News Canucks Team Notes

[Vancouver Canucks]

Canucks Game Day: Looking for a response in an afternoon affair against Anaheim

The Vancouver Canucks (34-28-13) open their final set of back to back games of the season when they host the Anaheim Ducks (33-34-8) at 1pm at Rogers Arena. The team will be back in action against Vegas on Sunday night.

The Canucks are now eight points behind Minnesota and three points back of Calgary in the Western Conference wild card chase.

What we know​

With the early puck drop, the Canucks did not hold a morning skate today. Based on Friday’s practice at UBC, there are a few question marks about player availability for today’s game. Nils Höglander has missed five games with an undisclosed injury, but was a full participant in practice yesterday. However, he is unlikely to dress today.

Nils Aman took a spill late in practice and needed to be helped off the ice. He was later seen leaving the rink with his arm and shoulder in a sling. Also, the Canucks are likely to be without veteran defenceman Tyler Myers who did not skate on Friday. That will open the door to rookies Elias Pettersson and Victor Mancini getting the chance to suit up in the same game.

Rick Tocchet did not tip his hand about a starting goalie for today’s contest, but the coach has a decision on his hands. Thatcher Demko has started the past two games and lost them both. Meanwhile Kevin Lankinen has not played since giving up six goals in a 7-6 shootout loss in Columbus on March 28th.

The Canucks are coming off a dispiriting 5-0 home ice loss to Seattle on Wednesday. The team has dropped three straight (0-2-1) including back to back regulation setbacks. Through all the ups and downs of this season, the team has yet to lose three straight in regulation and will try to avoid having that happen today.

Since Pius Suter opened the scoring in Winnipeg last Sunday, the Canucks have surrendered eight straight goals.

With 431, Kiefer Sherwood leads the NHL in hits by 150 over his nearest competitor. To add some context, there are only 63 players in the league this season that have registered 150 hits.

The opponent​

The Ducks are back in action following a 4-1 loss in Calgary on Thursday that officially eliminated them from playoff contention. Defenceman Olen Zellweger scored Anaheim’s lone goal. John Gibson got the start in goal, but was shaken up in the second period and replaced by Lukas Dostal to start the third. Dostal is expected to get the call this afternoon against the Canucks.

Three players share the team lead in goals with 20: Frank Vatrano, Mason McTavish and Leo Carlsson while Troy Terry is the Ducks leading scorer with 52 points. Since the 4 Nations break, Anaheim’s top five scorers are all under 25 years of age (Carlsson, McTavish, LaCombe, Gauthier and Zegras).

The Ducks are tied for 29th in the league in offence averaging 2.69 goals per game. A huge part of the issue is a power play that is 31st in the NHL at just 12.5%.

After a 3-2 loss to Toronto on December 12th, the Ducks found themselves 10-14-4. Since then, however, they are 23-20-4. They have four more points than the Canucks over that span.

The Canucks have taken two of the first three meetings between these teams this season. They split their games at the Honda Center and the Canucks posted a 3-2 victory on home ice on March 5th.

Today’s referees: Steve Kozari & Jake Brenk

Today’s broadcasters: John Shorthouse & Dave Tomlinson

Make sure to join the Rink Wide Vancouver postgame live stream immediately following tonight’s game. Rink Wide will provide a full breakdown and comprehensive coverage of the Canucks game. When the final buzzer sounds, be sure to log onto Rink Wide and join the YouTube live chat to discuss the game with other Canucks fans. Subscribe to the Rink Wide YouTube channel and never miss an episode.

Sponsored by bet365

Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/canuck...sponse-in-an-afternoon-affair-against-anaheim

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

The Stanchies: Fastest five goals in franchise history powers Canucks past Ducks

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

Let’s go #Canucks pic.twitter.com/exZnqLF8j8

— The Line Change (@LineChangeVAN) 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.

Best Foreshadowing

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

Best Gear Geek

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

Best First Goal Redux

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.

Best Self Promotion

HRONEK GIVES US THE LEAD 2–1 #Canucks

— rigo (@nucklehe4d) April 5, 2025

Filip Hronek goal!#canucks pic.twitter.com/xaRDLeZJVd

— SoapVox (@soapvox) 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.

Best PAY ME

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?

Best Chaos Corolla

#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

pic.twitter.com/ZPmK2cMLXO

— Dave Hall (@davehall1289) 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?

Best don’t you dare

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.

Best Lore Drop

“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

Best You Missed Nothing

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.

Best Time’s Cruel Hand

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.

Best Sasson Nation Army

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.

Best Hulk Mode

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.

Best Scoop

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.

Best Not Dead Yet

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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Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/stanch...istory-powers-vancouver-canucks-anaheim-ducks

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

Canucks Game Day: Looking to complete weekend sweep with win over division-leading Vegas

After a 6-2 win over Anaheim on Saturday afternoon, the Vancouver Canucks (35-28-13) return to action when they host the Vegas Golden Knights (46-22-8) at 7pm at Rogers Arena.

This is the Knights’ first visit to Vancouver this season. They’ll also be back for the regular season finale on April 16th.

What we know​

Playing on consecutive days for the final time this season, the Canucks opted not to hold a morning skate. So it will be closer to game time before the line-up is revealed. Kevin Lankinen is expected to get the start in goal after backing up Thatcher Demko yesterday. Lankinen has not played since allowing six goals in a 7-6 shootout loss in Columbus on March 28th. Lankinen is 0-2-1 in his last three starts and is 5-6-2 in 13 starts since the 4 Nations break.

Nils Höglander is expected to return to action after missing six games with an undisclosed injury suffered in New York against the Rangers.

Six different Canucks scored and 13 skaters had points in yesterday’s win over Anaheim. Brock Boeser grabbed the team lead with his 25th goal of the season. It’s the fourth time in his eight full seasons in the NHL he’s reached the 25-goal mark.

Defenceman Elias Pettersson scored his first NHL goal in his 22nd big league game. Filip Hronek, Conor Garland, Dakota Joshua and Max Sasson had the other Canuck goals against the Ducks. It’s the second time this season six different Vancouver scorers have found the back of the net in the same game.

Quinn Hughes had a pair of primary assists giving him 72 points in 62 games. Hughes now has 405 career points and is just four back of Alex Edler for the franchise record for points by a Canucks defenceman.

The Canucks won the special teams battle on Saturday scoring on both of their power plays while the Ducks went without a goal in a pair of opportunities with the man advantage.

While the Canucks remain a longshot to pull off a playoff miracle, they are still in the hunt. They start the day six points back of Minnesota with a game in hand. The Wild is at home to Dallas on Sunday afternoon. The Canucks are 2-7 in the second game of back to backs this season.

The opponent​

The Golden Knights are the 31st and final team to visit Rogers Arena this season. They’re coming off a 3-2 overtime win in Calgary last night. Reilly Smith scored twice including the winner at 4:31 of OT. Pavel Dorofeyev had the other goal while Shea Theodore assisted on all three goals. Akira Schmid made 21 saves for his first win of the season in his third appearance and first start for the Golden Knights. Adin Hill is expected to get the nod in net tonight.

The win snapped a brief two game losing streak in which the Knights dropped home games to Edmonton and Winnipeg. Prior to that, Vegas had rattled off six straight wins. Vegas is getting pressured by Los Angeles for the Pacific Division lead. The Golden Knights now have 100 points and a three point lead with a game in hand.

The Knights are sixth in the NHL in both offence and defence and have the best power play in the league at 30.1% which is even better on the road at 32.5%.

Jack Eichel is having a career year, leading Vegas with 93 points. Dorofeyev leads the team with 33 goals. The injured Tomas Hertl has 31.

Former Canuck Ben Hutton – soon to be 32-years-old – has remained on the Vegas roster all season, but has appeared in just six games and only one since mid-November.

The Knights have taken care of the Canucks in each of their first two meetings this season by scores of 3-1 on December 19th and 2-1 on February 22nd – both at T-Mobile Arena. Vegas is 16-5-1 against Pacific Division opponents this season.

Today’s referees: Peter MacDougall & Eric Furlatt

Today’s broadcasters: John Shorthouse & Dave Tomlinson

Make sure to join the Rink Wide Vancouver postgame live stream immediately following tonight’s game. Rink Wide will provide a full breakdown and comprehensive coverage of the Canucks game. When the final buzzer sounds, be sure to log onto Rink Wide and join the YouTube live chat to discuss the game with other Canucks fans. Subscribe to the Rink Wide YouTube channel and never miss an episode.

Sponsored by bet365

Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancou...weekend-sweep-win-over-division-leading-vegas

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

Instant Reaction: Räty and Höglander score in Canucks loss to Golden Knights

Welcome back to Instant Reaction, the series here at CanucksArmy where we give you our instant reaction to tonight’s Vancouver Canucks game and ask our readers to do the same in the comments section below!

The Canucks started this game with some great intensity, and after the Canucks’ top line built some pressure on Vegas, it was the home side that opened the scoring.

CANUCKS GOALNils Hoglander scores in his return to the lineup! : Sportsnet | #Canucks

— CanucksArmy (@canucksarmy.bsky.social) 2025-04-07T02:16:37.554Z

The goal went to Höglander, but there was some great work by Brock Boeser and Marcus Pettersson on this goal as well. Great to see Höglander pick up right where he left off. 1-0 Canucks.

The Golden Knights bounced back less than five minutes later, as Ivan Barbashev broke in on a close play at the blueline that the home crowd seemed to believe the Canucks should have challenged for offsides.

Ivan Barbashev ties the game for Vegas.: Sportsnet | #Canucks

— CanucksArmy (@canucksarmy.bsky.social) 2025-04-07T02:22:47.311Z

It was close, and a couple years ago, it’s for sure offside, but with the new rules where the trailing skate can be in the air, I think this was too close to challenge. Especially given how good the Vegas power play is.

The Golden Knights seemed to feed off that first goal, as all of a sudden, the Canucks were struggling to stack shifts and get real forechecking pressure going as they did to start this game.

The Canucks gave up the game’s next goal, as old friend Tanner Pearson jumpstarted a rush chance that ended with an unfortunate bounce off of Victor Mancini’s skate and behind Kevin Lankinen.

Tough break for the Canucks as the puck goes in off Victor Mancini's skate. It's 2-1 Vegas. : Sportsnet | #Canucks

— CanucksArmy (@canucksarmy.bsky.social) 2025-04-07T02:34:24.888Z

2-1 Vegas.

With just under three minutes remaining in the first, Jack Eichel gave the Canucks the game’s first power play when he took just his fourth minor penalty of the season. Which seems crazy.

The Canucks’ power play was great against Anaheim on Saturday, and they were going to need more of that if they wanted to hang with the Knights. This time around, they got a couple of good looks, uncluding one where Hughes rifled one at Boeser’s stick in an attempt that was nearly identical to the one the Canucks scored yesterday.

Vegas killed that one off, and with one second remaining on the Canucks’ PP, Aatu Räty took a penalty. The Canucks’ PK turned in a successful kill of their own to close out the first, and to open the second as well.

Kevin Lankinen made two huge saves in the early parts of the second period, and this one on Brett Howden was likely the bigger of the two:

Kevin Lankinen makes a great save! He robs Brett Howden!: Sportsnet | #Canucks

— CanucksArmy (@canucksarmy.bsky.social) 2025-04-07T03:18:25.881Z

That opened the door for Aatu Räty to be Johnny-on-the-Spot for a point shot rebound to tie this one up at two all.

CANUCKS GOALAatu Räty ties the game for Vancouver! : Sportsnet | #Canucks

— CanucksArmy (@canucksarmy.bsky.social) 2025-04-07T03:24:35.887Z

Vegas challenged for goaltender interference, but after a lenghty review, this one stood. 2-2.

That also gave the Canucks another power play, but once again, Vegas killed it off. Again though, it wasn’t for a lack of trying. The Canucks’ PP got a great bumper spot look for Pius Suter, who was robbed by Adin Hill’s glovehand.

Adin Hill robs Pius Suter. That was an incredible save by the Vegas goaltender: Sportsnet | #Canucks

— CanucksArmy (@canucksarmy.bsky.social) 2025-04-07T03:27:22.247Z

The third got underway with the two teams deadlocked at two apiece.

The Canucks and Vegas were playing solid lockdown hockey, with neither side really willing to give an inch. As the period went on, the Golden Knights were clearly the better team, but struggled to beat Kevin Lankinen. That, was until with just over three minutes remaining in the third, when Victor Olofsson broke the tie:

Vegas takes a one goal lead late in the 3rd period. : Sportsnet | #Canucks

— CanucksArmy (@canucksarmy.bsky.social) 2025-04-07T04:41:43.861Z

3-2 Vegas. This team is really missing Tyler Myers right now.

3-2 final.

What’s your instant reaction to tonight’s game? Let us know in the comments section below. And be sure to tune into Rink Wide Vancouver moments after the final horn!

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Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/instan...e-vancouver-canucks-loss-vegas-golden-knights

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

JPat’s Monday Canucks Mailbag: Where does this team find its next second line centre?

With a win over Anaheim and a loss to Vegas, it was a mixed-bag weekend for the Vancouver Canucks. And now it’s a mailbag Monday here at CanucksArmy. The march to the finish line is truly upon us with just five games remaining on the schedule. That has many of you posing questions about the off-season and beyond. There is no doubt that this front office has plenty of heavy lifting ahead of it to get the Canucks turned in the right direction. The mailbag, too, requires some heavy lifting this week with all of the responses we got from CA readers. There’s no playing out the string here, so let’s get down to business:

Who will be the Canucks 2C next year?
Are they in the org or no?

— Jim Lahey HNIC (@LaheyHNIC) April 7, 2025

Second part first, the answer is no. As for who will hold down the second line centre spot when training camp rolls around, the crystal ball is in the shop for repairs so the answer is not readily apparent at the moment. I’m sure the name Josh Norris will surface once again in the summer months. Let’s see if a team (or teams) flame out in the first round of the playoffs and feel the need to alter the composition of its roster.

Maybe a few new trade partners will present themselves. Will the Canucks take a flyer on an offer sheet candidate? Patrik Allvin has sounded confident that he can make an offensive centre materialize for this organization, but it’s one thing to say it and another to make that happen. It just doesn’t feel like a true 2C option is currently in the fold, so with the eyes of the hockey world on the Canucks this summer, they are going to have to pull the proverbial rabbit out of their hat.

What is the record in sports in your opinion that will never ever ever ever be broken?

I don’t think Cal Ripkin Jr’s streak of 2632 consecutive games played will come close to being threatened.

— Jay (@TheHeartPlumber) April 6, 2025

There are a bunch of them: Wilt Chamberlain scoring 100 points in an NBA game. Jack Nicklaus winning 18 golf majors. Nolan Ryan’s 5714 career strike outs. And I sincerely hope no one ever bests Joey Chestnut’s 83 hot dogs eaten in 10 minutes. I get indigestion just thinking about that one.

Are the Canucks the 109 pt team of last season or the 88-90 pt team of this season?

— Matt Pisko (@MattPisko) April 7, 2025

The easy answer is they are somewhere in the middle. We all know everything fell their way in a 50-win and 109 point season and that so many career bests were always going to be tough to replicate. But it’s also easy to look at the injuries and adversity this season and think this team flushed so many points it should have collected. This is a flawed roster – especially after dealing JT Miller – so it’s hard to see this group as currently constructed a 100-point team.

Yet with a healthy Thatcher Demko at the top of his game, Quinn Hughes making up the 14 games he missed due to injury and Elias Pettersson returning to something close to star level and you can see the foundation of a team that should be much better than it is. Still, it’s been apparent on so many nights this season that the club needs an injection of reliable offensive producers at the top of the lineup.

Do you think it is more valuable for the team to lose the rest of the season for better draft position (the higher the pick, the higher to value if they decide to trade it for a Top 6 C), or for them to win and try to reclaim good vibes and reset for next season?

— Will Anderson (@willanderson393) April 6, 2025

With just five games to go, the Canucks aren’t going to move far from their current slot in the overall standings. A run either way would move them a few spots, but they’re not going to see a seismic shift. I’m inclined to keep rolling with all the Abbotsford call-ups and see what they can do with the opportunities. I’d like to see EP40 return for a couple of games rather than have his disappointing season end with an injury.

The better team won on Sunday, but I thought the undermanned Canucks put up a decent fight against a Vegas outfit with legitimate designs on another Stanley Cup. Maybe that’s the best of both worlds. Play hard and compete, but ultimately come up a goal short. Plus the schedule has the Canucks facing Dallas, Colorado, Minnesota and Vegas again which means regardless how well the team plays, it may not be up to the challenge of teams preparing for the playoffs.

With the need for offence, what are the chances that Vitali Kravtsov is brought back from the KHL, where he seems to have blossomed?

— Marc Edge (@marcedge1) April 7, 2025

This feels like the longest of longshots, but never say never. Right? The 25-year-old finished tied for sixth in KHL scoring this season with 28 goals and 57 points. Among those that produced more than Kravtsov this season: former Canucks Josh Leivo and Sheldon Rempal. Kravtsov was so underwhelming in his 16 games with the Canucks late in the 2022-23 season after being acquired from the Rangers. It’s hard to imagine Rick Tocchet looking at his lineup and thinking what he really needs next season – if he’s back – is a Vitali Kravtsov. You asked what the chances are? I’m going to see less than 10%.

As time winds down on this season, it’s so frustrating recalling last spring when the Canucks played 13 playoff games and the season extended to the May long weekend. And here we are now heading for an eighth time in the last 10 seasons without post-season hockey in Vancouver. And, of course, one of the two times the team played playoff hockey it was invited to an expanded tournament played in front of no fans in Edmonton. As teams around the league punch their tickets to the playoffs, I keep seeing things like ‘for the seventh time in eight seasons’ and think what that kind of consistency must look and feel like for those fan bases. I’m also reminded that it is possible.

You can’t make multiple consecutive appearances without the first one. So that’s probably the place to start and build from there. The Canucks will go as far as their stars take them. But without knowing the full roster for next season it’s impossible to make projections at this early stage. The fans here deserve playoff hockey on the regular. But as we’ve all learned from the past decade, wanting it doesn’t necessarily make it so. It’s wild to think you have to go back to the springs of 2012 and 2013 to find the last example of the Canucks qualifying for the post-season in consecutive years. That is too damn long.

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Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/jpats-...-where-does-team-find-next-second-line-centre

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

3 Canucks Stars of the Week: Elias Pettersson nets his first NHL goal

Welcome back to Stars of the Week at CanucksArmy! Every week, we’ll be bringing you our Top Three best and brightest performers on the Vancouver Canucks that week. Disagree with our picks or have your own stars to nominate? Let us know in the comments below!

It was a record-breaking week for Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals across the continent, and the Vancouver Canucks had a few records of their own to break. Their 6-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks saw them break the franchise record for five fastest consecutive goals.

In the first period alone, Elias Pettersson, Filip Hronek, Brock Boeser, Conor Garland, and Dakota Joshua all scored in the same five-minute window. Alas, the Canucks giveth five goals, and they taketh five goals away.

In their previous game, they put on a tragic play to rival Shakespeare himself and were shut out by Seattle 5-0. The Kraken are a fun team to watch but carry a slight “little brother” inferiority complex as the youngest of the two recent expansion teams, and continue to be the perpetual thorn in Vancouver’s side. On the subject of expansion teams, the Canucks also dropped 3-2 against the Vegas Golden Knights after a late third-period goal prevented the tie game from overtime.

Tacking on a low-event 3-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets earlier in the week, it wasn’t the most glamorous of runs for the team, but it definitely was confusing. That is the fundamental Canucks experience.

Here’s the thing: there aren’t really any Canucks stars this week, or, at least not the ones one might think. Since they played four dramatically different games, it is hard to justify a player having a decent to fantastic game, only to absolutely nosedive in the following match.

Take Thatcher Demko alone, who had a great effort against the Connor Hellebuyck-led Jets after he was left hanging by the skaters in front of him, just to be nightmarishly shut out in the following game. Even Quinn Hughes hasn’t looked like himself, despite racking up 2 assists and first star of the game against Anaheim. Much like the stock market, the team is completely unpredictable and unstable right now. It’s the same old story this season.

Even with their showing against the Ducks, they were still outshot 26-32, which reflects more on the Ducks not being able to stop the pucks headed their way rather than the Canucks briefly turning into an offence-driven powerhouse.

These might not be your picks, but with only five games left in the season, it’s time to just have some fun with it. Putting away advanced stats and cap projection calculations to say, “Because I say so.” I’m digging into the B-sides and rarities for this set. Welcome to 3 Canucks Stars of the Week: “Oops, all defencemen!” edition.

Elias Pettersson (Defence)​

D-Petey has had an understated yet incredibly valuable run as a Vancouver Canuck thus far. While the more recent call-ups from Abbotsford have been getting the most attention, understandably, Pettersson has been a part of the Vancouver lineup since January and is likely to become an NHL mainstay on the bottom pairing. He’s young, spry, an efficient skater, and is already looking promising at frustrating opponents under pressure. He’s achieved this while playing fairly limited minutes, averaging out at just over 12 minutes a game on the year, though he logged over 15 against Anaheim this week. This was his big game of the week, and he scored right from the slot in a picture-perfect moment.

FIRST OF MANY FOR JUNIOR! pic.twitter.com/NsHQWjQxKC

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) April 5, 2025

In a season where the Canucks defensive depth has suffered and varied – Carson Soucy and Vincent Desharnais already seem like eons ago – a player like Elias Pettersson gives some insight on stability well into the franchise’s future. There’s a long way to go in the details in his game, but few making the NHL jump at just 21 carve themselves out a spot immediately, and it’s been a pleasant surprise. Even though the focus on Pettersson’s role is by far not his offence, his first career NHL goal was a celebratory moment nevertheless, and his name will remain part of the new franchise record for years to come.

D-Petey with his first goal puck. pic.twitter.com/wHmMv6uTH9

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) April 5, 2025

Derek Forbort​

It makes sense to have D-Petey’s current third-pairing partner on the list, too, for the art of the defensive defenceman cannot be forgotten in a world of Norris Trophy phenoms. Forbort has been an unexpectedly solid pickup for the Canucks this year.

Quite frankly, he didn’t have the best week in the world – especially against the Winnipeg Jets, where he got dog-walked like a well-trained terrier – but he’s been remarkably consistent for the Canucks since February. After a slow start in the fall following the loss of his father and injury, he’s managed to make a difference in the latter half of this season and is one of the best penalty killers they have on hand.

He’s been a guiding veteran presence for young defencemen like Elias Pettersson and Victor Mancini, plays a responsible game and sets the example for them, and he’s provided insurance, allowing them to make the odd rookie mistake. Forbort factored in on Elias Pettersson’s first career goal against Anaheim, and actually put up the highest Corsi For in this game and played over 18 minutes, taking on a bigger role with Tyler Myers out of the lineup.

While the team won’t be making a trip to the playoffs this year, he’s played up to his $1.5 million one-year deal. It might be wise for Vancouver to re-sign him with another team-friendly amount to have their back-end defence covered and a pretty reliable shutdown player for the future.

Filip Hronek​

Last week, I talked about how Aatu Räty and Fiip Hronek were worth the loss of Bo Horvat two years ago. This week, Räty managed to get a loose puck off Hronek’s signature shot and knock it right past Vegas’ Adin Hill for a good goal – after some deliberation. I rest my case.

GOOD GOAL FROM AATU! pic.twitter.com/HLurkx00O4

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) April 7, 2025

This season, Hronek underwent a procedure in December, and he still came back to complete his current campaign of 56 games, 5 goals, 25 assists to date. While Quinn Hughes has either been out of the lineup or uncharacteristically off his usual standard this spring – completely understandably so, after he practically carried the entire team to the finish line – it’s become abundantly clear how important the support around him on the blue line really is. Right-handed defencemen of Hronek’s calibre do not grow on trees in the National Hockey League.

Hronek is a penalty killer who doesn’t let offence fall by the wayside and can hold his own on the secondary power play unit. He has his weaknesses, but don’t we all? I have no problem with Filip Hronek continuing as second-in-command on the blue line, though you could argue that the title belongs to Tyler Myers.

I’m a defender of Hronek, even when he’s blatantly struggling to defend off the rush. I defend so he doesn’t have to. Here’s his absolute firecracker of a shot from the blue line against Anaheim in case you forgot what the Canucks have in this player.

17 from downtown! pic.twitter.com/RN0Ts0obQL

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) April 5, 2025

Or this, which is a better summary of how the Canucks season has gone.

do u think this will haunt Hronek #Canucks pic.twitter.com/Zykiu34TFB

— tiana (@nuckaround) April 7, 2025

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Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/3-vanc...fenceman-elias-pettersson-nets-first-nhl-goal