3 least impressive Vancouver Canucks players from 5-1 loss to Boston Bruins feat. Thatcher Demko

The Boston Bruins arrived in British Columbia for the first time this season, looking to avenge their loss to the Vancouver Canucks from the late last month's game in which former Boston forward Jake DeBrusk scored the game-winning goal.

It was DeBrusk's first time back in Boston since signing a seven-year contract with Vancouver over the offseason. Saturday marked his first home game with his new club against his former teammates. Unfortunately for DeBrusk and the Canucks, Boston turned the tables on them and walked away with a convincing 5-1 win.

Boston captain Brad Marchand, the only active player from either side from the legendary 2011 Stanley Cup Final series between the two clubs, opened the scoring with his 13th goal of the season while the Canucks were shorthanded. The lead was increased to 2-0 just three minutes later, thanks to Morgan Geekie's fifth goal.

The second period featured more of the same, as the Bruin struck twice in short order after goals from Pavel Zacha and Marc McLaughlin. The third period didn't start any better, as David Pastrnak increased the lead to 5-0 just 26 seconds after the puck drop at center ice.

The Canucks managed to salvage a single goal on Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman, as Max Sasson scored his first of the season and first of his NHL career.

Swayman finished with 19 saves on 20 shots, while Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko was victimized five times on 28 shots.

3 least impressive Vancouver Canucks players in 5-1 loss to Boston Bruins

#1. Thatcher Demko

Demko was only playing in his second game since Game 1 of the 2024 Western Conference Quarter Finals. He missed all action up until earlier in the week while rehabilitating a nagging injury.

But so far, there's no chance of a triumphant storybook-style return for Demko, who hasn't much resembled his old self that had him included in lists of the League's top goaltenders. There's still plenty of time for him to get back on the right track, but so far, it hasn't worked out the way he or the Canucks wanted.

#2. Jake DeBrusk

Though he enjoyed a happy return to TD Garden last month by scoring the game-winning goal against his old club, Saturday's rematch didn't go as well.

Not only did DeBrusk fail to register a single shot on net, but he also finished with a -2 rating. He also had a noticeable lack of jump, which he displayed when he picked up 11 goals in just 10 games recently.

#3. Mark Friedman

While the defense as a whole for Vancouver was poor, giving up a stunning 12 high-chance opportunities. One particularly rough performance came from Mark Friedman.

He was on the ice for three of Boston's five goals on the night and was caught many times flat-footed and out of position. He finished the game with a rotten -3 rating. Almost nothing went right for the Canucks on Saturday, but Friedman's outing was at the bottom of the barrel.