Canucks shut out Kings in first game since firing coach, GM

VANCOUVER --Bruce Boudreau won his first game as coach of the Vancouver Canucks, 4-0 against the Los Angeles Kings at Rogers Arena on Monday.

Thatcher Demko made 31 saves, and Brock Boeser and J.T. Miller each scored a goal and an assist for the Canucks (9-15-2), who were playing their first game since Boudreau was hired to replace Travis Green on Sunday.
"Good goalies make good coaches," Boudreau said. "He's been playing good all year, so it's good he got rewarded with a shutout."
Boudreau, who last coached with four seasons for the Minnesota Wild before being fired on Feb. 14, 2020, said he expected the Canucks to come out with a lot of energy.
"It usually happens when a new coach comes in. I hope it doesn't stop," he said. "I just keep telling them that they're good players. I've always thought they were good players. They've got to start believing that they're good players. And when they do that, they'll be fine."

Along with Green, Vancouver also fired general manager Jim Benning, assistant general manager John Weisbrod and assistant coach Nolan Baumgartner. Stan Smyl was promoted to general manager and Scott Walker hired as an assistant coach.
"It's just a weird day," Demko said after his first shutout of the season and second in the NHL. "It's something I've never been through as a player. Travis and [Baumgartner] and Jim have been around since I turned pro, so it was a weird day. That's the only way I can describe it.
"Obviously, you never want to see that happen but a decision was made and you can feel Bruce's energy right away."
Cal Petersen made 26 saves for the Kings (10-10-4), who were playing the second of a back-to-back after a 5-1 win at the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday. Los Angeles is 2-5-3 in its past 10 games following a seven-game winning streak.
"The guys played really well last night in Edmonton. We didn't play near as well here, but sometimes you got to tip your hat to the opposition," Kings coach Todd McLellan said. "They really played a good game. We knew we were going to get that from them and we couldn't match up."
Boeser, who had a long talk with Boudreau at the morning skate about shooting more and passing less, ended a 13-game goal drought to put the Canucks ahead 1-0 at 3:17 of the second period. Boeser's first goal since Nov. 7 came on a one-timer from inside the right face-off dot that deflected in off the skate of Kings defenseman Drew Doughty during a power play.
"I've had some good chances over this drought, hitting posts and crossbars, and that's the one that goes in," Boeser said. "It's crazy how this game works."

Demko made two tough in-tight saves on Viktor Arvidsson before Conor Garland made it 2-0 at 5:43. Vasily Podkolzin's shot went wide, pulling Petersen out of position, and Garland tucked the puck inside the right post.
"They were playing for first impression and they played well," McLellan said. "But we have to answer the bell better than we did."
Elias Pettersson, who had an assist, shot wide on a penalty shot at 16:43, but Juho Lammikko, who was a healthy scratch the previous five games, scored his first goal of the season following a turnover by Rasmus Kupari at 6:59 of the third period to make it 3-0.
"The backbreaker was obviously the third goal, which is preventable," McLellan said. "Anything can happen in the NHL, but at that point, the way they were playing and the way we were playing, it was the nail in the coffin."
Miller made it 4-0 with a one-timer off a pass from Boeser on the power play at 12:48.
"[Boudreau] gave me [heck] for that one," Boeser said of passing instead of shooting.
Defenseman Alexander Edler was playing his first game against Vancouver since signing with Los Angeles as a free agent on July 28. He spent his first 15 seasons with the Canucks and received a standing ovation when he was honored on the scoreboard in the first period.
"This is a great building to play in, a great city to play in and the fans are great, so that was a special moment for me and I'm always forever thankful for what this city has done for me," Edler said.
NOTES: Canucks defenseman Travis Hamonic had two shots, two hits and three blocked shots in 17:35 of ice time after being recalled from Abbotsford of the American Hockey League earlier Monday. … Pettersson has scored 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in eight games against the Kings, Boeser has scored 13 points (eight goals, five assists) in 11 games, and Miller has scored 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in 14 games. … Vancouver is 6-0-0 when Miller has a multipoint game this season.