Spring has sprung in Vancouver. The sun is shining, people are out enjoying the cherry blossoms in bloom, and the seawall is packed with citizens out for a stroll.
And for some reason, the NHL decided 1 p.m. on a Saturday in April was the perfect time for the Vancouver Canucks to host the Anaheim Ducks. A game with little to no playoff implications between two clubs that’ve played… less than inspiring hockey of late.
If a hockey game is played in an arena, and no one is around to witness it, does it count in the standings?
It is far too nice outside for matinee hockey
pic.twitter.com/CwrzVcmWjl
— Rob Williams (@RobTheHockeyGuy)
April 5, 2025
The Canucks certainly hope so, because they followed up their shutout loss at the hands of the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday with an offensive explosion on Saturday; six goals, all by different scorers, including five in a four and a half minute span to shell shock the Ducks.
Yes, this photo was taken before the game, but the attendance wasn’t spectacular today by any account. And that makes sense the way things have gone. So leave it to the Canucks to put together an absolutely electric five-goal outburst in the first to catch everyone’s attention, before settling back into their usual quiet selves.
Let’s get this going.
Max Sasson, set to draw into the
#Canucks lineup for the first time since January 27, will play on a line with Jonathan Lekkerimäki and Linus Karlsson.
That’s been a frequent trio for Abbotsford this season, and Tocchet is hoping they can tap into that chemistry vs. ANA.
— Thomas Drance (@ThomasDrance)
April 5, 2025
New set-up for #35.
pic.twitter.com/HyZm1J6J6y
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks)
April 5, 2025
After Ian Clark’s departure as Canucks goalie coach, Thatcher Demko immediately rebelled against his old master by donning some full black pads for his first set of games in the Flying Skate uniforms.
Maybe he decided his former coach was onto something, cause back came the white CCMs with coloured trim today. Crucially, the inner parts of the pads are back to white, giving him back the old optical illusion that comes with white pads.
The colours on this set really pop against the white background, as does the black jersey. A seemingly small change overall, but nonetheless nice!
Best Not Starting On Time
Well, geez… that's not a good start.
#Canucks
— Dragon Was Slayed (@522IntoOvertime)
April 5, 2025
Alright then.
#Canucks
— Graham
(@GWVcr84)
April 5, 2025
A 1 p.m. puck drop at home is obviously earlier than the Canucks are used to, and the morning coffee hadn’t kicked in by the time the puck dropped. The Ducks, on the other hand, must’ve hit up JJ Bean on the bus to the rink because they were alert from the get-go.
The Ducks’ top line of Troy Terry, Ryan Strome and Frank Vatrano gets behind the Hughes-Mancini defensive pairing a minute into the game, with defencemen Pavel Mintyukov jumping up into the rush. Mintyukov and Vatrano win the ensuing battle behind the net against Mancini and Kiefer Sherwood, then work the puck back up to Terry waiting by the faceoff circle. Terry steps into the dot and catches Demko off guard beyond a screen over the left shoulder, a rare mistake from an angle for Demko.
Anaheim taking the lead a minute and a half into the game is the sort of start that doesn’t usually end well for the 2024-25 Canucks. They haven’t had that dawg in them to claw their way out of early deficits often enough. Today’s going to have to be different.
Then, midway through the first, the floodgates opened.
Best asking the real questions
Why am I watching this game?
#Canucks
— Realsportstalk (@Sportstalk1428)
April 5, 2025
It was too late for me, after
D PETEY!
#Canucks
— hammertime (@Q_H43)
April 5, 2025
So happy for Junior!!
#Canucks
— Coco (@AllLoveCoco)
April 5, 2025
When one Elias Pettersson falls, another shall take his place. So sayeth the legend.
And that’s how Vancouver got to witness Elias Pettersson’s first NHL goal. For a second time.
Linus Karlsson does a great job spacing out the Ducks’ back-checkers at the blue line, dragging two of them to the left-hand side as D-Petey sneaks to the top of the circles. By the time Jansen Harkins notices EP25 wide open, it’s far too late. Karlsson fires off a backhand pass, and Pettersson rips it top shelf where momma hides the peanut butter. An absolutely gorgeous first NHL goal.
D-Petey has shown maturity far beyond his years on a number of occasions. Scoring from one knee on a one-timer with zero hesitation is just another feather in that cap.
HRONEK GIVES US THE LEAD 2–1
#Canucks
— rigo (@nucklehe4d)
April 5, 2025
Normally, I wouldn’t use these articles as a chance to show off my other work, but it’s actually relevant this time! During today’s Stanchies Pre-game video (a new series
on my YouTube channel, which you should absolutely subscribe to), I talked about the key to beating a young, skilled team like the Ducks: score early and score often. You cannot let them hang around, because their youth will win the endurace battle.
The Canucks apparently took that to heart in the biggest way, starting with Fil the Thrill.
Hronek needn’t do much after receiving the pass from Teddy Blueger. With Jake DeBrusk, Drew O’Connor and a flock of Ducks in front of Lukas Dostal, Hronek picks the same exact corner as D-Petey, with an arrant Ducks stick turning it into a fluttering knuckleball for good measure.
Suddenly the Canucks have a lead and growing momentum. No better opportunity to slam their foot on the gas pedal.
He he he he he HELL BOOOOOOOOEEESSSS
#CANUCKS
— mama bear🗑
(@trackwanderer)
April 5, 2025
#Boeser
makes it 3-1
#Canucks
— Sue (@SuzieCanuck)
April 5, 2025
On the immediate shift after the Hronek goal, the Ducks’ Alex Killorn takes a hooking penalty against Marcus Pettersson and puts his team on a penalty. Normally a power play opportunity is a surefire way to squash any momentum the Canucks have, but not today.
Jonathan Lekkerimäki makes the big brain move of holding the blue line before passing the puck to Quinn Hughes, guaranteeing himself an assist for the scoresheet. If I didn’t know better, I’d say video coach Dylan Crawford’s game tape hammered home the same play 30 times over. Because once again the Canucks create layers of traffic before Hughes lets a shot go, low enough that Brock Boeser tips it near the hashmarks up and over Dostal’s left hand side. Boeser’s 25th goal of the season gave the Canucks three goals in remarkably similar fashion in a matter of moments.
Can this get any better?
#Garly joins the party 4-1
#Canucks
— Sue (@SuzieCanuck)
April 5, 2025
The WTF happened look on Dostal
#Canucks pic.twitter.com/xIqIwfokaP
— RogNuckStri𝕏 (@RogNuck)
April 5, 2025
It can!!
The Ducks are reeling at this point, and Drew Helleson puts the Canucks’ power play out for an encore after interfering with Aatu Räty. This time, PP1 changes the game plan off the zone entry, with Hughes skating the puck in towards the net as the Ducks’ penalty killers collapse to the top of the crease.
Hughes goaded Radko Gudas into dropping early for a shot block, freezing him long enough to shoot the puck around him at Dostal’s five hole. Dostal’s stick gets in front of it, but the puck deflects right to Conor Garland, who’s gotten inside, positioning behind Leo Carlsson, and Corolla deposits the puck into the wide-open net.
At this point, you’re probably asking the same questions. “Wait, is that four goals in under four minutes?” “Where has this offence been all season long?” “How do the Canucks all turn into Alex Ovechkins the second the playoffs are out of reach?”
Those were all questions I was asking myself before Dakota Joshua interrupted my thoughts.
Best EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE
I CAN'T KEEP UP
#CANUCKS
— Alex (@lvckyalex)
April 5, 2025
Marcus Pettersson wants to get in on the action. He’s the only new Canuck without a goal so far, and he’s looking to fix that. He’s already rifled one puck that Dostal snagged early on, and this time Dragon tries from the far left corner through another set of rolling screens. One of those Canucks blocking Dostal’s vision is Kiefer Sherwood, who spins around and attempts to tip the puck low, but he puts a little too much oomph in and kills the puck’s forward momentum.
Luckily, the rattled Ducks goalie isn’t expecting the puck to stop so suddenly, and Dakota Joshua, rolling through the slot, smacks the puck under Dostal’s blocker for their fifth goal in under five minutes.
And yes, that is a record.
Per John Shorthouse on
@Sportsnet, the
#Canucks just set a record for the fastest five goals in franchise history.
It took 4:50 for them to build a 5-1 lead over the Anaheim Ducks.
— Carol Schram (@pool88)
April 5, 2025
The last time I remember the Canucks taking it to a team this convincingly this fast, it was a game against Jose Theodore and the Montreal Canadiens in 2006. The Canucks lit the former league MVP up for five goals and chased him off the ice in about 14 minutes. Somehow that season the Canadiens would go on to make the playoffs, and the Canucks wouldn’t. (Sound familiar?)
Tonight, Ducks coach Greg Cronin called a timeout but left his beleaguered netminder in the net for the rest of the night.
Look, when the Canucks want to be an offensive juggernaut, they have all the keys to be. Canning that skill and spreading it evenly over the course of an 82-game schedule is the million-dollar question. Or however much two games of home playoff revenue nets you.
The problem is that once they’ve accomplished getting a lead, they usually put that magic back on the shelf for the rest of the night. But that probably won’t happen this time, right?
Safe to throw some money on a ducks comeback win
#Canucks
— Michael (@Mlapw84)
April 5, 2025
Great start but this team isn’t safe with any lead
#Canucks
— arpy (@Arpy6409)
April 5, 2025
Anyone who’s watched these Canucks before wouldn’t see them start the final 40 minutes with a four-goal lead expecting the best. And they were frankly right to be afraid.
Early in the third, a miscue between D-partners Hronek and M-Petey creates a loose puck at the blue line that Mason McTavish pounces on. Marcus hustles back and cuts off his lane to net and prevents a breakaway, but in the ensuing chaos, no one catches Trevor Zegras waiting unchecked at the far side of the net. Gudas blasts a shot that sails wide of the net to Demko’s left but banks off the lively boards right to Zegras.
Open cage, three-goal game.
I witnessed the Columbus game. I didn’t write for it; that was Trent’s night on duty, and I’m still stunned he didn’t quit immediately after. If the Canucks blow a lead this big again tonight, I’ve got a resignation letter on standby.
Thankfully, they will not make me use it.
“I used to draw goalies in elementary school and colour them in” okay that’s adorable from Dave Tomlinson
— Anna Forsyth (@aforsyth03)
April 5, 2025
Dave Tomlinson and I have something in common apparently! I must’ve drawn a thousand pictures of me winning the Stanley Cup for the Canucks back in the day. Do kids still draw? Or are they too busy playing Roblox and asking their parents for the Fortnite battle pass? Half-genuinely asking.
Best I’m not clipping this for your sanity
up 5-2 with a minute left in the second keeping Quinn Hughes out for a 3 minute shift what the hell sure
— a ♡ (@canucksaz)
April 5, 2025
The
#Canucks gave us four-and-a-half minutes of exciting hockey and then were like, okay, that's enough.
— Daniel Wagner (@passittobulis)
April 5, 2025
Just turned on the game. 28 shots allowed from the ducks so far.
Lol
#canucks
— kevin (@kevinlambert23)
April 5, 2025
For those of you who rely on these Stanchies as a recap for games you missed, I’m going to be so real with you: whatever you missed this game for was worth it.
“But they scored five goals in the fir-” You still barely missed anything. The final 40 minutes wasn’t the final signature touches on a blowout or even a nail-biting ride to the finish. Here’s what you missed, two periods where the Canucks sat back and let the Ducks pepper Demko with shots and scoring chances. But Anaheim, being a team with a fair bit of talent but little finish, never really looked all that dangerous doing so.
Demko had a performance that wasn’t world-beating, but he absolutely did his job. Rather than his usual Employee of the Month-type game, Demko more resembled the quiet worker who clocks in right at 8 a.m., does his tasks, and clocks right out at 5. No mess, no fuss. Neat and tidy.
Yes, the Canucks are severely depleted and running on fumes. But they made the error of showing they could go above and beyond in the first period, so where did it go? It’s the same question you often find yourself asking, no matter how healthy this team has been at any given point.
That’s how we got about 37 minutes of two teams, with little to nothing to play for, riding out garbage time so they could get home to their families. I don’t blame them for it.
And you shouldn’t blame yourself either.
Best All the Stars Are Here!
Lars Lindgren is here
pic.twitter.com/q9ZtAXOY9X
— Rob Williams (@RobTheHockeyGuy)
April 5, 2025
Best dressed
#Canucks fan at today’s game is this kid
pic.twitter.com/euLbeu7au8
— Rob Williams (@RobTheHockeyGuy)
April 5, 2025
I can’t believe they got Bender from Futurama in this game. Big fan, Mr. Rodriguez.
Today was the seventh anniversary of the Sedins’ final home game, when Daniel received the pass from Henrik for the OT winning goal that blew the roof off of Rogers Arena. I hear they’re still patching leaks to this day.
And here they are now, watching the current Canucks in the third period, wondering if they might be able to fill the voids left at centre and wing thanks to the injury bug.
Hank and Dank, if you’re reading this, it’s never too late for a comeback.
Beauty of a goal by Max Sasson WOW
#Canucks
— Eden (@eden_nucks21)
April 5, 2025
NHL-calibre poise from Max Sasson on that breakaway.
— David Quadrelli (@QuadrelliD)
April 5, 2025
Wyatt would’ve loved writing about this goal. But that absolute honour goes to me instead. Serves him right for taking a much-earned day off like a chump.
Max Sasson was called up to fill the void left by *checks notes* Nils Åman (Hoo boy, they’re
really out of centre depth now) being placed on the fourth line with his old Abbotsford linemates Karlsson and Lekkerimäki. Rick Tocchet elected not to test the fourth line unit much in this game, with Sasson playing a team low 11:58, but even in sheltered minutes, he seized his opportunity.
Noticing defencemen Oliver Kylington bobble the puck at the blue line, Sasson jumps all over him. Sasson steals the puck and turns on the jets, rocketing past Kylington on a breakway. With only Dostal left to beat, Sasson gets in close and shoots back against the grain towards Dostal’s left pad. His momentum is more than enough to get the puck past the goalie and into the net.
Quinn not taking any shit from Vatrano, I LOVE IT!! Get him Quinn!
— ameena (@Canuckgirl20)
April 5, 2025
#Canucks Kierszenstat of the game: Quinn Hughes is the first player from the 2018 NHL Draft to record 405 career points
— Adam Kierszenblat (@Adamkblat)
April 5, 2025
Speaking of “sheltered minutes,” the Drew O’Connor merchant still got a healthy serving of ice time even in a game with two points all but secured. But 22:36 is down from his usual 45, so this and the pair of assists he picked up might as well have been his version of a sick day.
But that doesn’t mean he’s about to take any guff from Frank Vatrano, who got under his skin by knocking him over with a stick wave and a well-placed push as Hughes was turning.
Vatrano had no idea that he’d awoken the beast, and after passing the puck to safety, Hughes engaged with a couple hardy shoves before pushing Vatrano to the ice.
It takes a lot to make the captain genuinely mad, but when he is, it’s a beautiful sight to behold. Size won’t win you a fight against an angry Huggy Bear.
Breaking…
#Canucks have a new official ice cream
pic.twitter.com/ZVJXjFtKQN
— Rob Williams (@RobTheHockeyGuy)
April 5, 2025
First of all, I hope Fin cleaned his shoes before stepping into that ice cream carton.
Secondly, here at Stanchies Co. we strive to give you the most complete Canucks coverage possible. And if that means running to the grocery store to try a brand new Canucks-themed ice cream, you can expect a review coming.
Not sure who needs to hear this, but the Minnesota Wild have lost 4 in a row.
And they play Dallas tomorrow.
#ItsNotOverTilItsOver #Canucks pic.twitter.com/jyEkaTn8iY
— Canuck Girl
(@CanuckGirl43)
April 5, 2025
I won’t mislead you here. The odds are exceptionally slim given everything that the Canucks are going to end up on the right side of the playoff bubble. Not only do they need a collapse from the Wild, they also need one from the Flames who are facing the Canucks opponents tomorrow, the Golden Knights, as of writing this.
But a 1% chance isn’t zero, and wouldn’t that be the most Canuck thing possible? To sneak into the postseason, thanks to a massive helping of luck and some well-timed points in the final two weeks?
I’m just saying, those tee times you want to book will still be there next week.
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