By Andrew Phillip Chernoff | CanucksBanter
October 26, 2025
Games of the Week
- October 21st at Pittsburgh Penguins (1-5 Loss):
- The Vancouver Canucks were smothered by the Pittsburgh Penguins in a lopsided loss at PPG Paints Arena, ending Vancouver’s three-game winning streak.
- The Canucks struck first when Conor Garland scored just 78 seconds into the game, and Connor Dewar scored for the Penguins and the opening period finished at 1-1.
- Pittsburgh dominated the middle frame, scoring three times in just over three minutes: Tommy Novak, Sidney Crosby, Anthony Mantha and the Penguins never looked back.
- Justin Brazeau added a power-play goal early in the third to seal the 5–1 final score.
- Goaltender Arturs Silovs, facing his former club, stopped 23 of 24 shots in a stellar outing for the Penguins.
- Fatigue and penalties were significant factors, as the Canucks surrendered two power-play goals and failed to convert on three of their own.
- The Canucks, travel-heavy start to the season appeared, and did the Canucks no favours.
- Sydney Crosby officially became the all-time points leader in Penguins history, passing Mario Lemieux with 1,896 career points combining regular season and playoffs.
- October 23rd at Nashville Predators (1-2 Loss):
- The Nashville Predators defeated the Vancouver Canucks 2–1 on October 23, 2025, at Bridgestone Arena that featured strong goaltending and special teams action from the two clubs.
- Ryan O’Reilly opened the scoring for Nashville midway through the second period with a short-handed goal on a two-on-one rush. Vancouver answered back when Max Sasson finished a slick rush to beat Predators goalie Juuse Saros five-hole less than three minutes later.
- Cole Smith potted the game-winner early in the third period deflecting a Justin Barron’s point shot past Thatcher Demko.
- Saros stopped 21 of 22 shots, while Demko turned aside 33 of 35 in another strong outing.
- Inefficient power play, going 0-for-5 and allowing a short-handed goal that gave Nashville a 1-0 lead, did not help the Canucks.
- Vancouver’s road trip ended with back-to-back one-goal losses, after starting with back-to-back wins for a 3-2-0 road trip.
- October 25th vs Montreal Canadiens (3-4 Loss):
- The Montreal Canadiens arrived at Rogers Arena in Vancouver riding a wave of early-season success, a confident group finding ways to win on a challenging western road trip. Their opponents, the Vancouver Canucks, were trending in the opposite direction, mired in a losing streak and desperate to correct their course on home ice.
- Vancouver started strong, were leading midway through the second period. For the first 35 minutes of the contest, the Vancouver Canucks executed their game plan to near perfection. Their control of the play at 5-on-5 was not just noticeable; it was statistically overwhelming, leading to a 2-0 advantage that seemed a fair reflection of their efforts.
- Elias Pettersson opened the scoring in the first with a quick give-and-go with Filip Hronek, and Jake DeBrusk extended the lead early in the second on the power play from a deflection of Quinn Hughes’ point shot.
- Montreal responded on a late second-period power play when Nick Suzuki converted a cross-ice pass from Demidov, narrowing the deficit to 2–1.
- The Canadiens stormed back in the third period.
- Juraj Slafkovsky tied the game 1:39 into the frame on another power play set up by Demidov.
- Mike Matheson then blasted a screened shot from the slot at 8:19 to give Montreal its first lead.
- Demidov added a goal of his own—a deflected one-timer from the right circle at 11:09—to make it 4–2.
- Conor Garland brought Vancouver within one, scoring his 300th NHL point, but Montreal held on for the 4–3 win.
- The Canucks outshot the Canadiens 31-24 over the course of the game, but the quality of those shots tells a more dramatic story. At 5-on-5, Vancouver generated a staggering 15 high-danger scoring chances compared to just three for Montreal. This metric provides irrefutable evidence that the Canucks were not just possessing the puck, but consistently penetrating Montreal’s defensive structure to create premium opportunities in the most dangerous areas of the ice.
- The game serves as a stark and immediate warning to the Canucks’ coaching staff and front office that possessing the puck and generating chances is ultimately meaningless without the structure and execution required to close out games.
- October 26th vs Edmonton Oilers (4-3 OT Win ):
- Kiefer Sherwood scored his 6th goal of the season, second of the game, to help the Canucks defeat the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 in a Pacific Division contest at Rogers Arena.
- Sherwood had two goals, plus a disallowed goal ruled offside on the play, to lead Vancouver.
- Brock Boeser had 3 points (1G, 2A) to lead Vancouver.
- Thatcher Demko stopped 26 shots of 29 for the Canucks 5th win of the season.
- Elias Pettersson scored a power play goal, and Conor Garland picked up 2 assists.
- Leon Draisaitl popped in 2 goals, Jack Roslovic a goal in a losing effort for the Oilers who picked up a single point in the OT loss.
- Canucks played without Quinn Hughes who is injured and listed day-to-day.
Key Takeaways From Road Trip
- Strong Start, Flat Finish On Road Trip
- Vancouver won their first three games on the road trip (Dallas, Chicago, Washington) with resilient play and solid goaltending from Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen. Their forechecking and structure looked sharp early, but fatigue and inconsistency appeared in the final two games.
- Power Play Struggles To End Trip
- The Canucks’ power play was a major problem on the extended road trip. They went 0-for-5 in Nashville, finishing the road trip with only 4 goals on 28 opportunities for the season, while allowing 2 shorthanded goals.
- Quinn Hughes: All In But Not All There
- On the road trip against Nashville, despite logging nearly 30 minutes of ice time, the Predators outshot Vancouver 18–6 at five-on-five with Hughes on the ice—an oddity to say the least.
- Analysts noted that Hughes appeared to be pressing too hard offensively, perhaps due to the injuries and pressure the team faced near the end of the trip.
- On the road trip against Nashville, despite logging nearly 30 minutes of ice time, the Predators outshot Vancouver 18–6 at five-on-five with Hughes on the ice—an oddity to say the least.
- Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen
- Demko started three of the five games and was instrumental in the Canucks’ three early wins, particularly against Washington.
- Advanced metrics showed that Demko’s Goals Saved Above Expected (GSAE) sat at 6.6, meaning he prevented nearly seven goals more than statistical models predicted over his first four starts, underscoring how he “stole games” for Vancouver. In the road trip finale, he stopped 33 of 35 shots in a tight 2–1 loss to Nashville, again being the team’s best player despite limited offensive support.
- Lankinen delivered strong relief starts. His highlight performance came in Chicago, where he stopped 31 of 33 shots in regulation and overtime, then denied all four shootout attempts to secure a 3–2 win.
- Demko started three of the five games and was instrumental in the Canucks’ three early wins, particularly against Washington.
- Elite goaltending and a Captain trying to carry the load — defined the Canucks’ impressive but taxing 3–2–0 road performance.
- The Canucks’ road trip showcased flashes of elite play and secondary scoring, but their faltering power play and overall offensive predictability were no match for the Penguins —and, as it turned out, no match for the Predators by the end of the game.
Overall Key Takeaways From The Weekend
- Game 1: Saturday, Oct 25 vs. Canadiens (4-3 Loss)
- The Collapse: This was the primary story. The Canucks built a 2-0 lead midway through the second period but couldn’t hold it. Montreal stormed back with four unanswered goals, including three in the third period, to take a 4-2 lead before a late Canucks goal.
- Penalty Trouble Cost Them: Special teams were the difference. The Canucks’ momentum was derailed by penalties, and Montreal capitalized by scoring two power-play goals that fueled their comeback.
- Pettersson’s Big Night: On a positive note, Elias Pettersson was dominant offensively, factoring in on all three Canucks goals with one goal and two assists for a three-point night.
- Lankinen in Net: Kevin Lankinen got the start and made 20 saves in the losing effort.
- Game 2: Sunday, Oct 26 vs. Oilers (4-3 OT Win)
- The Hughes Injury: The biggest news heading into the game was that captain Quinn Hughes was out of the lineup and is listed as “day-to-day” with a lower-body injury suffered late in the game against Montreal.
- Resilience and Response: Playing without their captain and on the second night of a back-to-back, the team showed significant resilience. They snapped a three-game losing streak with a character win against a divisional rival.
- Kiefer Sherwood, The Hero: Kiefer Sherwood was the unlikely star, scoring two goals. He notched a highlight-reel goal in the second period and then tipped home the game-winner in overtime.
- Top Players Stepped Up: In Hughes’ absence, the team’s other leaders produced. Elias Pettersson scored again (a power-play goal), and Brock Boeser had a three-point night (one goal, two assists). Thatcher Demko was sharp in net, making 26 saves for the win.
My Week’s Highest Value Canucks Performers
Conor Garland
Garland has been the most dynamic forward for Vancouver this week. After being elevated to the first power-play unit and top right-wing spot, his puck control and forechecking have driven the Canucks’ offense. In the recent 2–1 loss to Nashville, he led the team in entries and passing plays that created high-danger chances while maintaining a steady defensive presence.
Max Sasson
Sasson continues to emerge as an efficient depth scorer. Over this week, his production includes a highlight-reel goal in Nashville, where he beat Juuse Saros clean after breaking free from the defense. Earlier in the month, he scored clutch goals in Chicago and Dallas, demonstrating poise and opportunism—making him one of the most effective third-line skaters in terms of offensive value.
Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen
Demko’s consistency and Lankinen’s reliability as a backup have stabilized the Canucks’ goaltending tandem. Demko has continued his strong play from the earlier stretch, with local coverage calling his recent performances “heroic” in keeping Vancouver competitive. Meanwhile, Lankinen’s 31-save performance against Chicago and perfect shootout record sealed a key road victory.
Elias Pettersson
Pettersson’s forechecking and passing have created goals in tight games, including setups for Boeser on the power play. While not dominant statistically, his two-way presence and puck control have underpinned the top line’s success.
Kiefer Sherwood
Sherwood scored two goals, including the winner against Edmonton, and had another disallowed for offside on the play in the same game.
What’s Up?
- New York Rangers
- The Rangers remain one of the league’s most balanced teams, anchored by Igor Shesterkin in goal and a deep blue line. Their power play, led by Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin, poses a major threat. Vancouver must avoid taking penalties and improve neutral zone structure to keep the game at even strength.
- St. Louis Blues
- The Blues play a disciplined, heavy forecheck game and will challenge Vancouver’s defensive breakouts. Vancouver needs better puck management and quick decisions from its defense — turnovers have been a recurring issue that cost them points earlier this month.
- Minnesota Wild
- Minnesota’s identity revolves around aggressive, grinding hockey and depth scoring. This will test the Canucks’ endurance at the end of a road trip. Containing Kirill Kaprizov and maintaining strong net-front coverage are key priorities.
Keys for a Successful Week
- Tighten Defensive Structure: The Canucks have given up too many cross-seam passes and second-chance goals, as seen in their recent collapses.
- Consistency in Net: Demko must remain sharp, and Lankinen should provide a reliable second option.
- Depth Scoring: With several forwards injured, contributions from the bottom six — especially Lukas Reichel and Kiefer Sherwood — are vital.
- Special Teams Discipline: Vancouver’s penalty kill has faltered; keeping play five-on-five will be crucial against high-skill teams like New York and Minnesota.
If the Canucks can take at least four of six points this week, they can steady their season trajectory after a rocky start.
Games This Week
- Vs New York Rangers: October 28/25 @ 07:00 pm PDT
- At St. Louis Blues: October 30/25 @ 05:00 pm PDT
- At Minnesota Wild: November 01/25 @ 4:00 pm PDT
Until next week, hockey fans
