The Canadian Press
Gemma Karstens-Smith
VANCOUVER–Coach Travis Green says his Vancouver Canucks were in need of a victory as they headed into their home opener.
The squad had dropped their first two games of the season and with so many new faces in the room, a positive result could have a big impact, he said.
The Canucks (1-2-0) answered the call with a decisive 8-2 win over the L.A. Kings last night.
“We needed a win. Not necessarily because it was two losses. You just want to get a win,” Green said after the victory. “And when you have a new group as well you’re not expecting to score eight goals. We’ll take it.”
The contest marked milestones for a number of Canucks.
The club named centre Bo Horvat as the franchise’s 14th captain before the puck dropped. Forward J.T. Miller scored and had three assists, registering the first regular-season four-point night. Chris Tanev registered his 100th point in the league.
Rookie Quinn Hughes buried his first NHL goal on the power play 5:26 into the first period. He wound and sent a slapshot flying from the point, sending the puck soaring past Kings’ netminder Jonathan Quick.
“It’s something I have been thinking about for a long time, just to get that one under my belt,” said the 19-year-old defenceman.
“I’ve told everyone from the start I’m going to try to get better every game and from game 30 I will be a different player. I feel really good right now.”
Seven different Vancouver players found the back of the net yesterday.
Brandon Sutter had two goals and an assist for the Canucks, while Tanev tallied a goal and a helper. Elias Pettersson, Josh Leivo and Alex Edler also scored.
The team has been playing well, despite settling for losses in the first two outings, so it was “only a matter of time before the flood gate opened,” Miller said.
“We continue to do a lot of good things. I don’t want people thinking that we lost the first two games, it’s a bad start,” he said. “I think we felt really comfortable and confident after those games coming into this one. It’s nice to see the pucks finally start to go in.”
Miller, who was dealt to Vancouver from Tampa Bay in June, got his first goal in a Canucks’ jersey midway through the second period yesterday.
He sent a back-handed pass into traffic from below the goal line, and the puck ricocheted off L.A.’s Ilya Kovalchuk and into the net.
“A couple lucky bounces, a couple of good plays made by other players,” Miller said of his performance. “So it’s nice to see that happen. But at the same time, you’re not worried about [personal performances]. To get the first win here on home ice felt really good tonight.”
Canucks netminder Jacob Markstrom faced a barrage of shots and made 37 saves.
In other NHL action last night, Buffalo downed Montreal 5-4 (OT) and Philadelphia blanked New Jersey 4-0.
