VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Pius Suter scored twice and the Vancouver Canucks rallied from two goals down to beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-2 on Friday night.
Brock Boeser, Kiefer Sherwood and Jake DeBrusk also scored for the Cancuks, and Quinn Hughes had two assists. Kevin Lankinen had 30 saves as Vancouver improved to 3-0-1 in its last four games.
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Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen (32) stops Columbus Blue Jackets' Sean Monahan (23) as Vancouver's Carson Soucy (7) watches during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks' Kiefer Sherwood (44) celebrates his goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen (32) stops Columbus Blue Jackets' James van Riemsdyk (21) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) stops Vancouver Canucks' Brock Boeser (6) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) stops the puck as Sean Kuraly (7) and Vancouver Canucks' Elias Pettersson (40) watch during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) waits for a face off during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks in Vancouver, British Columbia, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks' Elias Pettersson (40) falls as Columbus Blue Jackets' Dante Fabbro (15) skates with the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) tries to stop Vancouver Canucks' Elias Pettersson (40) as he vies for the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) stops Vancouver Canucks' Jake DeBrusk (74) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks' Pius Suter (24) celebrates his goal with Quinn Hughes (43) and Carson Soucy (7) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets in Vancouver, British Columbia, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks' Kiefer Sherwood (44) and Columbus Blue Jackets' Damon Severson (78) vie for the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks' Jake DeBrusk (74) celebrates his goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets with teammates during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Mathieu Olivier and Damon Severson scored in the first period for Columbus, which has lost three straight. Elvis Merzilikins finished with 12 saves.
Olivier and Severson scored 5:08 apart to give the Blue Jackets a 2-0 lead with 7:42 left in the opening period.
Boeser and Sherwood scored in the second period to tie it for the Canucks. Suter gave Vancouver the lead early in the third and DeBrusk made it 4-2 with a power-play goal midway through the period. Suter added an empty-netter with 65 seconds left to seal the win.
Canucks: DeBrusk scored at home for the first time with the Canucks. He has goals in four straight games and leads the team with 12. Boeser registered an assist on DeBrusk’s goal for his 400th NHL point.
Blue Jackets: Columbus was 0 for 5 on the power play after coming in 29th in the league at 17.2%.
Key moment
An ill-timed play by Merzlikins allowed the Canucks to tie the game at 2-2 with a minute left in the second period. The goalie came out to the top of the left circle to chase down a loose puck but sent it to Vancouver center Teddy Blueger along the boards. Blueger quickly passed it to Sherwood, who fired a shot in past Zach Werenski as he attempted to protect the open net.
Vancouver improved to 9-5-1 when giving up the first goal of the game.
Blue Jackets visit Winnipeg on Sunday, and Canucks host Tampa Bay.
AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen (32) stops Columbus Blue Jackets' Sean Monahan (23) as Vancouver's Carson Soucy (7) watches during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks' Kiefer Sherwood (44) celebrates his goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen (32) stops Columbus Blue Jackets' James van Riemsdyk (21) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) stops Vancouver Canucks' Brock Boeser (6) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) stops the puck as Sean Kuraly (7) and Vancouver Canucks' Elias Pettersson (40) watch during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) waits for a face off during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks in Vancouver, British Columbia, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks' Elias Pettersson (40) falls as Columbus Blue Jackets' Dante Fabbro (15) skates with the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) tries to stop Vancouver Canucks' Elias Pettersson (40) as he vies for the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) stops Vancouver Canucks' Jake DeBrusk (74) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks' Pius Suter (24) celebrates his goal with Quinn Hughes (43) and Carson Soucy (7) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets in Vancouver, British Columbia, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks' Kiefer Sherwood (44) and Columbus Blue Jackets' Damon Severson (78) vie for the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks' Jake DeBrusk (74) celebrates his goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets with teammates during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Three Israeli men held hostage in the Gaza Strip are set to be released on Saturday in exchange for more than 300 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
It's the latest indication that the fragile ceasefire deal, which teetered in recent days, will hold. Nearly all the 73 remaining hostages are men, including Israeli soldiers, and about half are believed to be dead.
The two sides have carried out five swaps since the ceasefire began on Jan. 19, freeing 21 hostages and over 730 Palestinian prisoners so far during the first phase of the truce. The war could resume if no agreement is reached on the more complicated second phase, which calls for the return of all remaining hostages captured in Hamas' attack on Oct. 7, 2023, and an indefinite extension of the truce.
Here's the latest:
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — Dozens of masked and armed Hamas fighters have gathered in the southern Gaza Strip for the release of three Israeli hostages.
As with previous exchanges, a stage was set up and the area was festooned with Palestinian flags and the banners of militant factions. Nearby was the shell of a heavily damaged multistory building.
The militants are expected to parade the hostages before crowds and cameras before handing them over to the Red Cross, which will transport them to Israeli forces.
All three hostages set to be released are men who were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz, where some 80 of roughly 400 residents were taken hostage during the Oct. 7 attack.
Iair Horn, 46, is a dual citizen of Israel and Argentina. He was abducted along with his brother, Eitan Horn, who was staying with him at the time. Eitan remains in captivity.
Sagui Dekel Chen, 36, is an American-Israeli had was working outside when militants stormed the kibbutz. His wife hid in a safe room with their two daughters. She gave birth to their third daughter two months later.
Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov, 29, who holds Israeli and Russian citizenship, was taken hostage along with his grandmother, mother and girlfriend. The three women were released during a brief ceasefire in November 2023. Troufanov’s father was killed in the Oct. 7 attack.
Among the most prominent of the more than 300 Palestinian prisoners set to be released is Ahmed Barghouti, 48, a close aide of militant leader and iconic Palestinian political figure Marwan Barghouti.
Israel sentenced Ahmed Barghouti to life on charges that he dispatched suicide bombers during the Second Intifada, or Palestinian uprising, in the early 2000s to carry out attacks that killed Israeli civilians. He was arrested alongside Marwan Barghouti in 2002.
The ceasefire appeared dangerously close to collapse in recent days.
Hamas said it would delay the release of the hostages after accusing Israel of not adhering to their agreement by not allowing in enough shelters, medical supplies, fuel and heavy equipment for clearing rubble, while Israel said it would resume fighting Saturday unless hostages were freed.
Trump’s proposal to remove some 2 million Palestinians from Gaza and settle them elsewhere in the region threw the truce’s future into further doubt. Trump has proposed that once the fighting ends, Israel would transfer control of Gaza to the United States, which would then redevelop it as the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
The idea has been welcomed by Israel’s government, whose far-right members are already calling for a resumption of the war after the first phase with the goal of destroying Hamas and implementing Trump’s plan. But it has been strongly rejected by Palestinians and Arab countries, and human rights groups say it could amount to a war crime under international law.
Hamas may be unwilling to release any more hostages if it believes the war will resume. The captives are among the only bargaining chips it has left.
A demonstrator holding photos of freed Israeli hostage Eli Sharabi before and after his captivity blocks a highway during a protest demanding all hostages release from Hamas captivity, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
Palestinians queue for food distribution in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Palestinians queue for food distribution in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Israeli captive Eli Sharabi, who has been held hostage by Hamas in Gaza since October 7, 2023, is escorted by Hamas fighters before being handed over to the Red Cross in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Saturday Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Palestinians gather to attend the Friday prayers at the Great Omari Mosque, which was damaged during the Israeli military's air and ground operation in Gaza City, Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
Graffiti on Israel's separation barrier depicts the Gaza Strip, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
Palestinians gather to attend Friday prayers at the Great Omari Mosque, which was damaged during the Israeli military's air and ground operation in Gaza City, Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
People holding posters with photos of Israelis hostages Eli Sharabi, Or Levy and Ohad Ben Ami, react at the so-called "hostages square" as they watch their release live on a television screen in Tel Aviv, Israel on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)