Canucks thump Bruins for seventh straight win
Posted December 14, 2013 10:21 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The Vancouver Canucks have matched the longest winning streak in the NHL this season, as they handed the Boston Bruins a 6-2 loss to extend their streak to seven games. The Anaheim Ducks won seven straight earlier in the year.
The Canucks swept their five-game homestand and allowed just five goals during that span.
Vancouver got on the board late in the first period with a lucky goal. Jannik Hansen’s dump-in attempt from centre deflected off Zdeno Chara’s stick and the puck knuckled on its way to the net before finding a way through Tuukka Rask.
The Bruins started the second period with plenty of jump, and a little over four minutes in they got on the board. Reilly Smith buried his eighth goal of the year on the backhand to tie the game 1-1, causing Canucks coach John Torterella to call his timeout.
The timeout worked wonders for Vancouver, as the Canucks needed just 80 seconds to reclaim the lead. David Booth broke in down the left side and snapped a wristshot past Rask for his fourth goal of the year.
A little over three minutes later the Canucks extended their lead. Some terrific work in front of the goal from Mike Santorelli didn’t result in a goal for him, but the loose puck found its way to Chris Higgins and he fired it home for his second goal in as many nights.
Vancouver brought the two-goal lead into the third period, but quickly gave itself some extra breathing room. Yannick Weber hammered home his first goal as a Canuck on Vancouver’s first shot of the period.
The Canucks quickly put the game out of reach, as Henrik Sedin scored on a powerplay, and then Santorelli set up Chris Tanev for a shorthanded goal on a two-on-one break. Santorelli had two assists as he celebrated his 28th birthday.
Smith added his second goal of the game with a little over three minutes to play to round out the scoring.
The Canucks have scored first in each of their seven victories on their win streak. Vancouver’s penalty kill was a perfect three-for-three and is now over 90 per cent on the season.
The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for the Bruins, who wrapped up a four-game road trip.
The Canucks begin a three-game road trip on Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild.
