By Andrew Phillip Chernoff
September 21, 2025
The Vancouver Canucks lost to the Seattle Kraken. The final score was 5-3. This was their first preseason game of the 2025-26 NHL season. The Canucks fielded a young lineup with a number of prospects. They showed some flashes of promise. However, they ultimately couldn’t overcome a more veteran Kraken roster.
Rookie defenseman Victor Mancini had a strong showing. He scored the Canucks’ first goal of the game. It was a power-play marker in the second period. Chase Stillman also scored for Vancouver on a penalty shot, and Nils Åman added a goal in the third.
In net, the Canucks split the game between Nikita Tolopilo and Ty Young. Tolopilo performed solidly. He made 13 saves on 14 shots. Young faced a tougher second half. He allowed four goals.
For the Kraken, Jani Nyman was a standout, scoring two goals. Other Kraken goal scorers included Eduard Šalé, Jaden Schwartz, and John Hayden. Vince Dunn had three assists.
The Canucks struggled on the power play. They converted on only one of six opportunities. The Kraken were scoreless on their two power plays.
Vancouver outhit Seattle 34-15 and out shot them 25-24.
Kraken Stymie Canucks To Start Game
The first period of the exhibition game against the Seattle Kraken was physical and fast-paced. The Vancouver Canucks found themselves down 1-0. Eduard Sale of the Kraken scored the lone goal at 14:06 in the period. Jordan Eberle and Blake Fiddler assisted him.
The Kraken controlled the pace for most of the frame, outshooting the Canucks 12-5. Vancouver’s young lineup, featuring several prospects, struggled to generate consistent offensive zone pressure. The Canucks’ goaltender, Nikita Tolopilo, was solid, making several key saves to keep the game within reach.
Despite being outshot, the Canucks showed some physicality, racking up 10 hits compared to the Kraken’s 5. Vancouver’s only power play opportunity came after a tripping penalty by Ryker Evans, but the Canucks were unable to capitalize. The Kraken also had a power play. Danila Klimovich was whistled for tripping. However, the Canucks’ penalty kill was effective.
They were tested early by a Kraken lineup. This lineup included more veteran talent like Matty Beniers and Shane Wright. The first period was a challenge. However, it offered valuable experience for the young Canucks, as they continued their push to make the opening night roster.
Scoring Dominates Middle Frame
The Canucks started the middle frame with more energy. They generated a few decent scoring chances in the opening minutes. However, the Kraken’s defense, anchored by veteran Adam Larsson, held firm.
The Seattle Kraken dominated the second period. They scored three goals, all with assists from Vince Dunn. This gave them a commanding 4-2 lead. The Canucks’ second goal of the period came from a penalty shot.
The Canucks started the period strong. Their effort paid off at 3:25 with a power-play goal from defenseman Victor Mancini. The goal was assisted by Braeden Cootes and Kiefer Sherwood, tying the game at 1-1.
The Canucks changed goaltenders. Ty Young came in, and Nikita Tolopilo left. And Young got busy quickly for all the wrong reasons.
The Kraken quickly regained momentum.
Jani Nyman scored at 10:54, assisted by Kaapo Kakko and Vince Dunn, putting Seattle back in the lead. Just over a minute later, Jaden Schwartz scored at 13:45. He extended the lead to 3-1 with assists from Shane Wright and Vince Dunn. The Kraken kept the pressure on. Nyman scored his second goal of the period at 14:25. He was assisted by Vince Dunn and Kaapo Kakko. This pushed the lead to 4-1.
The Canucks managed to get one back at 19:45 on a penalty shot.
Chase Stillman was awarded the penalty shot after being slashed on a breakaway. He capitalized with a beautiful move to beat the goalie on the penalty shot. This made it 4-2.
Canucks Try To Get Traction For Comeback
Seattle switched goalies, bringing in Nikke Kokko and taking Joey Daccord out for the third period.
Seattle padded their lead early. John Hayden scored his first of the preseason. O. Fisker Molgaard assisted him, and it was 5-2 for the home team at 3:07.
Just over four minutes later, Nils Aman brought the Canucks back within two goals again at 5-3. He was assisted by Joseph LaBate (1) and Pierre Oliver Joseph (1) at 7:25.
The Aman goal brought some life to the Canucks roster. They started to get some play in the Kraken zone. They tried to get another goal to move closer, but it was not to be. They put on pressure in the final few minutes of the game, even generating a power play advantage.
NOTES
Elias Pettersson (the defenseman), Tom Willander, and Victor Mancini received significant ice time in this game. This was a deliberate move to see how they would act under pressure.
Pre-game news centred on the Canucks’ lineup, particularly the youth movement. The Canucks iced a very young squad for their first preseason game. They dressed the minimum eight veterans required by the NHL’s collective bargaining agreement.
Nikita Tolopilo was the best Vancouver player due to his stupendous goaltending in the opening period. He was followed by Victor Mancini for his leadership and for putting the Canucks on the scoreboard.
Then, players like Chase Stillman and Joseph Labate took charge. They brought intensity and energy to the Canucks game. This especially occurred in the final half of the 3rd period. The Canucks pressed the Kraken at every turn until the final buzzer.
Next exhibition game is Wednesday night in Abbotsford, B.C. when Vancouver welcomes the Calagary Flames for another Pacific division game.
Until next time, hockey fans
