Louis DeBrusk scored the winner with 18 seconds left in overtime, giving the Vancouver Canucks and rookie goalie Nikita Tolopilo a 2-1 win over the visiting San Jose Sharks in NHL action Monday night at Rogers Arena.
Linus Karlsson had the other goal for the Canucks (38-29-14), while Macklin Celebrini scored for San Jose (20-50-11).
Tolopilo made 15 saves to earn the goaltending win in his NHL debut.
“It’s been a long journey to get that first NHL start,” said Tolopilo.
Alexandar Georgiev took the loss, making 35 stops.
Both teams have been eliminated from playoff contention.
After a scoreless first period, Celebrini - a B.C. product - scored the 25th goal of his rookie season, snapping a perfect shot high over Tolopilo’s glove hand from the right circle. The goal came on the power play.
Clean-up on aisle #94. 🤌 pic.twitter.com/Nt0hfrc2XE
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) April 15, 2025
Vancouver pulled even at 9:03 of the third period, when Karlsson finished off a play involving Teddy Blueger and Drew O’Connor, chipping a backhander over Georgiev.
In overtime, DeBrusk knocked in a rebound of a Brock Boeser shot for his 28th goal of the year.
Vancouver finishes off their season Wednesday (7 p.m.) when they host the Vegas Golden Knights.
NOTES: Defenceman Kirill Kudryavtsev also made his NHL debut for the Canucks… The Sharks were 1-for-3 on the power play, while the Canucks were scoreless in five attempts. Wednesday’s game may be the last in a Canucks uniform for longtime stalwart Boeser, who will become an unrestricted free agent… The Canucks swept the season series against San Jose, who have now lost nine straight games in Vancouver… With an assist on DeBrusk’s winning goal, Vancouver captain Quinn Hughes tied Alexander Edler for the most points by a defenceman in team history with 409.
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