Fraser Minten scored two goals, including the overtime winner, as the Boston Bruins defeated the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 at Rogers Arena on January 3, 2026. The 21-year-old rookie delivered a hometown performance in front of family and friends. Jeremy Swayman made 31 saves in the victory.
VANCOUVER -- In a thrilling overtime finish, Fraser Minten chipped in a rebound on his backhand with 19 seconds left to secure a 3-2 win for the Boston Bruins against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on Saturday. Minten, playing his first NHL game in his hometown, also opened the scoring on a power-play wrist shot at 16:24 of the first period, beating goalie Kevin Lankinen through the blocker side.
The Canucks tied it early in the second when Elias Pettersson's shot deflected off Filip Hronek's pass and into the net at 0:48. Boston regained the lead at 7:25 on Elias Lindholm's tap-in from a David Pastrnak pass during another power play. But Hronek evened it at 18:44 when his cross-ice pass deflected off Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy.
Swayman preserved the tie with a pad save on Jake DeBrusk's rebound late in the second. Pastrnak earned two assists, contributing to his eight points over the last six games. The Bruins, now 22-18-2, have won two straight after a 0-4-2 skid, including a 6-2 win at Edmonton on Wednesday.
For Minten, acquired from Toronto on March 7 in exchange for defenseman Brandon Carlo and two draft picks, the night was special. Growing up walking distance from the arena, he had 50-100 family members and friends in attendance, many wearing Bruins or Kamloops Blazers jerseys. "Lots of happiness. Happy to win, happy to do it here," Minten said. Bruins coach Marco Sturm called it "a better script" for the young forward, who centers the third line and has 15 points in 42 games.
The Canucks, 16-20-5, fell to 1-3-2 in their last six after a shootout loss to Seattle on Friday. Pettersson scored their other goal, while Lankinen stopped 18 shots. Boston went 2-for-2 on the power play; Vancouver 1-for-6. "We deserved better today," Hronek said, emphasizing the need to build on their forecheck.
