VANCOUVER – With dozens of household and mates within the stands, Fraser Minten performed hero towards his hometown workforce Saturday night time.
The 21-year-old centre muscled in a shot from the highest of the crease with 19 seconds left in additional time to raise the Boston Bruins to a 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks.
It was Minten’s second objective of the night time — one which marked his first NHL recreation at Rogers Area.
“You may’t describe a greater script,” mentioned Bruins head coach Marco Sturm.
“He’s a younger child rising up right here simply across the nook, and begging for tickets simply to see the Canucks play, and what a recreation he had at present. Not simply two objectives, however general, simply very joyful for him and his household. I feel he had like 100 individuals in at present so couldn’t be a greater night time for the child.”
Chosen by the Toronto Maple Leafs within the second spherical of the 2022 draft, Minten had already logged 65 regular-season NHL video games going into Saturday’s contest.
However none of them had taken place in Vancouver.
The younger Bruin introduced a big part of the decrease bowl to their toes late within the first interval when, stationed in the midst of the slot, he blasted a one-timer in previous Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen on an influence play late within the first interval.
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Minten celebrated by dropping to 1 knee with an enthusiastic fist pump.
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Requested what his nine-year-old self may consider the second, Minten was quick on phrases.
“Wouldn’t consider it, in all probability,” he mentioned.
“It’s actually cool for me, and actually cool for all my mates, too. All of them grew up with me, dreaming of the identical factor. So to get to do it right here, hopefully they’re all watching.”
Boston (22-18-2) acquired Minten — a fourth-round choose within the 2025 draft and a conditional first-round choice in 2026 — from Toronto for defenceman Brandon Carlo on the commerce deadline in March.
Minten’s portion of the deal has paid off this season.
The six-foot-two, 204-pound ahead now has eight objectives and 9 assists for the Bruins, and has averaged 14:44 in ice time throughout the primary 42 video games.
“He’s a child that introduced it. He didn’t actually should be taught a lot. He’s on this league for a purpose, and he carries himself like a professional,” mentioned Boston goalie Jeremy Swayman.
“He’s placing himself in nice positions as a result of one: he’s an elite participant. Two: he’s an incredible teammate. And three: he works the bag off. He’s a Bruin by way of and thru and he’s a man that we wish in our locker room, and he’s going to hold this tradition for a very long time.”
Minten’s additionally earned the teaching employees’s belief, Sturm mentioned, which is why he was on the ice in additional time Saturday.
“Belief normally comes with time, and he gave me that,” the coach mentioned. “So it’s extra of him than me. I’m simply the fool who’s going to place him on the ice, so he deserves every thing.
“(I) give him numerous credit score … There’s nights it doesn’t work, however I’m glad he had that one, and he’s gonna bear in mind this one for a protracted, very long time.”
BACK-TO-BACK
The Canucks (16-20-5) have been coming off a 4-3 shootout loss to the Seattle Kraken on Friday, however outshot the Bruins 33-21 and outhit them 35-18.
“Clearly you’re extra drained on back-to-backs, however I feel our strategy needs to be the identical each recreation,” mentioned defenceman Filip Hronek, who had a objective and an help Saturday.
“Now we have to only maintain constructing on it and take the positives from this recreation.”
HOME ICE DISADVANTAGE
Vancouver’s woes at Rogers Area proceed because the workforce’s residence document fell to 4-12-3.
The Canucks haven’t gained a house recreation since Dec. 6, after they beat the Minnesota Wild 4-2.
They gained’t have a possibility to alter the narrative any time quickly, both, because the squad doesn’t play one other residence recreation till Jan. 17, after they host the Edmonton Oilers.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Jan. 4, 2026.
© 2026 The Canadian Press
