The Vancouver Canucks delivered one of their most thrilling moments of the season Thursday night, staging a dramatic late comeback before Jake DeBrusk sealed a 4–3 shootout victory over the Nashville Predators at Rogers Arena.
Trailing by two goals with less than five minutes remaining in regulation, Vancouver stunned the home crowd with a late surge. Marco Rossi and Filip Hronek scored in the final minutes to force overtime, before DeBrusk netted the only goal in the shootout to secure the win.
Despite sitting at the bottom of the NHL standings, the Canucks showed resilience and energy in a performance that highlighted the potential of their emerging young core.
Canucks Spark Comeback in Final Minutes
The night began with a strong opening period for Vancouver. Brock Boeser put the Canucks ahead early, finishing off a deflected point shot from Hronek that Marco Rossi also tipped on its way toward the net.
However, Nashville responded and built a 3–1 lead heading into the final period, putting Vancouver in a difficult position late in the game.
With just over four minutes remaining in regulation, Rossi ignited the comeback by scoring his seventh goal of the season. Moments later, Hronek tied the game with a powerful shot that electrified the Rogers Arena crowd and forced overtime.
The momentum carried into the shootout, where DeBrusk calmly beat Predators goaltender Juuse Saros to give Vancouver the victory.
The comeback marked just the fifth time in franchise history that the Canucks erased a multi-goal deficit to win a game — and only the second such comeback since 2000.
Marco Rossi Shines in Breakout Performance
Rossi played a key role in Vancouver’s comeback, recording his first three-point night with the team. The 24-year-old centre scored once and added two assists in his 16th game with the Canucks after joining the club in the return package from the December Quinn Hughes trade.
“I felt really good,” Rossi said after the game. “The bounces were maybe more on our side tonight. My linemates Brock and Liam made it easy for me.”
The trio of Rossi, Boeser and rookie winger Liam Ohgren has started to develop strong chemistry in recent games. Over the past five contests, Rossi has recorded two goals and four assists, while Boeser has contributed four goals and an assist.
According to Boeser, improved puck possession helped the line generate more offensive chances.
“We talked about getting more time in the offensive zone,” Boeser said. “Cycling the puck, moving it around and getting the puck to the net made a difference.”
Young Core Providing Optimism for Vancouver
Even with the win, the rebuilding Canucks remain last in the NHL standings with a 20-37-8 record and 48 points. Vancouver trails the Calgary Flames by 11 points for the second-last spot.
Still, victories like Thursday’s offer encouragement for a team focused on development and growth.
Hronek, who has taken on a larger leadership role as several veterans have departed, emphasized how important wins are for the younger players on the roster.
“We have a lot of young guys,” Hronek said. “It’s important for them to experience wins and understand what it takes to play the right way every night.”
Head coach Adam Foote also credited the Rogers Arena crowd for energizing the team during the late comeback.
“When we made it 3-2, the energy in the building really pushed us,” Foote said. “Once we tied it, the place got loud and our players fed off that.”
Predators Frustrated After Losing Late Lead
For Nashville, the loss was a frustrating setback in a tight Western Conference playoff race. The Predators earned one point in the standings but squandered a late two-goal lead.
Head coach Andrew Brunette admitted his team did not deliver its best effort.
“Grateful to get a point — we probably didn’t deserve one,” Brunette said. “We had some young guys bringing energy, but too many passengers tonight.”
The Predators now sit tied with the Seattle Kraken and Los Angeles Kings at 67 points, just behind the San Jose Sharks, who currently hold the second wild-card playoff spot with 68 points.
What’s Next
The Canucks will look to build on their momentum when they host the Seattle Kraken on Saturday night at Rogers Arena.
Meanwhile, Nashville continues its West Coast road trip Sunday with a matchup against the Edmonton Oilers.
For Vancouver, the win may not change their place in the standings, but it delivered something the fan base has been waiting for this season — a thrilling comeback and a glimpse of a promising future.
