Bruins end Canucks hot streak

Photo courtesy of MGN

By: Mackenzie Bruno 

In a battle between two strongly contending teams in the NHL, the Boston Bruins took down the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday, 4-0. 

Boston entered Thursday’s matchup with the top overall record in the NHL at 31-10, with Vancouver close behind in the Pacific Division at 34-11 leading the league with 73 points overall.  

A short-handed Bruins team in the first half was led by wingers Brad Marchand and Danton Heinen who each scored in the first period.  

Bruin’s goalie Linus Ullmark recorded his first shutout of the season and seventh of his career, making 17 saves in the win for Boston.  

Prior to the Bruin’s win, the Canucks were on a 12-game point streak. Centers Morgan Geekie and Pavel Zacha also scored one apiece for Boston to seal the win in the second period.  

Despite securing 21 saves for the Canucks, goaltender Thatcher Demko was outmatched by the costly mistakes his Vancouver team made. For instance, Vancouver defenseman Tyler Myles scored an own goal after a mishap on a tipped shot by Boston’s Geekie. 

The latter half of Boston’s 4 goals came in the opening 49 seconds of the second period just 15 seconds apart. The own goal by Myles started the scoring for the Bruins followed by an assist from Boston winger James van Riemsdyk to James Zacha to find the back of the net.  

The Bruins are now tied with Vancouver with 73 points, but now sport the best record in all NHL. 

Boston takes on Washington this Saturday while the Canucks play Detroit. The Canucks and Bruins meet again on Feb. 24th in Vancouver.