Rangers Rout Canucks 5-1 as Hometown Kid Gawdin Scores First Two NHL Goals; Canucks Lose Seventh Straight

The Vancouver Canucks lost 5-1 to the New York Rangers at Rogers Arena on Friday night (November 13), dropping a seventh straight game and an eighth straight at home — a franchise record. Richmond native Glenn Gawdin scored his first two NHL goals in his 15th NHL game to lead the Rangers to the win. (File photo: the Rangers and Canucks in action at Rogers Arena. Image: NHL.)

Pettersson opens the scoring; Boeser hits 500 points

The Canucks started well: at 12:13 of the first period, Elias Pettersson deflected Zeev Buium's long-range shot past the goalie to open the scoring — his first even-strength goal since January 13. Brock Boeser picked up an assist on the play to reach 500 career points (233 goals, 267 assists), becoming the eighth player in franchise history to hit the milestone, in his 650th game. Gabe Perreault tied it 1-1 at 18:47 of the first.

Four goals in the second settle it

The Rangers scored four times in the second period to take over. Oliver Bjorkstrand put them ahead 2-1 on the power play at 8:21; Gawdin, 29, pounced on a clearing error by Canucks goalie Leevi Meriläinen at 13:00 for his first NHL goal, making it 3-1; Alexis Lafrenière scored at 15:14, and Gawdin struck again at 16:10, deflecting in Vladislav Gavrikov's point shot to complete his two-goal night. Rangers goalie Dylan Garand made 27 saves; Meriläinen stopped 25 of 30 shots.

One win in 18 games for Vancouver

The Canucks fell to 3-17-1, losers of seven straight and just 1-16-1 in their last 18 games, with the eight-game home losing streak setting a franchise record. Gawdin, from Richmond, B.C., had been called up from the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack; this was his second NHL game of the season and 15th overall. The Rangers improved to 12-8-1, winners of five of their last six. Vancouver visits Las Vegas on Sunday; the Rangers host Montreal on Monday.