Jake DeBrusk’s Shootout Goal Secures Canucks’ 4-3 Victory

The Vancouver Canucks triumphed over the Nashville Predators with a thrilling 4-3 victory on March 12, 2026, at Rogers Arena. The Canucks secured their seventh home win of the season thanks to a strong third period and a decisive shootout goal by Jake DeBrusk.

In an electrifying match, Brock Boeser, Marco Rossi, and Filip Hronek scored for Vancouver, while Tyson Jost netted two goals for Nashville. Rookie Matthew Wood also contributed, scoring in his first NHL game at Rogers Arena. Juuse Saros played a pivotal role for the Predators, making 23 saves, while Nikita Tolopilo stopped 16 shots for the Canucks.

The Canucks started the game strong, opening the scoring at 8:40 of the first period. A double-tip from a Hronek shot, first by Rossi and then by Boeser, found its way past Saros. However, the excitement was short-lived as the Predators equalized when Justin Barron capitalized on a turnover by Tolopilo, allowing Jost to score his fifth goal of the season.

In the second period, Jost gave Nashville their first lead, deftly retrieving a puck after a shot by Roman Josi went wide and slotting it past Tolopilo. Wood later extended the Predators’ lead to 3-1 after his centring pass deflected off the skate of Canucks forward Liam Ohgren and into the net.

The Canucks ignited their comeback in the third period. Rossi scored with just 4:05 remaining, snapping a rebound past Saros to energize the crowd at Rogers Arena. With Tolopilo pulled for an extra skater, Hronek tied the game at 3-3 with only 1:01 left in regulation, pushing the match into overtime.

In the shootout, DeBrusk emerged as the hero, scoring the only goal while Tolopilo stopped all three shooters he faced, ensuring the Canucks’ victory.

Game Highlights and Player Performances

Boeser’s goal marked his 16th of the season and his fourth in five games. Evander Kane returned to the lineup after missing one game due to upper-body discomfort. For Nashville, Jost recorded his first multi-goal game since joining the team and has now scored three goals in his last two games. Additionally, Wood has four goals in his last four outings, extending his point streak to four games.

Key Takeaways and Future Outlook

This victory was crucial for the Canucks, as it ended a five-game losing streak at home (0-3-2), though they remain at the bottom of the NHL standings with a home record of 7-20-5. The Predators, with 17 games remaining, continue to vie for a wild-card spot in the playoffs, alongside three other teams in the Western Conference.

Upcoming matches will see the Predators visit the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday, while the Canucks are set to host the Seattle Kraken on Saturday.

This report was first published by The Canadian Press.