NASHVILLE — Brock Boeser put together the best postseason performance of his NHL career at the perfect moment for the Vancouver Canucks.
Boeser posted his first hat trick in the Stanley Cup playoffs, and then Elias Lindholm scored 1:02 into overtime as the Canucks stunned the Nashville Predators 4-3 on Sunday night, grabbing a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series to put the Tennessee team on the brink of a first-round exit.
Lindholm beat goalie Juuse Saros over his stick with a wrister from just in front of the crease off a pass from Conor Garland.
“I was wide open right in front,” Lindholm said. “So, I mean, obviously we scored a goal and got kind of relief, and a lot of emotions and lost my voice a little bit. But it’s a good feeling.”
Boeser scored on Vancouver’s first shot and got the Canucks into overtime, finding the net twice in the final 2:49. His third came with eight seconds left in regulation to quiet a crowd that celebrated much of the third period. Boeser said he knew time was ticking down after he hit the post and had the puck again.