Tanner Pearson's shootout goal gave the Vancouver Canucks a 3-2 home-ice victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night.

Pearson, Vancouver's fourth shooter, put in a shot off the arm of Los Angeles goaltender Jonathan Quick. The Canucks winger triumphed against his former team, as he began the season with the Kings before he was traded to Pittsburgh and then the Canucks.

The Canucks posted their first win in four games, while the Kings lost for only the second time in five games.

Alex Edler and Brock Boeser also tallied for the Canucks, who staved off playoff elimination.

Austin Wagner and Adrian Kempe scored for the Kings.

Vancouver netminder Thatcher Demko stopped 37 of 39 shots. Quick, who was playing his 600th NHL career game, made 36 saves.

Wagner opened the scoring at 12:56 of the first period as he tucked a rebound off the boards behind Demko, who first looked over his other shoulder before he realized where the puck was located.

But Edler, on a long wrist shot, and Boeser, on a Quinn Hughes rebound, scored 56 seconds apart late in the second period to put the Canucks ahead 2-1.

With the assist, the 19-year-old Hughes, who was making his NHL debut, earned his first NHL point -- while displaying plenty of flair. He circled the offensive zone with the puck, stopped and backtracked behind the net -- with a defender on him -- and then came out and fired a high shot. Boeser roofed the rebound while falling down.

Hughes, a highly touted defenseman, was drafted seventh overall by Vancouver in 2018 but opted to play a second year at the University of Michigan before turning pro. He signed with the Canucks earlier this month but his eagerly awaited NHL debut was delayed until Thursday because of a foot injury suffered in the playoffs with Michigan.

Kempe forced overtime as he drew the Kings even at 11:47 of the third period, beating Demko with a shot on the short side after the Canucks failed to clear the puck from their zone.

Quick robbed Boeser with a glove save in the final two minutes of overtime.

Edler took an interference penalty with 1:36 left in the extra session, giving the Kings a four-on-three power play. But they could not capitalize. Demko was hurt by a high shot in the dying seconds but stayed in for the shootout.

--Field Level Media