Canucks Player Grades: A rare home triumph in 4-3 win over Predators

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Second game of homestand tested loyalty and patience of fans who have tolerated losing but got to celebrate a rare win

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Published Mar 12, 2026 • Last updated 2 hours ago • 6 minute read

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Vancouver Canucks' Filip Hronek (17) celebrates his late game-tying goal against the Nashville Predators with Drew O'Connor (18), Elias Pettersson (40), Zeev Buium (24) and Brock Boeser, back, during the third period at Rogers Arena on Thursday night. Vancouver Canucks’ Filip Hronek (17) celebrates his late game-tying goal against the Nashville Predators with Drew O’Connor (18), Elias Pettersson (40), Zeev Buium (24) and Brock Boeser, back, during the third period at Rogers Arena on Thursday night. Photo by Ethan Cairns /THE CANADIAN PRESSArticle content

The Vancouver Canucks’ reality of trade exits, scoring slumps, losing streaks, empty rows of seats, and a roster rebuild meant something more Thursday at Rogers Arena.

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It means current pain but maybe long-term gain.

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In an encouraging 4-3 shootout victory over the Nashville Predators provided by Jake DeBrusk, the only skills show sniper to connect, the home side showed what fans have been craving. And they responded with a rousing response.

After all, the Canucks played a strong first period and also rallied from a 3-1 deficit. They didn’t quit. They pressed. And then won for just the seventh time on home ice.

“We were resilient,” said Canucks head coach Adam Foote. “We kept it together and it was big for everyone. The fans supported us the whole game and you could totally feel the energy on the bench. They saw that we were working hard and probably should have had a better outcome after two periods.

“They’re smart fans up here and the players felt it and it gave them a bit of a push. And when we made it 3-2, the energy put us over the edge. They’ve been trying so hard all year and it’s been a tough year. Something just feels different the last seven or 10 days.

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“The leaders who are still here have completely bought into what’s happening. That’s why you saw the excitement tonight.”

The comeback was impressive because the killer blow looked to be a pair of weird goals in the second period that swung momentum the wrong way. With the clubs deadlocked 1-1, a point shot took a weird bounce off the end boards, and with heads on a swivel, it landed on the stick of Tyson Jost for an easy deposit.

And then a harmless flip of the puck from the corner boards by Matthew Wood deflected off Liam Ohgren in the slot and past a surprised Nikita Tolopilo. But when Marco Rossi scored with 4:05 remaining in regulation, the patrons got what they were looking for — a chance at victory — and that’s something positive.

And when Filip Hronek scored with 1:01 remaining, there was a rare fan frenzy.

“It was a really good effort and I’m happy that we didn’t give up and battled back,” said Hronek. “It boosts the confidence for sure. It’s never fun when you keep losing and getting the taste of winning, hopefully we can build off it.

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We have a lot of young guys and it was important for them to get a win and get that feeling of how you have to play every night to win. And the crowd was amazing tonight.”

The second game of an eight-game home-stand was going to test the loyalty and patience of a fan base that can tolerate losing, as long as there’s effort. Out-shooting the Predators 26-19 was proof of the willingness to win. So was doing something when it mattered most,

DeBrusk was having a quiet night but made the most noice in the shootout with his signature move. He patiently waited until Juuse Saros backed up and flipping the puck over him.

“I’ve done that for a while and it’s pretty much my go-to,” said DeBrusk. “It’s pretty fine. If you miss it, it hits the bar or goes over the net. Nice to get one. We’ve had games where we’ve outchanced teams but haven’t won. We just kept pushing and found a way.”

Jake DeBrusk (74) scores on Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros (74) during the shootout Photo by Ethan Cairns /THE CANADIAN PRESS

Amid all the losses and the rebuild, there are daily narratives of compete, culture and who should be the next captain. It’s what occurs when you’re dead last in NHL standings and need to define what positives can come from a slow slog to end of a tortorous regular season.

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Find something, do something, because all fans want is hope. Mix in the odd win among the losses and it will move the interest meter. Not that there weren’t other encouraging signs Thursday.

The trio of Teddy Blueger between Max Sasson and Linus Karlsson excelled on the forecheck. Boeser opened scoring and was moving and had three shots in the first frame and finished with four and at least a trio of Grade A chances.

“We didn’t quit and were due for one of those,” reasoned Boeser. “We had a good mindset going into the third and kept going and pushing. We played pretty good and are taking practice seriously and I’m just happy with our effort tonight and the last few games. We’ve got to kept it going.

“I could have had a couple of more (goals) and our line played a lot better tonight. We talked about having more offensive-zone time and I was better cycling the puck and moving it around and getting the puck to the net,”

And appeasing a fan base that wanted a win as bad as the players created quite the atmosphere.

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“Especially on that tying goal, you could hear how loud they were,” added Boeser. “They were into the game all night and we definitely feel the support.”

Is the longest-serving current Canuck captain material? Maybe. Boeser certainly understands demands of this market, is well spoken and well respected. And he’s playing better on a line with Rossi and Ohgren because he’s invested both on and off the ice.

“He’s so good at going into the extra meeting that maybe he doesn’t need in supporting the line and helping them out,” said Foote. “It’s helping Marco and Liam get there quicker.”

And there’s another talking point to keep fans invested.

Those were much different days

The last time the Canucks faced the Predators, they eked out a wild 5-4 overtime victory in Music City on Nov. 3. Boeser scored his second goal with two seconds remaining in the 3-on-3 skills show on a backhander touch from in tight.

Evander Kane had two goals and Jake DeBrusk also struck while Thatcher Demko made 25 saves as the Canucks won for the third time in five games to climb back to .500 at 7-7-0. They could dare to dream of better times.

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After all, Boeser had six shots, Quinn Hughes also had six shots and eight attempts and so did DeBrusk. And for good measure, Kiefer Sherwood delivered five heavy hits to go with four shots and five attempts, while Marcus Pettersson backed four shots.

That was then. This is now. And who knows what the future will bring.

Marcus Pettersson (29) provides some pushback for the Vancouver Canucks against the Nashville Predators’ Justin Barron (20) during the second period at Rogers Arena on Thursday night Photo by Ethan Cairns /THE CANADIAN PRESSREPORT CARDS

Evander Kane (C)

Denied down low on set up with slick Pettersson pass. Two shots.

Elias Pettersson (C+)

Dipsy-doodle D-zone escape, eight shot attempts, 82 per cent on dot.

Drew O’Connor (C+)

Hustled. Stopped on breakaway, sprung Kane, lost handle on drive.

Liam Ohgren (B-)

Speed, patience to find time, space. Four shots, eight attempts.

Marco Rossi (B-)

Got into it with Jost, scored to make it 3-2, 82 per cent in circle.

Brock Boeser (B)

Solid. Last tip on deflections to score. Four shots, five attempts.

Max Sasson (C)

Move to wing works. Good off rush, forecheck. Grade A chance.

Teddy Blueger (C+)

Very effective. Caused chaos on forecheck with Sasson, Karlsson.

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Linus Karlsson (C+)

Strong forechecking first period, tried toe-drag, sprung on break.

Curtis Douglas (C)

Started passing sequence for Boeser Grade A chance. Took minor.

Aatu Raty (C+)

Nose for the net. Chance at side, shot off the flank. Three shots.

Jake DeBrusk (C)

Was going quietly into night, Hard to find. Then pops shootout winner.

(D-Petey) Pettersson (C)

On offensive-zone pinch, nearly scored on a feed from Sasson.

Filip Hronek (B)

Started first goal sequence, three blocks, three attempts. Equalizer.

Marcus Pettersson (C)

More dependable. Wasn’t losing board battles, position, or his check.

Tom Willander (C+)

Skated free. Aggressive in all zones, better game awareness.

Zeev Buium (C)

Lost handle on deke at crease. Lost check on Preds’ first goal.

Victor Mancini (C)

Hustled in retreat to physically break up scoring rush. Two hits.

Nikita Tolopilo (C+)

Two weird goals. Stopped breakaway in third to keep club in it.

bkuzma@postmedia.com

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