Canucks: 3 takeaways from dominant 5-1 win over Winnipeg

Martin secures well-deserved NHL win

Miller and Boeser may have lead the way offensively, but there’s no doubt that Spencer Martin was the other star of the evening.

It had been a rollercoaster of a week for Martin, who made his Canucks debut in impressive fashion last Friday against Florida before being added to the team’s COVID-19 protocol list less than 48 hours later. The 26-year-old netminder was miraculously able to return on Tuesday night, facing 50 shots in total, but was once again robbed of the full two points against the Oilers.

And even with Jaroslav Halak cleared to play after missing the past five contests, Boudreau once again turned to Martin on Tuesday night as a result, hoping that the young netminder could execute another strong performance between the pipes.

He did not disappoint.

Martin was solid in the opening frame, turning aside nine of 10 shots faced. He continued his impressive and confident play in the middle frame, helping his team carry a lead into the second intermission for his third consecutive outing.

Fortunately for Martin, the players in front of him finally figured out how to close a game in the last 20 minutes, padding the lead with two more goals to help secure Martin’s first every NHL victory.

It’s been a fantastic story for Martin over these past three contests, turning aside 113 of 118 shots faced and securing four out of a possible six points to go along with a combined .961 SV%.

Of course, given that Halak and Thatcher Demko are poised to be back in action by the weekend, it’s likely that Martin’s big league journey will come to an end for the time being, but you never know if we’ll see him and his chrome helmet sooner than we think.