Pettersson scores twice, Canucks beat Blue Jackets 5-2

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Elias Pettersson scored two goals, Bo Horvat had a career-high four assists and the Vancouver Canucks defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-2 on Friday night for their second win in three games under Rick Tocchet.

Tocchet took over as coach after Bruce Boudreau was sacked on Sunday.

Quinn Hughes had a goal and an assist to help the Canucks improve to 20-26-3. Ilya Mikheyev and Dakota Joshua also scored and Collin Delia made 23 saves to send the Canucks into the All-Star break with a win.

“It’s been a long year to this point, I’m sure everyone in the league wants it,” Hughes said. “And I think everyone was looking forward to the break and glad we got a good break tonight. And we can, so to speak, take a break and enjoy and feel good. Obviously there is still a lot to do. It wasn’t a great season, but we’ll enjoy the free time.”

Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin announced after the game that Mikheyev is scheduled for season-ending knee surgery next week. He said the 28-year-old Russia winger tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a pre-season game on September 25.

Kirill Marchenko scored two power play goals for the Blue Jackets (15-30-3). Joonas Korpisalo stopped 29 shots for Columbus.

“We just weren’t really there,” said Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen. “We didn’t really have that much energy the whole game.”

Hughes gave Vancouver a 2-1 lead midway through the first period with a long shot through traffic on a power play. Mikheyev scored with 45 seconds left in the first, unleashing a blast from above the faceoff circle that ricocheted off the end glass, hitting Korpisalo’s skate and sliding into the net.

Joshua scored at 8:20 of the third on a faulty pass. The forward was about to send a puck over the slot to Brock Boeser, but the puck hit Columbus defender Adam Boqvist in the leg and raced into the net to make it 4-1.

Pettersson made it 5-1 with a 7-08 lead with a power play goal.

Blue Jackets: In Seattle on Saturday night.

Canucks: In New Jersey on Monday, February 6th.

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The Associated Press