Canucks Strengthen Lead Atop Pacific
DeSmith Stops 32 in 3-1 Win Over Blue Jackets
Vancouver Extends Points Streak to Four Games
VANCOUVER, B.C. - Casey DeSmith made 32 saves and the Vancouver Canucks strengthened their lead atop the Pacific Division with a 3-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday night.
Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser and Andrei Kuzmenko scored for the Canucks (32-15-3), who have won four straight and are now seven points ahead of the Seattle Kraken in the division standings.
Gustav Nyquist scored the lone goal for the Blue Jackets (20-22-5), who have lost three in a row.
DeSmith was sharp all night, making several key saves to keep the Canucks in the game. He was especially good in the third period, when the Blue Jackets had a number of good chances to tie the game.
The Canucks got on the board first when Pettersson scored a power-play goal midway through the first period. Boeser made it 2-0 early in the second period, and Kuzmenko added an insurance goal late in the third.
Elvis Merzlikins made 31 saves for the Blue Jackets, but he was unable to match DeSmith's performance.
The Canucks will be back in action on Sunday when they host the San Jose Sharks. The Blue Jackets will return home to face the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday.
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