Some losses feel like reruns, and this was one of them. The Vancouver Canucks came out of the Olympic break with a chance to reset the mood, settle their game, and maybe shake off the skid that’s been following them around for weeks. To their credit, they didn’t come out flat.
They started on time for once. Drew O’Connor scored early, with good energy and legs moving. For a team that has been stuck in the mud for ages, just hearing the building rise felt like a step forward.
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But the Winnipeg Jets kept coming, and the Canucks couldn’t hold the rope. Winnipeg tied it, Vancouver punched back, Winnipeg tied it again. It was that kind of night: every time the Canucks tried to build something, the game pushed right back. Still, they were alive in the third and even into overtime before Cole Perfetti buried a rebound and handed the Canucks their fourth straight loss by a score of 3-2. In a season filled with close-but-not-quite moments, this was another one.
Item One: Tolopilo Battles, But Gets No Help
Let’s start with the young netminder. Nikita Tolopilo gave the Canucks exactly the kind of performance you hope for from a young goalie placed in a tough spot. He was calm, sharp, and unfazed by Winnipeg’s pressure. He made 25 saves, including a handful that bailed out breakdowns in front of him. His rebound control was good, his edges were steady, and he didn’t look rattled even when the Jets pressed hard.
But the team still can’t manage those key defensive moments. Twice the Canucks had leads; twice they got caught on the wrong side of the puck, the wrong side of the stick lift, or the wrong side of the battle. The Gabe Vilardi goal was a lesson in details: it wasn’t a bad effort, just a half-second lost in a fight at the crease. Those are the moments that keep burying Vancouver. Tolopilo deserved better.
Item Two: A Patchwork Lineup That Actually Showed Some Life
The strangest part of this loss is that the Canucks actually looked more energized than they have in weeks. Even with Tyler Myers scratched for “roster management,” the team looked good. Half the lineup held together with duct tape, and four players were returning from injury at once. Hodge podge lineup, but well played.
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Zeev Buium came back with a full cage and still logged over 16 minutes. Marco Rossi looked like he never left, settling in down the middle and giving them some real structure. Brock Boeser played assertively after concussion protocol, and Nils Höglander brought some spark even in limited minutes. For a group that’s been skating uphill for a month, the returning bodies helped steady things.
But depth doesn’t solve the bigger problem: Vancouver still can’t close a game. When it’s time to clamp down, they wobble. When it’s time to push for a dagger goal, they sag. They just need to hold things together, but they can’t consistently do that.
Item Three: Evander Kane’s Fire Still Burns Bright
On a night full of returning faces, the player who stood out the most was Evander Kane. The shot he ripped early in the second was vintage. He released it so quickly that it was hard to see. There was no hesitation, and just enough edge to make defenders second-guess their gap. He and Elias Pettersson even pulled off a little face-off set play, something they’d tried twice earlier in the game. Third time was the charm.
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It wasn’t just the goal. Kane played with real bite. He forechecked, he battled, he chirped, he carried himself like a veteran trying to will his team into the fight. For a group that’s been sagging emotionally, that kind of presence matters. He’s not the long-term face of the franchise, but on nights when the Canucks look like they’re drifting, Kane gives them a pulse. Enjoy him while he’s still around; he might be gone soon.
Still, one hot shift here and there can’t fix the long slide the team is on. The effort is there; the results aren’t. And you can tell players like Kane feel that tension every night.
What’s Next for the Canucks?
The Canucks have now lost four straight and are 2-14-4 in their last 20. That’s the kind of stretch that reinforces the end-of-the-season conversations. With Myers scratched, the writing is basically on the wall. The deadline is approaching, and the organization is preparing to move. Who stays, who goes, and who fits the long-term direction? Those decisions are now front and center.
Up next is another tough game at Seattle against the Kraken on Saturday, and the schedule doesn’t get any easier from there. The truth is that this won’t feel like a lost season if it pulls forward toward next season. A reset is coming, but who will be around for next season will be the fun question to watch play out.
