It was a back-and-forth affair Sunday afternoon, but the Vancouver Canucks came up big in overtime, beating the Detroit Red Wings 5-4.

It was a second consecutive overtime game for Vancouver, and Head Coach Rick Tocchet liked the way his team met pressure head-on.

“I thought our first wasn’t that good, but I loved the response,” Tocchet said. “Sometimes things don’t go your way, the game’s not over. I think that we played good hockey in the last 40 minutes.”

“I liked the fight, scoring there with three minutes left – Bränns, nice shot. Then obviously overtime, hanging in there. Jake – what a night, three goals, I mean that was a hell of a goal there. That’s why we signed him up, for those type of moments and he came through for us,” Tocchet said.

Throughout the game, Quinn Hughes, Jake DeBrusk, and Kevin Lankinen climbed the franchise and NHL leaderboards setting records in different categories.

DeBrusk had his second career hat trick and his 16th career multi-goal game. So far this season, DeBrusk is tied with Alex Ovechkin and Sam Reinhart for the league lead in road goals with ten.

DeBrusk joked that he wasn’t feeling particularly different coming into this game, but he liked how the team forced their way back in the game in the third period to tie it and push overtime.

“It wasn’t our prettiest game, Detroit I thought played pretty decent. We had good spurts, where we were moving the puck around as a unit of five and to be able to tie it late obviously just shows what this team is becoming about. You never want to go down after having a lead going into the third period

Quinn Hughes now officially holds the franchise record for assists by a defenceman, tallying three assists against the Red Wings for a total of 313 assists in 388 games. Hughes surpasses Alex Edler’s 310 assists in 925 games.

“It’s incredible, a great milestone,” Tocchet said. “Obviously if not the best defenceman in the league, he sure puts up a good argument because, what did I play him, 31 minutes tonight. The guy came into camp in shape, that’s why he plays 31 minutes.”

On Hughes’ big day, he gave his teammates their flowers to help him achieve the milestone.

“It feels really great, and obviously was lucky enough to catch Eddie for two years here – great player, great teammate – it means a lot,” Hughes said. “As far as the record, I think I’ve just been able to play with some really great players. We saw the three goals Jake had tonight and the play Petey makes off the overtime one, so just really fortunate.”

Quinn Hughes is adding his name to the Canucks record book.

Catch the second period of the @Canucks and @DetroitRedWings now on @Sportsnet. #NHLStats: https://t.co/LC1irbw2Jd pic.twitter.com/0OuYZV4D1J

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 1, 2024

Kevin Lankinen now has 10 straight road wins which is the longest road win streak to start season, passing Cam Talbot’s (2023-24) and Glenn Hall’s (1965-66) nine straight road wins. The netminder stopped 27 of 31 shots he faced.

“He’s a road warrior. You’ve got to think he likes his hotel points,” Tocchet joked. “He’s been like that all year; he lives for the moment. Another good effort from him tonight.”

Noah Juulsen battled hard throughout the game and was key on the penalty kill. He blocked five shots and had five hits in the game.

Goals

In the first period, the Red Wings took an early lead, winger Jonatan Berggren finding the back of the net to give Detroit a 1-0 lead going into the first intermission.

The Canucks scored in bunches in the middle frame, Jake DeBrusk scoring two goals on the power play – one on a five-on-three – and the other on the ensuing man-advantage.

The first goal, Hughes had the secondary assist, giving him the lead for all-time franchise assist by a defenceman with 311.

Goal number 1️⃣ for Jake DeBrusk this morning. pic.twitter.com/nUCoPdS1lu

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) December 1, 2024

The captain didn’t stop there, notching another assist on DeBrusk’s goal as he took a shot from the high slot and DeBrusk lit the lamp with a wrist shot.

What's better than a Jake DeBrusk goal?

TWO JAKE DEBRUSK GOALS. pic.twitter.com/Sd5eR93y01

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) December 1, 2024

Red Wings’ winger Alex DeBrincat tied the game on a slap shot from the left circle.

Pius Suter scored his ninth goal of the season off the rush. Dakota Joshua battled against Red Wings’ defenceman Simon Edvinsson for the puck when Suter poked the puck ahead and was off on a two-on-one with Kiefer Sherwood.

Suter was patient and picked his spot from the right circle, beating Ville Husso stick side, sending the Canucks into the second break with a 3-2 lead.

Shooters shoot. pic.twitter.com/SexLCSevrm

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) December 1, 2024

In the third, Detroit’s Michael Rasmussen scored on the power play and Vladimir Tarasenko scored on the rush to give Detroit the lead once again.

Erik Brännström tied the game on a one-timer off a pass from Elias Pettersson to send the game into overtime.

A Brännström BLAST to even the game at four pic.twitter.com/w0bzaSmsPL

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) December 1, 2024

In extra time, DeBrusk scored off a pass from Pettersson beating Husso blocker side to take the game 5-4.

Overtime winner.
Hat trick goal.

IN DEBRUSK WE TRUST. pic.twitter.com/9XzfHMk2ou

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) December 1, 2024

Up Next

The Canucks finish their six-game road trip against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday, December 3rd at 5 p.m. PT.