winger is clearly the biggest concern after this contest.
Boeser led the Canucks in both goals (6) and power play points (4) entering this contest. And as Canucks fans know, the star winger has battled a barrage if struggles over the past few seasons.
From the passing of his father, to being in trade rumours, to missing Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Edmonton Oilers, controversy has followed Boeser.
One can only hope that the longest-tenured Canucks player isn’t out long.
Canucks’ Hughes & DeBrusk stay hot
There’s a case to be made that Hughes is the best player in the NHL right now.
His performance tonight did nothing to extinguish that notion.
Hughes led the way for the Canucks once again on the scoresheet and on the ice. He was the only Canucks player with multiple points tonight (one goal, one assist). His goal also stood as the game-winner.
Let it fly, Huggy, let it fly. 🎯 pic.twitter.com/ZJlYxzfQ2g
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) November 8, 2024
With Hughes on the ice, the Canucks out-chanced the Kings 9-2. They also had blanked the Kings in terms of high danger chances (5-0).
His sublime playmaking was also on display, as always, and it helped keep DeBrusk’s hot streak alive.
“What patience! Jake DeBrusk *does* have goals in three straight games” 🔥
Quinn Hughes dances in the offensive zone and dishes it to Jake DeBrusk who out-waits Darcy Kuemper pic.twitter.com/LNlH4xKTsv
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) November 8, 2024
After going goalless in his first nine games, DeBrusk now has goals in three straight contests.
So far this season, he’s living up to his reputation of being a streaky scorer.
“He’s getting more comfortable and the confidence is coming at a good time for him,” J.T. Miller told reporters postgame. “He’s getting rewarded for going to the net.”
“He’s got really good patience too, as you could see today, that goal was outstanding.”
More to come…