Breadcrumb Trail Links
SportsHockeyNHLVancouver Canucks
There were plenty of mistakes on Friday There was poor goaltending. But there was also persistent effort and verve on offence.
Get the latest from Patrick Johnston straight to your inbox Sign Up
Published Jan 23, 2026 • Last updated 52 minutes ago • 4 minute read
You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen (32) stops New Jersey Devils’ Jesper Bratt (63) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver on Friday, January 23, 2026. Photo by The Canadian Press/Ethan Cairns /THE CANADIAN PRESSArticle content
As the Vancouver Canucks’ losing streak went on and on and on, you could see the life, and the fight, ooze out of the players.
Advertisement 2
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.
SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.
REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.
THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an Account
or
Article content
Nothing they did seemed to matter. They started to not just lose, but lose badly.
Article content
Article content
They did lose again on Friday night at Rogers Arena, a 5-4 win for the visiting New Jersey Devils, but at least they showed heart — just as they did in Wednesday’s 4-3 win over the Washington Capitals.
That, in the end, is all Vancouver fans want at this point. To accept a rebuild, you must accept your team is going to lose. What you still want to see is heart and character and a desire to get better; evidence of learning going on; something to point to as “yes, this is a thing to build from.”
There were plenty of mistakes on Friday at the Rog. There was poor goaltending. But there was also verve on offence and no quit in the effort to come back.
Falling behind has been too often a thing this season; the Canucks do have plenty of practice playing with the goalie pulled. And many nights they’ve not showed enough before the goalie has been pulled.
Friday night, at least, they showed something.
Canucks Report
Thanks for signing up!
Article content
Advertisement 3
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
The returnees
Filip Chytil should have scored a goal early on. He knew it. He looked to the sky after he sailed the puck over the New Jersey goal.
What a glorious return that would have been.
New Jersey Devils’ Jonas Siegenthaler (71) and Vancouver Canucks’ Filip Chytil (72) vie for the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, on Friday, January 23, 2026. Photo by ETHAN CAIRNS /THE CANADIAN PRESS
He did get a nice ovation when he was announced in the starting lineup; Canucks fans may feel a little shell shocked about the course of the season, but they do know the comings and goings of the lineup nonetheless and knowing that Chytil had missed 44 games was very much on their minds, clearly.
Teddy Blueger, in his second game back, did score a goal, a lovely finish on a two-on-one with the always-excellent Drew O’Connor.
He worked hard, showed well, skated well, put plenty on display that a playoff-bound team will like.
Struggling goalies
Neither Kevin Lankinen, nor ex-Canuck Jacob Markstrom, in net for New Jersey were anywhere close to their best.
Both flubbed shots, both had goals against they’d like back.
Both are headed to the Olympics, too. Neither is in especially fine form, either.
Advertisement 4
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Why play DeBrusk?
Post game Adam Foote said Jake DeBrusk was ill, which is why he didn’t have a very good night.
Given he had a healthy Max Sasson in the press box, why not just put the speedy Sasson in for DeBrusk and let the veteran winger recuperate?
Disappointed in the PK
Asked about his team’s performance on the night, Foote highlighted how the Canucks’ penalty kill struggled.
“You can’t give those guys a chance,” he said. The Canucks lost their defensive shape on both goals, he felt.
New Jersey won the special teams battle 2-1 and even with the poor goaltending from both teams, that’s the difference in the game.
Anyway, here’s how we say the players performed tonight…
Forwards
Elias Pettersson (C)
Finally does something halfway through the game: leads a two on one. And made a great save with the goalie pulled. But a brutal night otherwise. Foote said “he’s been battling something,” suggestive that the centre was under the weather.
Evander Kane (C+)
Advertisement 5
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Put himself offside on second shift of the game. Impressive. Actually impressive: his power move late in the second to create a scoring chance which just rang off the post. Best of a poor bunch on the top line tonight.
Jake DeBrusk (C)
Tough night. Coach Adam Foote revealed post-game DeBrusk was ill and nearly didn’t play. Explains why he looked so poor and only played 12 minutes.
Filip Chytil (C+)
Missed a glorious chance on his first shift. Looked good despite having missed three months.
Drew O’Connor (B)
Skating hard! You’re shocked, right? Set up Chytil and Boeser for early chances, then creates the shortie for Blueger
Brock Boeser (B)
Missed a great chance in the slot after an O’Connor forecheck. Late goal is his fourth point in four games.
Teddy Blueger (B)
Great patience on his short handed goal.
Liam Ohgren (C)
He’s fun to watch skate but you’re wondering about his hockey sense at times.
Conor Garland (C+)
Nifty dangle to lead a zone exit. His heart is never in doubt.
Advertisement 6
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
David Kampf (C+)
Physical and smart.
NIls Hoglander (B)
Hard wrister spilled by Markstrom, becomes the Karlsson goal. Another hard-working night.
Linus Karlsson (A)
That’s why you skate hard at the net even when it’s a nothing shot. Got a goal for his efforts and he had a lot of good moments.
Defence
Elias Junior Pettersson (C)
Tough first period. Lost a few puck battles. Took a couple shots in the ankle in the second.
Filip Hronek (A)
Mr Everything. Didn’t score but played 27 minutes.
New Jersey Devils’ Dawson Mercer (91) and Vancouver Canucks’ Filip Hronek (17) vie for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, on Friday, January 23, 2026. Photo by ETHAN CAIRNS /THE CANADIAN PRESS
Zeev Buium (A)
Great move off the boards to create his first scoring chance, then an even better effort to retrieve the puck before his goal. Super dynamic all night, his best game in quite a while.
Tyler Myers (C-)
Hard in the corners but the last four New Jersey goals were scored with him on the ice.
Marcus Pettersson (C+)
Nice, competently quality night.
Tom Willander (C)
Quiet night. That’s fine. Got the puck on net for Boeser’s late goal
Goalie
Kevin Lankinen (D)
His worst start of the season
Read More
Canucks Live: Hughes is in town as Vancouver tries to build on a win | Pettersson trade rumours and who’s the Canucks best celebrity fan
Canucks: Filip Chytil says you just don’t know what he’s been through
Article content
Share this article in your social network