New York. Elias Peterson broke Vancouver’s heavy losing streak last night – with a Foppa penalty.
– I’m happy and proud, says trainer Bruce Boudreau, who may have been saved from expulsion by an “EP” wizard.
For a long time it looked like it was going to be business as usual and, as expected, in Vancouver’s away game against the Carolina Hurricanes.
The first in the Metropolitan Division went 2-0 in the first period and dominated the long-distance visitors – who also played last night, in Florida, then suffered their fourth straight loss.
Then the Canucks caught up — only to see Finn star Sebastian Ahu edge Carolina 3-2 with three minutes remaining in normal time.
– But our men refused to surrender. Keep fighting, coach Bruce Boudreau says afterwards.
“happy and proud”
And he was rewarded for that war. When only 17 seconds remained, Brock Bowser equalized again – and during the penalty drama that eventually followed, Elias Peterson decided with the classic and insanely delicious variation, which Peter Forsberg learned from Kenta Nilsson and which he later famously used in the Olympic final in 1994.
– I am happy and proud of the players. This is a great group that really wants to win and have come so many times without ever succeeding. Tonight we played well, especially in the third half, and I think we deserved to win, Boudreau continues.
“not easy…”
Who is certainly happy for another reason. If his team suffers even a fifth straight loss, it’s not certain he’ll still have the job this morning. Rumors have been circulating for some time that “BB,” who personally took over when Travis Green was fired last year, could be replaced at any time by Rick Touchett.
– Of course, we all hear this noise and it is not easy for either Bruce or us, says team captain Bo Horvat.
– But we keep fighting for it. He is a good person and a good coach and I can guarantee that everyone wants to play with him.
Unfortunately, the joy last night was overshadowed by the news that former Canucks forward and fan favorite Gino Odjic died as a result of a heart attack during the evening, at just 52 years old.
– He did incredibly much not just for the club but for the whole of Vancouver and will be sorely missed, Horvat notes.
In New York, the Montreal Canadiens showed that, despite a gloomy table setting, they can still play hockey really well – and even defeat the heavy favourites.
They were clearly fitter, hungrier and sharper than Rangers and won 2-1.
“Against teams like that, you have to take advantage of mistakes and that’s what we did,” says match hero Cole Coffield.
The Winnipeg Jets had to work hard to defeat Arizona but in the end won 2-1, passing the Vegas Golden Knights at the top of the Western Conference.