By Andrew Phillip Chernoff and Zachary Oliver Burnham | CanucksBanter

November 30, 2025

Record: 1-1-1 (3 Points)

Season Record: 10-13-3 (7th in Pacific Division)

While the Canucks managed to salvage three of a possible six points on the California road trip, the team is still searching for consistency. The loss of goaltender Kevin Lankinen to personal reasons mid-week forced the team to scramble in net, putting immense pressure on the defense, but he was back in net by the end of the week starting against the Los Angeles Kings, and did his best in his return, but Vancouver fell short in overtime.

Game Results

Wednesday, November 26: Canucks 5, Ducks 4

The Canucks snapped a three-game losing streak with a tight victory in Anaheim, largely thanks to a strong performance from goaltender Nikita Tolopilo in his first NHL appearance of the season. The game was a back-and-forth offensive battle, but Vancouver managed to pull ahead late in the third period.

With the game tied 3–3 late in the third, rookie Max Sasson tipped in a Filip Hronek shot with just 4:02 remaining to give Vancouver the lead.

Tom Willander recorded a pair of assists, showing his growing comfort on the blue line.

Drew O’Connor scored an empty-netter with under two minutes left, which proved crucial as Anaheim scored one final goal with seconds remaining.

Nikita Tolopilo was the star, making 37 saves to secure the win.

Linus Karlsson, Evander Kane, and Conor Garland also scored for Vancouver.

​Friday, November 28: Canucks 2, Sharks 3

The Canucks headed to San Jose but fell short in a close, hard-fought game, only to start another losing streak.

Despite a strong push in the third period, the Canucks couldn’t overcome a sluggish start. They couldn’t solve Sharks goaltender Yaroslav Askarov often enough to secure the win. The offense dried up against a Sharks team they were expected to beat, despite outshooting San Jose.

Brock Boeser opened the scoring early in the first period. This goal marked his 450th career NHL point, moving him past Todd Bertuzzi for 10th on the Canucks’ all-time scoring list.

Elias Pettersson scored a spectacular goal in the second period, batting the puck out of mid-air to himself before sweeping it into the net to briefly give Vancouver a 2–1 lead.

The Sharks rallied with power-play goals from Will Smith and William Eklund. Former Canuck Adam Gaudette scored the game-winner late in the second period on a wraparound that was confirmed by video review.

Nikita Tolopilo started his second straight game, stopping 21 of 24 shots.

Saturday, November 29: Canucks , Kings

The Vancouver Canucks (10–13–3) salvaged a single point in a tight, chaotic defensive battle against the Los Angeles Kings, falling 2–1 in overtime. In a game defined by video reviews and defensive structure, the Canucks couldn’t find the extra gear offensively without Conor Garland (out with an upper-body injury).

The opening five minutes were among the strangest of the season, featuring three disallowed goals that prevented the game from finding any early rhythm. Just 36 seconds in, Elias Pettersson appeared to tuck a puck past Anton Forsberg. The on-ice call was “No Goal,” and video review confirmed the puck did not fully cross the line.

Trevor Moore scored on a rush, but Head Coach Adam Foote challenged for offside. The goal was overturned. Moments later, Aatu Raty tipped a Quinn Hughes point shot for an apparent goal. This time, the Kings challenged for offside (Jonathan Lekkerimaki was the culprit), and it was also overturned.

Anze Kopitar finally opened the scoring for real late in the first period, snapping a wrist shot past Kevin Lankinen from the slot.

The Canucks tied it early in the second period thanks to Evander Kane. Fresh out of the penalty box, Kane accepted a stretch pass from Drew O’Connor, broke in alone, and beat Forsberg stick-side for his 5th goal of the season.

Kevin Lankinen, returning from personal leave, was the Canucks’ best player. He stopped 21 of 23 shots and looked calm despite the heavy defensive workload. He was particularly sharp in the third period as the Kings pressed for a regulation winner.

In overtime, after Quinton Byfield whiffed on a chance, the puck scrambled to Adrian Kempe, who buried the winner into an open net while Lankinen was down in the crease. The Canucks challenged for goaltender interference, but the goal stood.

Injury Updates/Roster Moves

Goaltender Shuffle

The biggest news of the week was the sudden departure and subsequent return of goaltender Kevin Lankinen, which triggered a series of emergency roster moves.

• Kevin Lankinen (G):
  • Status: Left the team on Nov 25 for personal reasons.
  • Update: As of Nov 29, rejoined the team, and was starting goalie against Los Angeles Kings.
• Jiří Patera (G):
  • Nov 25: Recalled from AHL Abbotsford on an emergency basis to cover for Lankinen.
  • Nov 29: Reassigned to AHL Abbotsford (started for Abbotsford in their win over Tucson that same night).
• Nikita Tolopilo (G):
  • Nov 24: Recalled from AHL Abbotsford. He remained with the big club throughout the week to handle duties in net alongside Patera and Lankinen as the emergency recall.

Roster Moves

• Jonathan Lekkerimäki (RW): Recalled from AHL Abbotsford on Nov 29. After recovering from an upper-body injury earlier in the season and a brief conditioning stint in the AHL (where he posted 5 points in 5 games), the sharpshooting rookie is back with the big club. He is expected to provide an offensive spark to the middle six.

• MacKenzie MacEachern (LW): Reassigned to AHL Abbotsford on Nov 24.

​Injury Update

Name	Status	Injury	Notes
Thatcher Demko (G)	IR	Lower Body	Progress: Reportedly back on the ice twice this week. Although he was “week-to-week” and did not play on the road trip, reports suggest he is nearing a return, potentially in early December.
Filip Chytil (C)	IR	Upper Body	Timeline: Out until at least Dec 16. Dealing with lingering issues from a hit on Oct 19.
Teddy Blueger (C)	IR	Lower Body	Timeline: Out until at least Dec 8. Missed the California road trip.
Nils Höglander (LW)	LTIR	Lower Body	Timeline: Out until at least Dec 14. Continuing rehab from surgery.
Derek Forbort (D)	LTIR	Undisclosed	No new updates; remains out indefinitely.

Roster Speculation

• Lukas Reichel Trade Speculation: The Canucks continue to look at moving forward Lukas Reichel after acquiring him at the end of October. He has struggled with only one point in 14 games and has a Plus/Minus of -5.
  • The short-lived experiment at second-line center appears to be over, due to underperformance and the impending return of other injured forwards.
• Search for Second-Line Center: The ongoing need for a reliable second-line center remains a hot topic, with the Reichel experiment failing.
• Quinn Hughes Future: While purely speculative, there’s always noise around the core players during periods of team struggles. Hughes’ name has surfaced in general “Canucks News & Rumours” discussions.

Canucks Statistical Snapshot (As of November 24th 2025, 8 am)

Key Concern: The Penalty Kill is still a critical weakness, ranking 2nd to last in the league. The high number of goals against is also a major concern.

Metric	Weekly Stat	Record	Notes
Record	1–1–1 (3 Points)	10–13–3 (23 Points)	7th in Pacific Division; 23 points puts them outside playoff structure.
Goals For	8 (2.67 GF/GP)	79 (Rank: ~12th)	Scored 5 vs. ANA, but offense dried up vs. SJS (2) and LAK (1).
Goals Against	9 (3.00 GA/GP)	95 (Rank: 31st)	Improved from season average (3.65 GA/GP), but late lapses cost points vs. SJS & LAK.
Power Play	1/15 (6.7%)	21.6% (Rank: 14th)	Struggled: 1/3 vs. ANA; 0/9 vs. SJS; 0/3 vs. LAK.
Penalty Kill	10/13 (76.9%)	70.5% (Rank: 31st)	Mixed: Allowed 1 PPG vs. ANA and 2 PPG vs. SJS (inc. 5-on-3). Perfect 4/4 vs. LAK.

Offensive, Defensive and Neutral Zone Play

Zone	Season Average	Game-by-Game
Offensive Zone	40.9%	vs. SJS: High volume but low danger. Generated significant zone time on 9 power plays but failed to convert. vs. LAK: Lowest of the week. Struggled to penetrate the Kings’ neutral zone trap, resulting in dump-ins and limited cycle time.
Defensive Zone	42.2%	vs. ANA: High. Surrendered 41 shots and spent significant shifts hemmed in, relying on Tolopilo (37 saves). vs. LAK: Managed well at 5v5 but conceded the OT winner after a defensive zone breakdown.
Neutral Zone	16.9%	vs. ANA: Open, high-speed transition game suited the Canucks’ rush offense. vs. LAK: Clogged. The Kings forced play into the neutral zone, denying Vancouver clean entries (high turnover rate at lines).

Players Stats Totals For Week of November 24-30, 2025

Player	Pos	GP	Goals	Assists	Points	+/-
Evander Kane	LW	3	2	1	3	+1
Tom Willander	D	3	0	3	3	+2
Filip Hronek	D	3	0	3	3	0
Max Sasson	C	3	1	1	2	+1
Elias Pettersson	C	3	1	1	2	-1
Brock Boeser	RW	3	1	1	2	-1
Conor Garland	RW	2	1	1	2	0
Drew O’Connor	LW	3	1	1	2	+1
Linus Karlsson	RW	3	1	0	1	0
Quinn Hughes	D	3	0	1	1	-1
Jake DeBrusk	LW	3	0	0	0	-1
Tyler Myers	D	3	0	0	0	-3
Carson Soucy	D	3	0	0	0	-2
Pius Suter	C	3	0	0	0	0

Goaltender Records (November 24–30, 2025)

Date	Team	Goalie	W-L-OTL	SA	Saves	GA	SV%
Nov 26	Ducks	Tolopilo	W 5–4	41	37	4	.902
Nov 28	Sharks	Tolopilo	L 2–3	24	21	3	.875
Nov 29	Kings	Lankinen	OTL 1–2	23	21	2	.913

Pacific Division Standings (as of November 30, 8 am)

The Canucks are 10-13-3, placing them 7th in the Pacific Division and 14th in the Western Conference.

2025-26 NHL PACIFIC DIVISION STANDINGS

RK	Team	GP	W	L	OT/SOTL	Pts	Diff
1	Ducks	22	14	7	1	29	+11
2	Kraken	22	11	5	6	28	-2
3	Vegas	21	10	4	7	27	+7
4	LA	22	10	6	6	26	-3
5	SJ	23	11	9	3	25	-4
6	Oilers	24	10	9	5	25	-13
7	Canucks	23	10	13	3	23	-15
8	Flames	24	8	13	3	19	-14

Week’s Highest Value Canucks Performers

1. Evander Kane (LW)

His breakaway goal against Los Angeles (exiting the penalty box) was the team’s only source of offense in a tight defensive battle. He also scored a crucial power-play goal against Anaheim.

Weekly Stats: 3 GP | 2 Goals | 1 Assist | 3 Points | +1

In a week where the offense struggled for consistency (only 8 goals total), Kane was involved in 37.5% of the team’s scoring.

2. Tom Willander (D)

Weekly Stats: 3 GP | 0 Goals | 3 Assists | 3 Points | +2

With the defensive corps struggling mightily (9 goals allowed), the rookie stepped up as the most composed puck-mover on the blueline.

Recorded his first career multi-point game (2 Assists) in the win vs. Anaheim. His ability to skate the puck out of danger directly led to transition offense, bypassing the neutral zone clutter that stifled veterans like Myers.

3. Nikita Tolopilo (G)

Weekly Stats: 2 GP | 1 Win | 37 Saves (vs ANA) | .902 SV% (vs ANA)

The win against Anaheim was almost entirely attributable to Tolopilo. He faced a season-high 41 shots and held the fort during a chaotic second period where the Canucks were outshot heavily.

As a third-string option forced into a starting role, securing 2 points on the road is immense value.

4. Max Sasson (C)

Weekly Stats: 3 GP | 1 Goal | 1 Assist | 2 Points | +1

Sasson continues to solidify the 3rd line center role on an Entry-Level Contract (ELC).

Scored the Game-Winning Goal vs. Anaheim with just 4:02 remaining in the 3rd period, tipping a point shot to break a 3-3 deadlock.

2026 NHL Playoffs Chances

The team’s current record and poor 4-7-3 record in November, compounded by significant injuries and the league-worst penalty kill, puts their current playoff chances in serious jeopardy and which is the main reason they have fallen out of Wild Card contention. Improvement and health will be critical to climb back into a Wild Card spot.

2025-26 NHL Western Conference Wild Card Standings (as of November 30, 2025 @ 8 am)

1	Colorado	CEN	25	18–1–6	42	103	+48
2	Dallas	CEN	25	16–5–4	36	87	+17
3	Wild	CEN	26	14–7–5	33	77	+5
4	Ducks	PAC	24	15–8–1	31	89	+11
5	Kings	PAC	25	12–6–7	31	68	-2
6	Vegas	PAC	25	11–6–8	30	76	0
7	Seattle	PAC	24	11–7–6	28	59	-7
8	Utah	CEN	26	12–11–3	27	77	0
9	Sharks	PAC	26	12–11–3	27	74	-10
10	Oilers	PAC	26	11–10–5	27	81	-14
11	Jets	CEN	24	13–11–0	26	76	+6
12	Chicago	CEN	24	10–9–5	25	75	+5
13	Blues	CEN	26	9–10–7	25	68	-23
14	Canucks	PAC	26	10–13–3	23	79	-16
15	Calgary	PAC	26	9–14–3	21	65	-16
16	Nashville	CEN	25	8–13–4	20	64	-28

Key Notes

• The Logjam: There is a three-way tie at 27 points between Utah, San Jose, and Edmonton for the final Wild Card spot. Utah currently holds the edge (likely due to Regulation Wins or goal differential), but they have lost 3 straight.
• Vancouver’s Position: Despite being 14th in the conference, the Canucks are only 4 points out of a playoff spot because the teams immediately ahead of them (Utah, Seattle, San Jose) are also struggling.
• Games in Hand: Winnipeg (11th) and Chicago (12th) have played two fewer games than Vancouver, meaning the gap could widen if those teams win their makeup games.

What’s Up?

Status Check: The Canucks enter this week at 10–13–3 (23 Points), sitting 4 points out of a playoff spot. With Thatcher Demko still sidelined, the margin for error is razor-thin.

To salvage this week and climb back into the Wild Card race, the Canucks must execute on three specific strategic fronts against three distinct opponents.

1. Tuesday, December 2nd @ Colorado Avalanche: “Survival & Discipline”

• The Opponent: The Avalanche are the hottest team in the league (recently on an 8+ game win streak) and are scoring at will (4.1 Goals/Game).
• The Strategic Key: Holster the Sticks:
  • Why: Colorado possesses a lethal Power Play operating at elite efficiency. The Canucks have the 31st-ranked Penalty Kill (70.5%) and lead the league in stick infractions (tripping/hooking).
  • The Trap: If Vancouver gets into a special teams battle, they will lose. They cannot afford the “lazy” penalties (e.g., reaching in the neutral zone) that plagued them against San Jose.
  • Tactical Adjustment: Collapse the slot. Colorado feasts on cross-seam passes to Nathan MacKinnon in the left circle. The defense must prioritize blocking passing lanes over chasing the puck carrier in the corners.

2. Friday, December 5th vs. Utah Mammoth: “The 4-Point Swing”

• The Opponent: Utah (WC2) holds the playoff spot Vancouver is chasing. They have lost 3 straight games, all by a single goal (3–4, 3–4, 3–4). They are fragile but dangerous offensively.
• The Strategic Key:Break Their Spirit Early.
  • Why: Utah is playing competitive but losing hockey. A fast start by Vancouver (scoring first) will psychologically damage a team that is struggling to close out games.
  • Target: Olli Maatta and the Utah defense are dealing with injuries. Vancouver’s forecheck (Sherwood, Joshua, Garland) must punish their defenders on retrieval to force turnovers.
  • Must-Do: This is effectively a “Must Win” in regulation. Giving Utah a “loser point” (OT loss) would be a strategic failure.

3. Saturday, December 6th vs. Minnesota Wild: “Patience Over Pace”

• The Opponent: Minnesota is one of the league’s best defensive teams (Top 5 in Goals Against). They play a structured, low-event style that frustrates opponents into making mistakes.
• The Strategic Key:Safe Puck Management (No “Hope” Plays).
  • Why: The Wild thrive on turnovers in the neutral zone. If Vancouver tries to force stretch passes to create offense, Minnesota will intercept and counter-attack.
  • Goaltending: This is the second half of a back-to-back. Nikita Tolopilo will likely start. The team must defend the “Grade A” area in front of him relentlessly, as he has shown he can make the first save but struggles with lateral movement on rebounds.

“Fix-It” List for the Week

Regardless of the opponent, these two internal issues must be addressed in practice:

1. The “Diamond” PK Structure:
   • Problem: The current penalty kill formation is too passive, allowing easy East-West passes that open up the net.
   • Fix: The forwards at the top of the diamond need to pressure the points more aggressively to disrupt the quarterbacking.
2. Third Period Conditioning:
   • Problem: The Canucks have surrendered a league-high 38 goals in the 3rd period in 26 games played.
   • Fix: Shorten shift lengths in the final frame. The coaching staff needs to roll 4 lines early to keep the top defenders (Hughes/Hronek) fresh for the final 10 minutes.

Until next time, hockey fans

What’s Up?

This three-game, four-day stretch presents a great opportunity, especially as the last two games are a challenging back-to-back.

• Gain Divisional Ground: All three opponents are Pacific Division rivals. These are crucial “four-point” games where winning not only gives the Canucks two points but also denies two points to a divisional opponent.
• The Back-to-Back Challenge: Playing in San Jose at 1:00 PM on Friday and then immediately traveling to face the Kings in Los Angeles on Saturday night will be a significant test of the team’s depth and conditioning. Goaltending management will be key for the Canucks’ coaching staff.
• Consistency is Needed: The Canucks have struggled for consistency lately, dropping five of their last six games as of today (November 23rd). A strong road performance against these teams could be a turning point for their season.
• Star Performance: Players like Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson will need to continue their high level of play to power the offense, especially in a road environment.

If the Canucks can sweep or take at least 5 of 6 possible points, they could significantly improve their playoff hopes.

Canucks Keys for a Successful Week

Games This Week

Date	Opponent	Time (PST)	Location
Tues, Dec 2	@ Colorado	6:00 PM	Ball Arena
Fri, Dec 5	vs Utah	7:00 PM	Rogers Arena
Sat, Dec 6	vs Minnesota	7:00 PM	Rogers Arena

Until next time, hockey fans

Hughes Shines Despite Canucks’ Losing Streak

By Andrew Phillip Chernoff and Zachary Oliver Burnham | CanucksBanter

November 23, 2025

The Vancouver Canucks endured a challenging but high-event week, going 0-3-0 and struggling to find consistency as they wrapped up a road trip and returned home. The primary narrative centered on offense and a depleted goaltending corps.

The week kicked off in dramatic fashion with a high-flying, 8-5 loss to the Florida Panthers on Monday, November 17th. Despite mounting a rally powered by star defenseman Quinn Hughes, who dominated the scoresheet with 3 assists, the goaltending situation—with Jiri Patera making a tough spot start—could not hold back the two-time defending champions.

Returning home for a single game against a strong Western Conference opponent, the Canucks were shut down in a 4-2 loss to the Dallas Stars on Thursday, November 20th.

While the results were disappointing, the playmaking of Hughes and the clutch scoring of players like Elias Pettersson and Evander Kane provided offensive fireworks, signaling that the team’s attack remains potent.

The challenge remains converting that star-level production into sustainable team wins while navigating injuries in net and elsewhere in key positions on the team.

Game Results

Monday, November 17: Canucks 5, Panthers 8

Quinn Hughes broke a franchise record for the most assists in a three-game span with his three assists in this game.

Elias Pettersson scored two goals in the high-event affair. The Canucks’ offense was strong, but the defense struggled immensely, allowing eight goals.

​Thursday, November 20: Canucks 2, Stars 4

The Canucks outshot the Stars 36-24, showing a solid effort in generating opportunities.

Elias Pettersson continued his hot streak, extending his point streak to five games with a power-play goal in the third period.

The team fought hard and felt they “deserved a better fate,” only trailing by one goal late in the third period.

Sunday, November 23: Canucks 2, Flames 5

The victory gave the Flames their third straight win and a much-needed boost in the Pacific Division standings. Goaltender Dustin Wolf was solid in net, stopping 28 of 30 shots.

This was a major point of frustration for Vancouver. After trailing 2-1 heading into the second, the Canucks failed to generate offense and allowed the Flames to score two more goals, extending the lead to 4-1 before the final frame.

Kevin Lankinen took the loss, stopping 16 of 21 shots faced. With Thatcher Demko still sidelined due to injury, the goaltending depth continues to be a major vulnerability for Vancouver.

Quinn Hughes scored the final goal on the power play after a solo dash up the ice, showcasing his individual brilliance. He also played a massive 30:05 of ice time.

Filip Hronek scored the opening goal just over a minute into the first period on a rush, giving the Canucks a brief early lead.

The loss further highlighted the Canucks’ struggles at home this season, dropping their record at Rogers Arena to 3-7-1.

​Injury Update

Player	Status	Injury / Update	Expected RT
Filip Hronek	Day-to-Day	Illness (Absent from practice Nov 22).	Nov 23, 2025 (Questionable)
Filip Chytil	Out (IR)	Upper Body (Resumed skating).	Nov 23, 2025 (Possible)
Thatcher Demko	Out (IR)	Lower Body (Week-to-week).	Nov 28, 2025
Teddy Blueger	Out (IR)	Lower Body (Suffered a setback in recovery).	Nov 29, 2025
Jett Woo	Out (IR-NR)	Upper Body.	Nov 29, 2025
Derek Forbort	Out (LTIR)	Undisclosed.	Dec 2, 2025
Nils Hoglander	Out (LTIR)	Lower Body.	Dec 14, 2025
Guillaume Brisebois	Out (IR-NR)	Lower Body.	Nov 23, 2025 (Possible)

Roster Moves/Speculation

David Kämpf Plays First Games

General Manager Patrik Allvin announced on November 15 that the Canucks had signed unrestricted free agent center David Kämpf to a one-year, $1.1 million contract.

• Kämpf, recently released by Toronto Maple Leafs, was brought in specifically to address Vancouver’s weaknesses down the middle, particularly on faceoffs and penalty killing.
• Allvin emphasized that Kämpf’s hockey IQ and two-way reliability would provide immediate help to areas of need

Roster Moves

• Nov 17, 2025: D V. Mancini sent to Abbotsford-AHL.

Roster Speculation

• Lukas Reichel Trade Speculation: The Canucks are reportedly looking to move forward Lukas Reichel barely a month after acquiring him. He has struggled with only one point in 13 games and was a healthy scratch in the loss to Dallas. The short-lived experiment at second-line center appears to be over, likely due to underperformance and the impending return of other injured forwards.
• Search for Second-Line Center: The ongoing need for a reliable second-line center remains a hot topic, with the Reichel experiment failing.
• Quinn Hughes Future: While purely speculative, there’s always noise around the core players during periods of team struggles. Hughes’ name has surfaced in general “Canucks News & Rumours” discussions.

Canucks Statistical Snapshot (As of November 24th 2025, 8 am)

Key Concern: The Penalty Kill is a critical weakness, ranking dead last in the league. The high number of goals against is also a major concern.

		Pacific Div.	Western Conf.	NHL	Notes
Record	9-12-2
PTS	20	7th	14th	T-28th	Rank by total points
P%	.435	7th	14th	29th	Rank for overall record
Goals +/-	-15	8th (Last)	15th	30th
GF/G	3.09	5th	9th	T-17th
GA/G	3.74	8th (Last)	15th	31st	Second-worst in the NHL
Power Play %	23.4%	3rd	6th	11th	A strong special teams unit
Penalty Kill %	69.7%	8th (Last)	16th (Last)	32nd (Last)	League-worst performance
SF/G	27.6	7th	12th	25th	Low shot volume
SA/G	31.0	2nd	6th	6th	Allowing high shot volume

Players Stats Totals For Week of November 17-23, 2025

Category	Player	Stat for the Week	Game Breakdown
Points (P)	Quinn Hughes (D)	5 Pts (1 G, 4 A)	3 A (Nov 17), 1 G (Nov 23)
	Evander Kane (LW)	4 Pts (1 G, 3 A)	1 G, 3 A (Nov 17)
	Elias Pettersson (C)	3 Pts (1 G, 2 A)	1 G, 2 A (Nov 20)
	Filip Hronek (D)	2 Pts (1 G, 1 A)	1 G (Nov 23), 1 A (Nov 17)
Goals (G)	Quinn Hughes (D)	1 Goal	Power Play Goal (Nov 23)
	Filip Hronek (D)	1 Goal	Even Strength Goal (Nov 23)
	Elias Pettersson (C)	1 Goal	Power Play Goal (Nov 20)
	Evander Kane (LW)	1 Goal	Power Play Goal (Nov 17)
	Jake DeBrusk (LW)	1 Goal	Even Strength Goal (Nov 20)
	Drew O’Connor (LW)	1 Goal	Even Strength Goal (Nov 17)
	Kiefer Sherwood (LW)	1 Goal	Even Strength Goal (Nov 17)
Assists (A)	Quinn Hughes (D)	4 Assists	3 A (Nov 17)
	Evander Kane (LW)	3 Assists	3 A (Nov 17)
	Elias Pettersson (C)	2 Assists	1 A (Nov 17), 1 A (Nov 20)
Plus/Minus (+/-)	Filip Hronek (D)	+1
	Drew O’Connor (LW)	+1

Week Highlights & Impact

• Quinn Hughes continues to be the dominant force, leading the team in points with 5. His goal on Sunday against the Flames (a coast-to-coast rush) was a rare highlight.
• Filip Hronek was the only other player besides Hughes to record a point in the final game of the week, adding a goal and also finishing the week with a team-leading +1 plus/minus rating (tied with Drew O’Connor).
• The scoring was very balanced in terms of goals, with seven different players scoring one goal each over the three games. No player had more than one goal.

Goaltender Records (November 17–23, 2025)

Goalie	Date	Team	Result	GA	SA	SV%
Patera	Nov 17	@ Florida	L (5-8)	8	36	.778
Lankinen	Nov 20	vs. Dallas	L (2-4)	4	30	.867
Lankinen	Nov 23	vs. Calgary	L (2-5)	5	29	.828

Week Summary

• Kevin Lankinen played two of the three games, finishing with a .847 save percentage for the week, notably allowing 5 goals in the loss to the Flames.
• Jiri Patera had the difficult task of starting against the high-powered Panthers offense in his season debut, contributing to the poor weekly combined metrics.
• The team allowed a total of 17 goals in three games, reflecting a very difficult stretch for the defensive and goaltending unit.

Pacific Division Standings (as of November 23, 8 am)

The Canucks are 9-11-2, placing them 7th in the Pacific Division and 14th in the Western Conference.

2025-26 NHL PACIFIC DIVISION STANDINGS

RK	Team	GP	W	L	OT/SOTL	Pts	Diff
1	Ducks	22	14	7	1	29	+11
2	Kraken	22	11	5	6	28	-2
3	Vegas	21	10	4	7	27	+7
4	LA	22	10	6	6	26	-3
5	SJ	23	11	9	3	25	-4
6	Oilers	24	10	9	5	25	-13
7	Canucks	23	9	12	2	20	-15
8	Flames	24	8	13	3	19	-14

My Week’s Highest Value Canucks Performers

Quinn Hughes (D): Recorded three assists in the November 17th game against Florida, extending a major point streak and setting a franchise record for the most assists in any three-game stretch. His offensive output as a defenseman provides significant value.

Elias Pettersson (C/W): Scored two goals in the high-scoring November 17th loss to Florida and netted a power-play goal on November 20th against Dallas. He is consistently producing offense, accumulating nine points (4 goals, 8 assists) in his last five games in November.

Evander Kane: Notched two assists in the November 17th game and had a primary assist on the game-tying goal, continuing his strong November.

Jake DeBrusk: Scored a goal on November 17th, with one report noting he had five points (4 goals, 1 assist) in his last six games as of November 23rd, showing solid goal-scoring consistency.

Filip Hronek: Scored a power-play goal on November 17th, demonstrating offensive capability from the blueline.

Kevin Lankinen (G): Delivered a crucial high-performance win (Nov 16th, .933 SV%) amidst the team’s defensive struggles.

• The overall defensive play for the team has been noted as challenging during November, with reports suggesting his Advanced Stats (Goals Saved Above Expected) were better than his basic save percentage suggests, meaning he was valuable in managing a high volume of dangerous scoring chances against.

2026 NHL Playoffs Chances

The team’s current record and poor 3-6-2 record in November, compounded by significant injuries and the league-worst penalty kill, puts their current playoff chances in serious jeopardy and which is the main reason they have fallen out of Wild Card contention. Improvement and health will be critical to climb back into a Wild Card spot.

2025-26 NHL Western Conference Wild Card Standings (as of November 24, 2025 @ 8 am)

Team	Div	GP	PTS	ROW	GF	GD
Colorado	Central (1st)	22	37	16	88	+38
Dallas	Central (2nd)	22	30	11	72	+10
Anaheim	Pacific (1st)	22	29	13	80	+11
Seattle	Pacific (2nd)	22	28	11	57	-2
Wild	Central (3rd)	23	28	10	68	+4
Vegas	Pacific (3rd)	21	27	10	67	+7
—	—	—	—	—	—	—
LA	Pacific	22	26	9	60	-3
Utah	Central	22	25	11	66	-1
—	—	—	—	—	—	—
SJ	Pacific	23	25	10	68	-4
Oilers	Pacific	24	25	10	74	-13
Calgary	Pacific	24	25	9	67	-14
Jets	Central	21	24	11	67	+8
Chicago	Central	22	24	10	69	+7
Blues	Central	22	21	7	59	-23
Canucks	Pacific	23	20	9	63	-17
Nashville	Central	21	16	6	49	-24

What’s Up?

This three-game, four-day stretch presents a great opportunity, especially as the last two games are a challenging back-to-back.

• Gain Divisional Ground: All three opponents are Pacific Division rivals. These are crucial “four-point” games where winning not only gives the Canucks two points but also denies two points to a divisional opponent.
• The Back-to-Back Challenge: Playing in San Jose at 1:00 PM on Friday and then immediately traveling to face the Kings in Los Angeles on Saturday night will be a significant test of the team’s depth and conditioning. Goaltending management will be key for the Canucks’ coaching staff.
• Consistency is Needed: The Canucks have struggled for consistency lately, dropping five of their last six games as of today (November 23rd). A strong road performance against these teams could be a turning point for their season.
• Star Performance: Players like Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson will need to continue their high level of play to power the offense, especially in a road environment.

If the Canucks can sweep or take at least 5 of 6 possible points, they could significantly improve their playoff odds early in the season.

Canucks Keys for a Successful Week

1. Massive PK Improvement: The 32nd-ranked penalty kill is hemorrhaging goals. The team must find a way to stay out of the box and be more effective when short-handed, especially with tough division rivals coming up.
2. Goaltending Stability: With Thatcher Demko out, Jiri Patera and Kevin Lankinen need to deliver above-average performances to stop the bleeding of goals against (3.68 GA/G).
3. Road Trip Success: The upcoming California road trip against the Ducks, Sharks, and Kings presents a chance to gain ground in the Pacific Division. Securing points in the three division games is paramount.

Games This Week

Date	Opponent	Time (PST)	Location
Nov 26	@ Anaheim Ducks	7:00 PM	Honda Center (Road)
Nov 28	@ San Jose Sharks	1:00 PM	SAP Center (Road)
Nov 29	@ Los Angeles Kings	7:00 PM	Crypto.com Arena (Road)

Until next time, hockey fans