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In a back-and-forth game with bad defending and outstanding goaltending, the Canucks fended off a night of Shark attacks to take the win.
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Published Apr 11, 2026 • 4 minute read
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San Jose Sharks goaltender Yaroslav Askarov looks back as Vancouver Canucks left wing Jake DeBrusk scores a goal on Saturday, April 11, 2026. Photo by AP Photo/Tony Avelar /APArticle content
Two teams with nothing to play for are almost certainly bound for one of two outcomes: a really dull, juiceless game, or a wide-open silly affair.
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Fortunately for everyone in attendance at the SAP Center in San Jose on Saturday, and for everyone watching at home on TV, the Vancouver Canucks and San Jose Sharks played a game of loosey-goosey and put up enough entertainment for even the most jaded fan to say “that was fun.”
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A back-and-forth game, some bad defending, some outstanding goaltending, a wild shootout … if you’re not getting the playoffs, this isn’t a bad alternative.
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen, right, blocks a shot by San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini on April 11, 2026. Photo by AP Photo/Tony Avelar /AP
The Canucks won 4-3 after a six-round shootout, Linus Karlsson picking the top corner to win the game: A fitting winning goal from their most consistent forward all season. He’s not the top goal scorer on the team — Jake DeBrusk scored his 20th of the season, joining Brock Boeser in the 20s — but he’s been there every night trying to make something happen.
Keep moving!
Goalies are so big now. They’re so good facing up to shooters in a shootout.
But getting them to keeping moving across the crease and backing off remains the most effective way to score.
Karlsson’s tally was such a good example of this: he didn’t slow up much, he kept moving across the slot and never let San Jose goalie Yaroslav Askarov get set.
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Spoilers
Even before the game, the Sharks’ playoff chances were hanging by a thread.
But this win by the Canucks seals the deal for the Sharks. They can’t get more than 88 points now. The Kings just need a win — or two points — and the Sharks’ season is cooked.
The Canucks have talked a lot about wanting to be spoilers down the stretch. They have three games left and could play a role in how the Pacific Division sets itself for the playoffs.
They face Anaheim tomorrow, LA on Tuesday and Edmonton on Thursday. The Kings could even finish in the top three, especially if the Canucks take points off the Ducks on Sunday. No matter what, the Kings will have much to play for Tuesday in Vancouver, whether it’s sealing their spot in the playoffs (first they play Monday in Seattle), or fighting to finish in the top three of the division.
The Oilers have two games left, same as first-place Vegas, but are one point back. Might their game on Thursday vs. the Canucks settle first place?
Depthless Sharks
Macklin Celebrini’s talents are staggering. He was a shooting star at the Olympics; against much poorer opposition, he was electric every time he touches the puck.
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The Canucks have seen that every night this season. He’s a one-man wrecking ball.
Power play prowess
The Canucks came into the game with the NHL’s 10th-ranked road power play. Facing a very passive San Jose penalty killing unit, the Canucks should have been in line for at least one goal with the man advantage.
They snared two; so, they stayed in the game.
Jake DeBrusk has posted a remarkable year, scoring 17 times on the power play, and it it was no surprise to see him do it again.
Teddy Blueger scored the second power play goal of the night; given his hustle this season, especially in crunch time, he deserved to get on the scoresheet in a positive manner.
Punchless Petey
One of the consequences of Elias Pettersson apparently losing faith in his shot is he hasn’t scored a game-winning goal once this season.
As Sportsnet’s John Shorthouse noted, he has 33 all-time, tying him with Trevor Linden for fourth in the Canucks’ history books.
The good news Saturday night was Pettersson wasn’t shy to shoot, and he wasn’t passing up opportunities: With seven shots on goal, he showed up ready to fire.
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Öhgren. Elias Pettersson. Boeser. C
Tough night. Not much going on offence. Trapped in their own end too often. Pettersson lost the faceoff on the first Igor Chernyshov goal as Macklin Celebrini simply outbattled Pettersson to win the puck. Then Pettersson and Öhgren lost track of Chernyshov on his second goal too, leaving him with space at the top of the slot.
Drew O’Connor. Marco Rossi. Linus Karlsson. B
It’s not a big surprise that the Canucks’ most consistent two-way forwards the last couple months would have a strong game. Rossi got the goal on a fortunate misplay by San Jose goalie Yaroslav Askarov, but truly as the old saying goes: you’ve got to be good to be lucky. A faceoff with Blueger taking the draw led to the tying goal, a deserved reward for the line even if it was Blueger subbing in for Rossi at the end of a power play opportunity.
Jake DeBrusk. Teddy Blueger. Nils Höglander. C+
Stuck in their own end too much through the first two periods. But some quality shifts in the third. And Blueger had a great goal after O’Connor won a puck battle. Good on DeBrusk for grabbing another power play goal. He’s been so-so five-on-five, but in the end he’s been scoring, and the Canucks need that guy next season.
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Max Sasson. Ty Mueller. Aatu Räty. C
Very little going here.
Zeev Buium. Filip Hronek. C-
Rough work on opening Sharks goal. Both were rushing away from the net while Elias Pettersson was getting worked by Macklin Celebrini at the faceoff and both defencemen bizarrely rushed away from the front of the net. Sums up the defensive mess the Canucks have been this season.
Marcus Pettersson. Tom Willander. C
Struggled badly against the Celebrini line.
Elias Pettersson. Victor Mancini C
Not a great night for the young defencemen. Mancini hit Celebrini hard at one point.
Goalie
Kevin Lankinen B
Battled hard. Not much help, as ever, in front of him.
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