Boeser Takes Headshot Late in Canucks’ Loss to Penguins, Status Unclear
The Vancouver Canucks dropped a tightly contested 3-2 decision to the Pittsburgh Penguins, but the final score quickly took a backseat to a troubling moment late in the third period.
With Vancouver pressing for the equalizer in the dying minutes, forward Brock Boeser was on the receiving end of a high, dangerous hit from Penguins winger Bryan Rust. Boeser was slow to get up, and while he did eventually leave the ice under his own power, the concern in the building was palpable.
“It’s a pretty dirty play, to be honest with you,” said Jake DeBrusk after the game, not mincing words. The Canucks forward was clearly frustrated, echoing what many fans watching the replay likely felt.
Teddy Blueger, who spent five seasons in Pittsburgh and knows Rust well, offered a more measured take - but didn’t shy away from calling out the contact.
“Seemed pretty dirty to me watching it on the replay,” Blueger said. “I don’t think Rusty is a dirty player, but I think it was pretty clear head contact.”
That’s the key detail here - direct contact to the head, which the NHL has made a point of cracking down on in recent years. Intent aside, the league has consistently maintained that players are responsible for controlling their bodies in high-traffic areas, especially when vulnerable opponents are involved. This one certainly fits that description.
Head Coach Adam Foote addressed the incident postgame, and while he didn’t yet have a medical update on Boeser, he didn’t hold back when asked about the hit.
“I just looked at the hit. It wasn’t pretty.
It was a headshot,” Foote said. “I’m sure the league will look at it, because it was.
Even though [Rust] may have been desperate to get Boes down because it was a scrum at the net, I still think it was something that you had to be in control of your body. I thought it was a little bit of a vicious hit to the head.”
Foote’s comments reflect what’s likely to be a broader conversation in the coming days - should the league step in, and if so, how? The NHL’s Department of Player Safety will undoubtedly review the play, and depending on how they interpret it, supplemental discipline could be on the table.
As for the Canucks, they’ll need to regroup quickly. Tuesday night brings the second game of their eight-game homestand, with the San Jose Sharks coming into Rogers Arena.
That’s followed by matchups against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday and the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. After that, it’s a short road swing before the Olympic break.
But all eyes will be on Boeser’s status over the next 48 hours. He’s been a key piece of Vancouver’s offense this season, and any extended absence would be a significant blow - not just in terms of production, but in terms of the emotional pulse of the locker room. Boeser is a leader on and off the ice, and the Canucks will be hoping for good news after a scary moment in an otherwise hard-fought game.