NHL-worst Canucks stun league-best Avalanche 8-6

Brock Boeser's hat trick leads Vancouver to comeback victory over Colorado

Apr. 2, 2026 at 7:48am

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The Vancouver Canucks, who have the lowest point total in the NHL, rallied from blowing a four-goal lead to beat the Colorado Avalanche, who have the highest point total in the league, by a score of 8-6 in Denver. Brock Boeser scored a hat trick and added an assist for the Canucks, while Teddy Blueger scored twice. The Avalanche made a furious comeback to tie the game 6-6 in the third period, but the Canucks regained the lead and sealed the victory with an empty-net goal.

Why it matters

This result is highly unexpected, as the Canucks have struggled mightily this season while the Avalanche have been dominant. The comeback win showcases the Canucks' resilience and ability to pull off an upset against the league's best team, despite their own poor record. It also raises questions about the Avalanche's defensive vulnerabilities, especially with star defenseman Cale Makar out due to injury.

The details

The Canucks jumped out to a 6-2 lead, with Brock Boeser scoring two goals and Teddy Blueger adding a pair. However, the Avalanche rallied in the third period, with Sam Malinski scoring twice and Brent Burns, Gabriel Landeskog, and Parker Kelly also finding the back of the net to tie the game at 6-6. But the Canucks regained the lead when Marcus Pettersson scored the game-winner, and Boeser added an empty-net goal to seal the victory.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, April 2, 2026.
  • The Canucks jumped out to a 6-2 lead by the middle of the second period.
  • The Avalanche tied the game at 6-6 in the third period, but the Canucks regained the lead shortly after.

The players

Brock Boeser

A forward for the Vancouver Canucks who scored a hat trick and added an assist in the game.

Teddy Blueger

A forward for the Vancouver Canucks who scored two goals in the game.

Cale Makar

A defenseman for the Colorado Avalanche who missed the game due to an upper-body injury.

Nathan MacKinnon

A forward for the Colorado Avalanche who scored his league-leading 50th goal of the season in the game.

Sam Malinski

A forward for the Colorado Avalanche who scored two goals in the game.

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What they’re saying

“We must have been sleeping in the first two periods, but we showed a lot of fight to come back and tie it up. Unfortunately, we just couldn't get the job done in the end.”

— Nathan MacKinnon, Forward, Colorado Avalanche

“I'm really proud of the way our guys battled back from a big deficit against the best team in the league. Brock was outstanding, and our whole team showed a lot of character to get this win.”

— Bruce Boudreau, Head Coach, Vancouver Canucks

What’s next

The Avalanche will look to bounce back from this surprising loss when they host the Dallas Stars on Friday, April 4th. The Canucks will try to build on this upset victory when they visit the Seattle Kraken on Saturday, April 5th.

The takeaway

This game showcased the unpredictable nature of the NHL, as the league's worst team was able to defeat the league's best team in dramatic fashion. It highlights the Canucks' potential when they are playing at their best, and raises questions about the Avalanche's defensive vulnerabilities, especially with a key player like Cale Makar sidelined due to injury.