Canucks Player Grades: B.O.G. line not bogged down in 5-2 loss to Vegas

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B.O.G. line of Blueger, Ohgren, Garland combined for four points, eight shots and 12 attempts. It has nine points in last two games

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Published Feb 04, 2026 • Last updated 2 hours ago • 5 minute read

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Cole Reinhardt #23 of the Vegas Golden Knights scores a goal against Kevin Lankinen of the Vancouver Canucks as Max Sasson of the Canucks defends in the second period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on February 04, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Ethan Miller /Getty ImagesArticle content

Last call in Sin City had a certain symbolism for the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday.

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It had nothing to do with beating the clock to squeeze in one last drink before closing time on The Strip. It had everything to do with arriving on time Wednesday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas to make their last call before the Olympic break mean something.

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With the Golden Knights winless in five games — and deploying seven skaters bound for Italy who didn’t want to risk injury before representing their respective countries — a sense of urgency was missing. It should have been bigger for the Canucks and their five Olympic-bound players because heading into the break with a win would mean something in a season gone sideways.

And then it happened. Not for the Canucks, but for the Golden Knights.

There were four goals — including three by Vegas — in a span of 7:30 early in the second period to turn a snoozer into a track meet. And when the Golden Knights quickly struck again with a pair of goals in one minute of the third period, it paved the way for an easy 5-2 victory that said more about the Canucks than the Golden Knights.

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The Canucks had too many adventures in their own zone with lax defending and it simply wasn’t a great night for Kevin Lankinen.

“We had some good things going, but if you make a mistake, they (Golden Knights) have bigger bodies around the net,” said Foote. “We’ll grow from that game. We’re a young team and we’re going to see blips here and there. We need everyone on board.

“We left the slot open on bad reads and it is what it is. A young group against that level of experience and they’re going to take advantage of those situations. A lot of things have gone on with this group this year and we’ll get a bit of a break (Olympics). Well get back to work to correct the lulls.”

Liam Ohgren of the Vancouver Canucks and Pavel Dorofeyev of the Vegas Golden Knights vie for the puck in the first period Photo by Ethan Miller /Getty ImagesB.O.G. line is proving big deal

The biggest positive takeaway for the Canucks is they have something special brewing in the alignment of Teddy Blueger between Conor Garland and Liam Ohgren. Call it the B.O.G. line for now, but it might deserve a more flashy moniker.

Regardless, they continue to build chemistry with speed, smarts, playmaking and opportunistic shooting. Ohgren, who had three shots Monday, played a key role in the club’s first goal and Garland did the same on the second.

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First it was Ohgren taking a feed from Blueger, moving quickly into the offensive zone, and then stopping up and spotting a pinching Elias (Junior) Pettersson. The blueliner picked the far side with a slick wrist shot.

And they were at it again late in the second period on an offensive foray where Blueger found Garland, who set up Pierre-Olivier Joseph at the point. His wrister found the far side for his first goal in 21 games with the Canucks.

The B.O.G. line combined for four points, eight shots and 12 attempts. It was a combined plus-3 and has nine points in the last two games. Blueger also won 53 per cent of his draws Wednesday. Something positive on a team searching for something.

“They’re a nice line and they’re working together,” said Foote. “Blueger and Garland played together for a long time and Liam is a smart player and they’re working with him. Some chemistry for sure.”

Kevin Lankinen takes a break during a stop in play in the second period Photo by Ethan Miller /Getty ImagesDid Lankinen lose Olympic start?

Long-serving goaltender Juuse Saros of the Nashville Predators is struggling, but he is a three-time medallist in seven international competitions for his native Finland.

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He could get the call at the outset of the Olympic tournament before Lankinen, but as we found out in 2010 at Vancouver, things can change amid the pressure to perform on the big stage.

It happened in the 4-Nations faceoff where Saros started the event and got bombed by the U.S. and then Lankinen, who won 2019 gold at the world championship, backstopped an overtime win over rival Sweden.

When Martin Brodeur got off to a rough preliminary-round start for Canada in the 2010 Olympics, it was Roberto Luongo who came to the rescue and went the distance to lead his country to gold.

What scenario will play out for the Finns in Italy remains to be seen because both stoppers have not been sharp this season — and the optics Wednesday for Lankinen weren’t good.

The Golden Knights got to him for two goals in a 1:25 span of the second period — a Jack Eichel wrister from faceoff dot off the blocker and a Cole Reinhardt forehand deke on a delayed penalty — before Ivan Barbashev went stick side just 28 seconds after Elias (Junior) Pettersson narrowed the deficit to 2-1.

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Akira Schmid #40 and Jeremy Lauzon #5 of the Vegas Golden Knights defend the net against Evander Kane in the first period Photo by Ethan Miller /Getty ImagesREPORT CARDS

Evander Kane (C-)

Early chance and then he went oh so quietly into the night.

Elias Pettersson (C)

Two shots, struggled in circle. Won just 44 per cent draws.

Drew O’Connor (C)

Hustled on the forecheck, threw hard check on Theodore.

Jake DeBrusk (C-)

Getting harder to find on regular basis. Two shots, minus-3.

David Kampf (C-)

Got to the net better but not great in own zone. Minus-3.

Linus Karlsson (C-)

Forced pad save on power play chance, but was minus-3.

Liam Ohgren (C+)

The kid is going to be something special. Set up first goal.

Teddy Blueger (C+)

Straw that stirs drink on B.O.G. line. Two shots, six attempts.

Conor Garland (C+)

A lot more giddy-up, set up goal with sweet feed. Three shots.

Max Sasson (C)

Moved to wing, late in retreat on second Vegas goal, no shots.

Aatu Raty (C)

Replaced injured Chytil, neutral-zone minor, 67 per cent on dot.

Jonathan Lekkerimaki (C)

Another fourth-line night to learn gritty side of holding up players.

Elias (D-Petey) Pettersson (C+)

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Wicked uncalled big hit from Kolesar. Scored, two hits, two blocks.

Filip Hronek (C)

One of few who defended well once the Golden Knights woke up.

Pierre-Olivier Joseph (C)

Best game to date. Robbed by diving stopper, then struck from point.

Tyler Myers (C)

Lots of defending adventures for the group, especially down low.

Marcus Pettersson (C)

See above. Much of the same and has to be post-break focus.

Tom Willander (C)

Good hustle in retreat to get body position and deny Grade A.

Kevin Lankinen (C-)

Strong first period before explosion of goals. Stick side vulnerable.

OVERTIME — Olympic break transactions: Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Victor Mancini, and Nikita Tolopilo have been to assigned to Abbotsford (AHL) and Jiri Patera has been recalled from Abbotsford under emergency conditions. Foote expects injured players Brock Boeser, Marco Rossi and Zeev Buium back when the club has its first post-break practice Feb.17. Chytil is seeing a specialist to evaluate his migraine headaches.

bkuzma@postmedia.com

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Canucks Player Grades: B.O.G. line not bogged down in 5-2 loss to Vegas

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