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The Golden Knights struck twice in 1:17 late in the second period to erase a 2-1 deficit, take a 3-2 lead, and swing momentum
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Published Mar 30, 2026 • Last updated 1 hour ago • 6 minute read
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Vancouver Canucks left wing Evander Kane (91) scores against Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill (33) during the first period on Monday night in Las Vegas. The Golden Knights won 4-2. Photo by Candice Ward /APArticle content
There are magic numbers and tragic numbers.
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The magic variety signifies ongoing success in the purposeful pursuit of NHL playoff positioning. Tragic numbers are the sobering summation of a season gone sideways and the continuous tumble down the standings.
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The Vancouver Canucks are on the cusp of finishing dead last, and while that would produce the best lottery draft odds for the May 5 selection process, they’re not guaranteed top spot.
And so the hope Monday in Las Vegas was to produce some magic of their own.
Could the Canucks heed the collective call and make Evander Kane’s 1,000th NHL career game memorable by ending a five-game losing streak? Could they ruin the debut of new Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella? Could they get out of the second period without coughing up several goals?
The Canucks looked like they had more answers than questions before a tough 4-2 setback in which Kane celebrated his milestone game in style by scoring the opening goal. However, it was another second-period letdown that turned a 2-1 lead into a quick 3-2 advantage as the Golden Knights struck twice in 1:17 late in the frame to swing momentum. An empty-netter would seal the deal.
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“We were fighting and battling because we knew they would come out hard,” said Canucks head coach Adam Foote. “They were finishing checks and we matched them and competed. Guys didn’t back down. The hardest thing for young defencemen is to see what’s coming behind you and we’ll learn from that.
“But there were a lot of good things. Zeev (Buium) was moving the puck well and making plays.”
The Canucks were guilty of chasing the game in their own zone, missing assignments, and leaving players wide open for easy goals against a defenceless Kevin Lankinen, who stopped the first 16 shots he faced, kept his club in it, and finished with 30 saves.
It overshadowed a strong start and playing at pace before the Canucks lost structure and put a damper on Kane’s memorable goal. When the Golden Knights gave up a 2-on-1 rush in the opening period, it was Kane who benefitted to open scoring on his memorable night.
Kane took a flip pass from Jake DeBrusk and went to the backhand deke for his 13th goal of the season and 339th of his career. Markus Naslund is the only other Canuck to score in his 1,000th game.
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“It was nice to have all the support of the guys and they were excited for me, which made it special, and obviously scoring the first goal of the game was the cherry on top,” said Kane. “Nice to have a moment in that milestone game. Special moment.
“I liked a lot of our game. They’re fighting for points and we gave them everything they could handle tonight. And it was good from a physical standpoint with guys sticking up for each other. We had a little lull in the second period which probably cost us the game.
“We’re going into back-to-backs and we’re going to need the effort we had in the majority of this game.”
Brock Boeser also struck on the power play Monday for his 79th PP marker to move into fifth place in franchise history with Todd Bertuzzi.
Tortorella sings familiar refrain
John Tortorella was hired Sunday afternoon to replace the fired Bruce Cassidy and was in full media mode Monday morning.
The former Canucks bench boss inherits a confusing veteran-laden Golden Knights roster that’s in a 3-5-2 funk, in possible playoff peril, and needs betters starts and goaltending. To that end, the 67-year-old hockey lifer is following his familiar coaching script.
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“It’s kind of a crazy situation with only eight games left and we’ve got to start thinking ahead and just take this day,” he said of being under contract for the remainder of this season then seeing where the chips fall. “In this business, whether a coach or player, you need to have the ability to accept a challenge.
“I got bombed out of Philly with nine games left last year. That’s pro sports. When you get to this level, you have to be prepared to handle that stuff. I’m very fortunate to get the opportunity and it’s a very well-respected organization. I don’t want to let them down and be the best version of me.
“I’ve never wanted to stop coaching. Philly caught me off guard. I’m not trying to find jobs. When this came up, I said: ‘Man, I’m in.’ And we’ll see where we go from here.”
John Tortorella runs the bench during his first game as new NHL head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday in Las Vegas. Photo by Ethan Miller /Getty Images
It’s not a calculated risk. Vegas doesn’t do roster rebuilds.
The Golden Knights roster is comprised of gunners with 34, 25, 24, 23, 21, 20 goals respectively. Sixteen players were acquired through trades or waivers, five are free agents, two are draft picks, and two date back to the expansion draft. It’s a team that’s built to win, but got tired of the Cassidy messages. And four years in is pretty much the max to hold the attention these days.
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“I was very frank with how I’m going to approach it,” added Tortorella. “I want to just see a hardness and that’s not fighting or bodychecking, It’s comes through mindset. We have a lot of faith that we can find our way. I’m sure I’ll make some mistakes along the way, but I’ve got to get out of the way and learn from them.
“I’ve done some dumb things along the way.”
Former Canucks defenceman turned TSN hockey analyst Frank Corrado played 15 games under the close watch of Tortorella. He saw the bark and the bite and also something else.
“Torts really cares about his guys,” Corrado said Monday. “He comes across prickly at times, especially in video sessions, but he just wants his guys to succeed. He’s the first person to tell you when you’ve done something well, and at the same, the first to tell you when you should have done something different.”
REPORT CARDSForwards
Liam Ohgren (C+)
Took slashing minor on backcheck, but good late chance to tie game.
Elias Pettersson (C)
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Four shots but rough time in faceoff circle. Won just eight of 20 (40%).
Linus Karlsson (C)
Deft deflection of Ohgren centring pass goes off crossbar in second.
Drew O’Connor (C-)
Lost check on backcheck for easy Andersson goal. Chance in third.
Marco Rossi (C-)
Those 10 points in five games seem so long ago. Another quiet night.
Brock Boeser (B)
Deflection for PP goal, long flip on Kane goal. Three shots, three hits.
Evander Kane (B)
More giddy-up pace. More feisty, big goal, five shots, six attempts.
Teddy Blueger (C+)
Good pressure versus No. 4 PP. Fought Sissons, 9-for-13 on draws.
Jake DeBrusk (C)
Sent cross-ice feed on Kane goal, but just one shot, two blocks.
Curtis Douglas (C)
Got into an early scrum when Stone tried to get into Lankinen’s kitchen.
Aatu Raty (C+)
Nic Dowd in concussion protocol off reverse hit. Won 12 of 14 draws.
Nils Hoglander (C)
Not a lot of minutes to make any impact. Logged just 6:40 in a tight tilt.
Defence
Zeev Buium (C)
Shifty moves at offensive blue-line caused chaos, three giveaway night.
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Filip Hronek (B-)
Solid as usual in schooling D-men. Set up Boeser goal with smart point shot.
Marcus Pettersson (C)
Playing more simple was the solution. Better puck decisions, exit passes.
Tom Willander (C+)
Avoided forechecking pressure with effortless exits. Three blocked shots.
Elias Pettersson (C)
Mettle tested on the PK, better positioning, more physical. Three big hits.
Victor Mancini (C)
Good physical wall work against hulking Hertl, bad neutral-zone trip minor.
GOAL
Kevin Lankinen (B)
Ten solid saves in opening period. Denied Eichel on a trio of Grade As.
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