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The lanky winger has shown great heart this season, he skates like the wind and he’s scored timely goals to boot
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Published Jan 29, 2026 • 5 minute read
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Vancouver Canucks’ Drew O’Connor (18), Jake DeBrusk (74) and Aatu Raty (54) celebrate O’Connor’s goal against the Anaheim Ducks during the third period at Rogers Arena on Thursday night. The Canucks won 2-0. Photo by Darryl Dyck /THE CANADIAN PRESSArticle content
Earlier this week a couple reporters in the Rogers Arena press box were debating who the Vancouver Canucks’ most exciting player this season is.
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Given that both Quinn Hughes and Kiefer Sherwood have been traded away and the relatively dull seasons Conor Garland, Evander Kane, Elias Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk are having, the options are few.
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Linus Karlsson, perhaps? He’s scored some true gems this season and his work along the boards draws deserved praise. But fleet of foot he’s not.
No, in this columnist’s eyes there’s really only one obvious choice: Drew O’Connor.
The lanky winger has shown great heart this season, he skates like the wind and he’s scored timely goals to boot.
That it was O’Connor who scored the game’s lone goal halfway through the third period, breaking up what had been an otherwise very dull hockey game, deserves immense praise. It was his second game-winning goal of the year, making him the only current and healthy Canuck to have multiple game-winning goals this season: Brock Boeser and the departed Sherwood are the other.
“Just a good play by Jake,” O’Connor said of his goal post-game. “Just wanted to get it off quick. I think those ones sometimes when the goalie is sliding over it’s better to get it off as quick as you can.”
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This game wasn’t up to much through 50 minutes. You figured, given the defensive frailties of both the Canucks and the visiting Anaheim Ducks, that there would at least be plenty of scoring opportunities.
Somehow there wasn’t. There were plenty of pucks thrown on net but few were truly threatening and either way, the game’s goalies stood tall on nearly every shot fired their way.
After some tough games, Nikita Tolopilo was outstanding in net for Vancouver in what won’t officially go down as his first career shutout — but hopefully it will still be remembered as such. And for Anaheim, Lukas Dostal was his as-advertised excellent self.
Vancouver Canucks goalie Nikita Tolopilo (60) makes the save as Elias Pettersson (25) and Anaheim Ducks’ Chris Kreider (20) watch during the second period Photo by Darryl Dyck /THE CANADIAN PRESSWait, not a shutout?
Nope, because Kevin Lankinen came in to start the second period — Tolopilo was pulled by the concussion spotter after he’d been bowled over late in the first by Ryan Poehling — this was technically a team shutout. Lankinen did also make one save, so even though Tolopilo is the story, it’s not totally his shutout.
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Too bad. The kid was great.
Lankinen said post-game that the spotter had actually called for the giant rookie to be assessed before the end of the first period and so Lankinen had his mask on and was ready to go in as the opening frame wound down, but with no whistle before time expired on the first, he never went in.
Foote said after the game that the assessment in this case required Tolopilo to remove all his gear and so even though he was cleared before the end of the intermission, he wasn’t fully dressed in time for puck drop.
“He had to take all his gear off for some reason, compared to actual players,” the coach observed. “So that’s why it took so long. When you do that test, it’s usually about a 15 minute test. We were trying to stall it, but we just didn’t have the time.”
Astute fans may have noticed that Lankinen didn’t sit back on the bench in the back-up’s spot when Tolopilo returned, as he usually does, during the second period.
“I just stayed in (the room) because I was a little sweaty. I didn’t want to stay up in the cold, cold, cold bench,” he said with a smile.
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He was back sitting there in the third period.
Anaheim Ducks’ Ryan Poehling (25) crashes into Vancouver Canucks goalie Nikita Tolopilo (60) during the first period Photo by Darryl Dyck /THE CANADIAN PRESSPlayer Grades
Elias Pettersson. C+ Attacking well early. Not a great neutral zone decision before the rush that ended with Ryan Poehling running over Nikita Tolopilo, but that also wasn’t Pettersson’s fault. A couple nice chances over the game but he’s had bigger nights.
Evander Kane. C. Really very little going on. Managed to deke himself out on a breakaway.
Conor Garland. C. Dumb dumb penalty. And he’ll know that. Foote: “Just one that was his juices were flowing. He knows not to do that. … I won’t say too much. Actually I think I might not have to because you took care of it.”
David Kampf. C+. Another totally reasonable game. Too bad he has no offensive ability.
Filip Chytil. C+. Good on faceoffs but was mostly on the wing and he was mostly invisible.
Linus Karlsson. C+. He was fine. Had a nice chance on the power play.
Teddy Blueger. B. Cool as a cucumber on the late PK and gets the empty-netter.
Liam Ohgren. C. He was playing?
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Jonathan Lekkerimaki. C. Some really nice touches through the neutral zone but struggled overall to make an impact.
Aatu Raty. C+. Was around the puck well enough.
Drew O’Connor. B. Guy’s having a great season. Bless him for finally scoring. Dostal called his shot a butterfly. In the end it was all about just getting the puck off fast.
Jake DeBrusk. C+. Rough first but when the game needed a hero, there was DeBrusk forcing a turnover and setting up O’Connor for the opening goal.
Drew O’Connor (18) and Anaheim Ducks’ Jeffrey Viel (28) get into a scuffle during the first period Photo by Darryl Dyck /THE CANADIAN PRESSDefence
Elias Junior Pettersson. A. His best game of the year. Physical. Smart on the puck.
Filip Hronek. B. Another big night from the team’s top defenceman.
P-O Joseph. C+. Nice breakout pass early. Maybe his best game on the year.
Tyler Myers. C+. A very active night. Pretty good on breakouts.
Marcus Pettersson. C. Struggled to get out of his zone. Another tough night overall.
Tom Willander. C. Similar to his veteran partner. Had two nice moments skating the puck. But needs more overall.
Goalie
Nikita Tolopilo. A. Brilliant, steady effort. Everyone knows that was a shutout, even if it’s not officially. And for a guy who got lit up a week ago by Edmonton, you’ve got to be happy for him.
Kevin Lankinen. Incomplete. One for one on saves. Did his job.
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