Game 1 against the Nashville Predators was Brock Boeser's first NHL Playoffs game in front of fans.
Game 1 against the Nashville Predators was Brock Boeser's first NHL Playoffs game in front of fans.
After eight years, Brock Boeser finally had the opportunity to play a Stanley Cup Playoffs game in front of fans. The winger celebrated the occasion with an assist as the Vancouver Canucks took Game 1 of their first-round series against the Nashville Predators. While the Canucks played a good game, most of the conversation postgame and the day after revolved around the fans and the atmosphere they provided throughout the night.
For fans in Vancouver, watching an NHL playoff game live is something that hasn't happened in nine years. While the team has made the playoffs since 2015, fans were not allowed in the building as it happened during the 2020 bubble playoffs. For Boeser, who is the longest-serving Canucks player, experiencing the atmosphere created by the fans was a special moment he won't forget.
"I think the fans were a little crazier than I expected, so that was awesome," said Boeser. "I think it was just a whirlwind of a night, and I'm just happy that we got that one."
Despite entering the third period down by one, Vancouver was able to come back thanks to a pair of goals by Pius Suter and Dakota Joshua in the span of 12 seconds. The Canucks then shut down the Predators for the rest of the third, capturing their first win of the playoffs. It was an emotional moment for both the fans and the players, which, as Boeser revealed, caused some issues with his sleep on Monday night.
"I was pretty wired. Probably the worst sleep I've gotten in a while."
At points in Game 1, it was almost impossible to have a conversation at Rogers Arena. It didn't matter if Vancouver was down by one or up by one; the fans provided an emotional boost that, according to multiple players, played a factor in the Canucks win. As Boeser points out, it was an experience the team could learn from, and they know now how to embrace heading into Game 2.
"I think just thinking about how the building was gonna be and all that, and now we know what to expect. We know how the other team is, and I think we can all kind of take a deep breath here and really just focus on our game. "
With Game 1 now in the rearview mirror, Vancouver now turns their focus to an important Game 2 on Tuesday. A win would send them to Nashville with a 2-0 lead, which, according to Hockey Reference, would give them an 86.4% chance of winning the series. If fans can produce the same amount of energy as they did in Game 1, it should provide a boost to the Canucks as they look for their first non-bubble series victory since 2011.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.
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