It’s been a week for Vancouver Canucks goaltender Nikita Tolopilo.
On Monday, Dec. 1, Tolopilo left the team while they were in Los Angeles to be with his wife while she was in labour. He was called back up to the Canucks on Dec. 4.
The Belarusian got his first start on Saturday night since leaving the team last week, stopping 28 of 30 shots in a 4-2 win over the Minnesota Wild.
“First game as a dad, eh?” 🥹
Hugs for Tolo after that 28-save performance. pic.twitter.com/UdenHo13UH
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) December 7, 2025
After the game, Tolopilo revealed that his wife gave birth to a baby girl.
“It’s been fun and at the same time, tough week,” he said. “But yeah, I’m so happy to have my daughter now, and I’m so proud of my wife. She did a great job.”
“She let me get some rest before the game so I can sleep at the hotel. I really appreciate it, because I know how hard it is to be alone right now for her.”
With everything that’s transpired for the 25-year-old here in early December, no one would have blamed him for having an off night.
However, he was solid throughout. The only goals that beat him were on a two-on-one from Matt Boldy and a picture-perfect snipe by Mats Zuccarello.
Motivation is a funny thing, and the 6-foot-6 netminder might have had some extra tonight.
“Now, I have more to play for,” he said.
Räty’s breakthrough
With Elias Pettersson missing from the lineup on Saturday, the Canucks were down to David Kämpf, Aatu Räty, and Max Sasson at centre. Head coach Adam Foote also shifted Drew O’Connor to the middle, instead of dressing Lukas Reichel.
It seemed like a guaranteed loss night for the Canucks. So, naturally, they found a way to win.
A big reason was because of Räty.
The 23-year-old entered the contest with just one goal in 25 games. He did score last Saturday, but it was overturned on an offside.
He tied the game at 1-1 in the second period; however, that one was also waved off as the referees ruled that he kicked it into the net.
“I was pretty surprised that was disallowed,” he said after the game.
He had a point, as the puck looked like it deflected off the outer side of his right skate.
Not to be deterred, Räty would end up scoring the Canucks third and fourth goals of the game, chucking the proverbial monkey off his back.
RATY MAKES IT 3!! #Canucks pic.twitter.com/T6RrZoHPuP
— YVR Hockey (@yvrhockey) December 7, 2025
After having two goals called back in the last week, Räty was skeptical when his first review-free goal of the night actually counted.
“I instantly thought ‘oh, that’s probably an offsider,’” he said.
Thankfully for him, two of his goals did count. He ended the night with the first three-point effort of his career.
Willander’s first
In a season plagued by negative storylines, Tom Willander has been a welcome bright spot.
The rookie defenceman has proven he belongs in the NHL, even though he failed to make the 23-man roster back in October.
Willander entered the game with six assists in 18 games this season, including three in his last five games.
Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt had three shutouts in three games against Western Canadian teams this season, but Willander ended that streak with his first career NHL goal.
FIRST NHL GOAL ALERT! 🚨
It’s a night to remember for Tom Willander! pic.twitter.com/IAGmTQz1Hq
— NHL (@NHL) December 7, 2025
“It was amazing,” Willander said after the game. “A big personal achievement. But helping the team, getting one of these very important victories, it’s great.”
It was a moment so big that defenceman Elias Pettersson accidentally high-sticked Jake DeBrusk and nearly tackled Willander in jubilation.
Big hugs for your first. 🥹 pic.twitter.com/FTRmp5nGs2
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) December 7, 2025
“Yeah… he crashed in hard,” Willander said.
The 20-year-old defenceman now leads all rookie defencemen with 1.55 points per 60 at five-on-five. He’s 20th among all defencemen in five-on-five points per 60 as well.
“I try to play a complete game,” he said. “And I think I’m surrounded by a lot of good players that make it easier for me too.”