Minten scores in overtime, Boston Bruins top Vancouver Canucks 3-2

Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen (32) stops Boston Bruins' David Pastrnak (88) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

VANCOUVER — Fraser Minten scored with 19 seconds left in overtime and the Boston Bruins edged the Canucks 3-2 in Vancouver on Saturday.

Minten, playing his first NHL game in his hometown, opened the scoring for the Bruins (22-18-2) in the first period with a power-play goal in front of dozens of family and friends.

Elias Lindholm also scored on the man advantage for Boston, David Pastrnak had two assists, and Jeremy Swayman stopped 31 of the 33 shots he faced.

It was the Bruins’ second straight win after losing six games in a row (0-4-2).

The Canucks (16-20-5) got a goal and an assist from Filip Hronek, while Elias Pettersson scored and Kevin Lankinen made 18 saves.

Vancouver was coming off a 4-3 shootout loss to the Seattle Kraken on Friday, but outshot the visitors 33-20 and outhit them 35-18.

TAKEAWAYS

Canucks: Less than 24 hours after going 2-for-3 on the power play against Seattle, Vancouver’s special teams struggled. The home side went 1-for-6 with the man advantage and gave up goals on 2-of-3 penalties it took across the game.

Bruins: Minten said after Saturday’s morning skate that he expected between 50 and 100 loved ones to be in the stands for the game. Dozens of fans clad in Bruins jerseys erupted in cheers when the 21-year-old centre scored on a one-timer from the middle of the slot 16:24 into the game.

KEY MOMENT

Hronek threw a pass toward Linus Karlsson at the top of the crease and the puck hit Bruins defenceman Charlie McAvoy in the shin, sending it sailing in past Swayman for a power-play goal that knotted the score at 2-2 at the 18:44 mark of the second period.

KEY STAT

Vancouver will go six full weeks without a win on home ice. The Canucks last had a victory at Rogers Arena on Dec. 6 when they beat the Minnesota Wild 4-2, and they won’t play at the rink again until Jan. 17 when they host the Edmonton Oilers.

UP NEXT

Bruins: Visit the Kraken in Seattle on Tuesday.

Canucks: Kick off a six-game road trip against the Sabres in Buffalo on Tuesday.

This report by Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press, was first published Jan. 3, 2026.