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.
• 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.
• 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

By Andrew Phillip Chernoff | CanucksBanter

October 19, 2024

Games of the Week

• October 13th vs St. Louis (2-5 Loss):
  • Vancouver lost to the Blues to begin their week:
    • The Canucks struggled to maintain possession and neutralize key offensive threats
    • Goaltender Kevin Lankinen made his first start of the season, recording 30 saves on the night.
    • Canucks standouts:
      • Kiefer Sherwood provided a spark, scoring both of Vancouver’s goals
      • Kiefer Sherwood, Jonathan Lekkerimäki, and Brock Boeser also scored.
      • Goalie Thatcher Demko was stellar, stopping 17 of 18 shots.
    • Blues rookie Jimmy Snuggerud recorded his first multi-goal game in the NHL, proving crucial to the Blues’ victory
    • The game marked a lack of discipline which further stressed a penalty kill unit that was already underperforming. Elias Pettersson took a hooking penalty, and Filip Hronek was cited for high-sticking, actions that suggest a team was struggling to manage the pace and pressure of the opposition. 
• October 16th at Dallas Stars (5-3 Win):
  • The definitive turning point of the week, characterized by a dramatic, high-tempo offensive surge driven by restructured forward groups.
  • The Canucks faced immediate adversity, trailing 2-0 in the first period after goals from Mavrik Bourque and a power-play marker from Mikko Rantanen. This mirrored the early game struggles that the Canucks had faced since the start of the season.
  • An explosive second period where the Vancouver scored four goals, completing a rapid-fire comeback, proved the immediate success of the line reorganization that Head Coach Adam Foote and his assistant coaches had implemented for the road trip
  • The rally began at 6:40 with Filip Chytil scoring his third goal of the season, assisted by Evander Kane and Filip Hronek, narrowing the deficit to 2-1. 
  • At 8:50, Brock Boeser scored a Power Play Goal (PPG), tying the game 2-2. The go-ahead goal came just 1 minute and 16 seconds later at 10:06, scored by depth forward Max Sasson.
  • Conor Garland scored the eventual game-winning goal unassisted at 18:54.
  • Dallas made at close with a late goal to make it 4-3, but Quinn Hughes scored a power play empty net goal to complete the Canucks comeback victory.
  •  Thatcher Demko made 28 saves.

• October 17th at Chicago Blackhawks (3-2 SO Win):
  • A back-to-back road match against the Chicago Blackhawks tested the team’s physical conditioning and depth.
  • The victory was the result of the exceptional goaltending of the backup goaltender, Kevin Lankinen, and the scoring threat of the depth lines that came through with clutch goals.
  • The Canucks, falling behind 2-0 in the first period again, conceded a power-play goal to Ryan Donato and an even-strength goal to Tyler Bertuzzi.
  • Mirroring the Dallas game, the Canucks rallied from the 2-0 deficit. Jake DeBrusk scored a power-play goal in the second period, cutting the Blackhawks’ lead to 2-1. Continuing the theme of depth contribution, Max Sasson tied the game 2-2 at 13:42 of the second period.
  • Once again, while structural flaws led to the early deficit still existing, the team possessed the mental toughness to adapt and finish strong, taking the game to overtime and then a shootout. 
  • Kevin Lankinen started his second game of the week and delivered a commanding performance, stopping 31 of 33 shots faced during regulation and overtime.
  • The goaltending tandem’s reliability was fully validated when Lankinen cemented the victory by stopping all four attempts he faced in the shootout, securing the extra point for Vancouver.

• October 19th at Washington Capitals (4-3 Win):
  •  A Sunday morning matchup against the Washington Capitals served as the ultimate test of the team’s physical and mental fatigue, resulting in a crucial 4-3 victory that provided further evidence of the team’s resilience and capacity for change.
  • The victory broke Washington’s four-game winning streak.
  • The Canucks addressed Head Coach Adam Foote’s desire to eliminate slow starts, reversing the trend, by scoring three goals in the first period against Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren, who had previously shut out the New York Rangers.
  • Elias Pettersson scored just 59 seconds into the game
  • Tyler Myers scored his 100th career goal, followed just 41 seconds later by a power-play goal from Kiefer Sherwood.
  • Teddy Blueger scored early in the second period, his first of the season, after a puck deflected off Evander Kane’s skate, stretching the lead to 4-0. The Capitals were noted to have dominated second periods at five-on-five this season, leading in shot attempts 22-5, although Thatcher Demko’s strong form prevented any comeback in the period.
  • The Canucks’ ability to sustain defensive pressure gave way to a furious comeback though by the Capitals, cutting the 4-0 deficit to 4-3 in the third period with goals from Ryan Leonard (PPG), Jakob Chychrun, and John Carlson.
  • Brock Boeser missed the game for personal reasons, with Jonathan Lekkerimäki drawing into the lineup to replace him.
  • Both Filip Chytil and Jonathan Lekkerimäki left the game early due to injury, followed by Teddy Blueger in the final period, compounding the team’s depth concerns as the five-game road trip continues in Pittsburgh, finishing up in Nashville this coming week.

Key Takeaways

• Elite Resilience and Mental Toughness: The team’s ability to complete two consecutive 2-0 comeback victories and hold on against such an agressive team like the Washington Capitals on the road, demonstrates significant mental fortitude and trust in the system, a non-statistical, high-value asset.
• Goaltending Depth: : Both Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen delivered high-leverage performances, validating the team’s rotation strategy and providing necessary insurance for a compressed schedule.
• Coaching Adaptability: Coach Foote’s restructure of the top-six forward lines brought the immediate offensive boost needed, validating the -proactive nature of the coaching staff, before key injuries.
• Even-Strength Control Deficit: The team continues to be heavily outshot and out-chanced at 5v5. Being down early with 2-0 deficits in successive games is the direct result of not starting games properly.
• Special Teams Inconsistency: Both the power play and penalty kill remain problematic, having generated minimal high-danger chances in early games, and giving up frequent high-danger chances.

Overall

The three-game segment between October 13th to 19th was pivotal, marking the shift from a struggling, analytically vulnerable team into a resilient, winning unit.

The ability to pivot from a definitive home loss (5-2 to STL) to two consecutive road comeback wins (5-3 over Dallas, 3-2 SO over Chicago), then hang on against Washington, after taking a 4-0 lead, and win 4-3 provides clear evidence of both significant strategic improvements and persistent structural weaknesses.

Three consecutive wins to start a 5-game road trip, suffering significant injuries to Brock Boeser who did not play; and Filip Chytil, Teddy Blueger and Jonathan Lekkerimäki in the game against the Capitals.

Player Spotlight: Reviewing the Week’s Highest Value Performers

• Max Sasson: His production of two goals in two games provided instantaneous NHL impact 
• Conor Garland: Garland’s three-point contribution over the back-to-back, capped by the game-winning goal against Dallas   
• Kevin Lankinen: Delivered two high-stakes starts, culminating in a critical 31-save performance and perfect shootout defense in Chicago
• Quinn Hughes: Scored the game-sealing 5th goal against Dallas and continues to drive high-volume minutes and offense as the team’s top-rated defenseman.
• Tyler Myers and Kiefer Sherwood: Both players delivered critical timely goals against the Capitals, with Myers recording his 100th career goal and Sherwood converting a key power-play opportunity.
• Thatcher Demko: Secured the victory against Dallas by turning aside 28 of 31 shots faced. His steady performance was essential in keeping the game within reach.
• Filip Chytil: clutch scoring ability, high individual high-danger chance generation of Filip Chytil (tied for the team lead with four HDC after three games), including the crucial first goal in the Dallas comeback.
  • His play and leadership legitimizes his placement as the second-line center who can alleviate offensive pressure on Elias Pettersson, a key factor in the overall strategic success of the week, until his injury against the Washington Capitals.

What’s Up?

Finishing 5-game road trip, with games against the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators will be a test of the team’s conditioning, resiliency, and roster depth with recent injuries to key players.

• Three games in four nights, all character wins, add the adversity of finishing up the road trip without key players.

This week was the beginning of a road-heavy schedule, playing more road games than home games in both October and November.

The 2025-26 schedule began with a “massive disadvantage” for the Canucks, with 6 of the first 8 games on the road, including this gruelling five-game road trip, which forces the team to traverse multiple time zones and cross-country distances, and will finish up against the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 21st and Nashville Predators on October 23rd.

It has resulted, though, with three successive road wins, after a road loss to the Edmonton Oilers, and has elevated the Canucks higher up in the Pacific Division, steamrolling for that top spot.

Games This Week

• At Pittsburgh Penguins : October 21/25 @ 04:00 pm PDT
• At Nashville Predators: October 23/25 @ 05:00 pm PDT
• Vs Montreal Canadiens: October 25/25 @ 4:00 pm PDT
• Vs Edmonton Oilers: October 26/25 @ 7:00 pm PDT

Until next week, hockey fans