Canucks Win, But Lose Brock Boeser

Canucks winger Brock Boeser left Thursday night’s game in Los Angeles at the 10:44 mark of the first period after Kings forward Tanner Jeannot landed a direct shoulder-to-head hit.

Jeannot was given a five-minute match penalty and tossed from the game.

Vancouver scored one goal on the ensuing, elongated power play. Conor Garland earned credit for the tally. He was the last Vancouver player to touch the puck before Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper accidentally backhanded it into his own net.

Jeannot’s infraction brings an automatic league review which could mean supplemental discipline.

Not long after the injury, the Canucks announced that Boeser wouldn’t return.

Boeser entered the match averaging a point-a-game over his last five games.

“Brock’s a big part of our team, a big chunk,” Vancouver head coach Rick Tocchet said postgame. “I thought guys did a nice job filling in. I had to play some different guys up there, so I hope Brock is OK.”

Despite the standard NHL coaching denial, Tocchet would know the extent of Boeser’s injury by the time he spoke to the media. In fact, likely in the 1st intermission. He added this about the hit itself.

“Yeah, I’ve gotta take a look at it. Obviously it’s a dangerous play and I hope, I think, I don’t know how Brock is, because I haven’t seen him, but we’ll see when I talk to him. But yeah, it’s a tough play.”

Vancouver won the 4-2, completing a three game road sweep of the NHL’s California teams. They beat the Sharks on Saturday night and the Ducks on Tuesday.