Brock Boeser breaks 3rd-period tie in the Canucks' 2-1 victory over the Maple Leafs

Brock Boeser breaks 3rd-period tie in the Canucks’ 2-1 victory over the Maple Leafs

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Vancouver Canucks’ Filip Hronek (17) celebrates after his goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen stops the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen (32) stops Toronto Maple Leafs’ Steven Lorentz (18) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025.(Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Toronto Maple Leafs’ Morgan Rielly (44) celebrates after his goal with teammate Oliver Ekman-Larsson (95) as Vancouver Canucks’ Teddy Blueger (53) skates past during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen (32) stops the puck as Canucks’ Derek Forbort (27) and Toronto Maple Leafs’ John Tavares (91) watch during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko (35) stops the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Second from left to right, Team Canada Invictus athlete Lee Jarrat, Vancouver Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini, Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, and Team Canada Invictus athlete Andre Crocker drop the puck for Toronto Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews (34) and Canucks’ Tyler Myers (57) prior to an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Vancouver Canucks’ Brock Boeser (6) skates with the puck as Toronto Maple Leafs’ Mitch Marner (16) defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Vancouver Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini, left, looks on as Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, shakes hands with Toronto Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews (34) before an NHL hockey game against the Canucks in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Vancouver Canucks’ Carson Soucy (7) and Toronto Maple Leafs’ William Nylander (88) vie for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Vancouver Canucks’ Marcus Pettersson (29) lifts Toronto Maple Leafs’ Philippe Myers’ (51) stick as Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen (32) watches during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Toronto Maple Leafs’ Pontus Holmberg (29) and Vancouver Canucks’ Brock Boeser (6) vie for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Brock Boeser broke a tie on a power play at 8:56 of the third period and the Vancouver Canucks held on to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 on Saturday night in the final game for both teams before the 4 Nations Face-Off break.

Defenseman Filip Hronek had a goal and an assist for Vancouver. The Canucks have won three straight and six of eight to improve to 26-18-11.

Morgan Rielly scored for the Toronto. The Maple Leafs dropped to 33-20-2, losing for the first time on a four-game Pacific Division swing.

Thatcher Demko started in goal for the Canucks and played 10 minutes, stopping all six shots he faced, He was replaced by backup Lankinen, who made 21 saves.

Toronto goalie Joseph Woll made 23 saves.

Prince Harry, in Vancouver for the opening of the 2025 Invictus Games, dropped the puck before the game.

Takeaways

Canucks: The Canucks played without defenseman Quinn Hughes who skated in the morning but missed his fourth straight game with an undisclosed injury.

Maple Leafs: Auston Matthew’s assist on Rielly’s goal was his seventh in the last three games.

Key moment

With just 1:57 left and Toronto on a power play, Lankinen slid across the crease to make a diving save to stop on Matthews’ shot.

Key stat

The Canucks are 10-1-0 in their last 11 home games against the Maple Leafs.

Up next

Both teams are off until Feb. 22 when the Maple Leafs host Carolina, and Canucks are at Vegas.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl