Final: Canucks 5, Bruins 4 F/SO - Bruins lose back-and-forth shootout game

The Boston Bruins lose their first post-regulation game in a back-and-forth shootout to the Vancouver Canucks.

This was a winnable game. The Bruins held a lead multiple times, but a strong third period by Vancouver kept them neck-and-neck until the very end.

In the first period, Boston drew first blood on the power play. Tyler Myers went to the box for hooking, and Morgan Geekie fired a one-timer goal for his 25th of the season.

Boston played a strong first period, but they ended the period sour as the Canucks tied the game with 15 seconds remaining. Vancouver forechecked well in Boston's defensive zone, and Max Sasson scored in front of the net to even the period heading into intermission.

Michael Eyssimont received a high-sticking penalty early into the second period, and the Canucks took the lead on the man advantage. Vancouver dumped the puck, and poor positioning from Jeremy Swayman lead to a goal from Linus Karlsson.

However, the Bruins responded midway through the period to retake the lead. Pavel Zacha tied it up after two great passing plays from Casey Mittelstadt and Nikita Zadorov.

And three minutes later, Tanner Jeannot put the B's in front on a one-timer off an incredible pass from Mark Kastelic.

In the third period, the Canucks responded and retook the lead off great offensive chances. 

Karlsson sniped a goal past the left shoulder of Swayman for his second goal of the game, and Liam Ohgren followed with a tipped shot off a one-timer to make it 4-3 Vancouver. 

The Bruins had limited time to tie the game again. With less than four minutes remaining, Andrew Peeke kept the puck inside Boston's offensive zone, and he fired a shot off the post to send the game into overtime.

Boston spent the majority of overtime in Vancouver's zone, but they weren't able to get any goals past Kevin Lankinen, bringing the game into a shootout.

In the shootout, Swayman and Lankinen stopped six consecutive saves. But in the seventh round, Ohgen scored the only goal of the shootout to give the Canucks the victory.

A tough way to lose this game, and the Canucks were able to get it done when it mattered most. With the Eastern Conference race narrowing down early, getting that extra point would've been beneficial for Boston, but now they sit at 1-1-1 three games into their home stand.

Tomorrow, the Bruins play again as they take on the Ottawa Senators to continue the home stand. Puck drop will again be at 7 p.m.

__________________________

WHO: Bruins (20-15-0) at Canucks (14-17-3)
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: TD Garden, Boston
TV: NESN
RADIO: 98.5-FM The Sports Hub

PROJECTED LINES

Boston

Khusnutdinov - E. Lindholm - Pastrnak

Mittelstadt - Zacha - Geekie

Jeannot - Minten - Kastelic

Viel - Kuraly - Eyssimont

Zadorov - McAvoy

H. Lindholm - Peeke

Lohrei - Soderstrom

Swayman

Korpisalo

Vancouver

Garland - Rossi - Boeser

Kane - Sasson - Sherwood

Hogland - Kampf - Debrusk

Ohgren - O'Connor - Karlsson

Petterson - Hronek

Buium - Myers

Nils Pettersson - Willander

Demko

Lankinen

PREGAME NOTES

The Boston Bruins continue their home stand against the Vancouver Canucks after Thursday's loss against the Oilers.

Boston heads into this game switching up their forward lines. Marat Khusnutdinov moves up to the first line with Elias Lindholm and David Pastrnak. Alex Steeves is scratched and Jeffrey Viel returns to the lineup on the fourth line. 

“Obviously, Steeves is out of the lineup, so we had to make a little bit of an adjustment,” Marco Sturm said “We just went back with Kuzy on the first line just to give them a little bit more jump. Make those other lines more even.”