The Canucks started the game with disastrous defending, and behind that was poor Nikita Tolopilo making his first start in two weeks.<\/p>\n
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Published Mar 28, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 4 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n Another game, another night closer to the end of this miserable season.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. 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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.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n 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<\/p>\n or<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The Vancouver Canucks<\/a> have nothing but pride to play for<\/a>\u2014 and, from time to time, you do see the spark.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Take Nils Hoglander<\/a>. The veteran (how did that happen?) Swede has had a tough season. He got hurt at the end of training camp. Didn\u2019t make his debut till December. Took forever to get his first goal of the season.<\/p>\n It doesn\u2019t seem like his coach likes him much: Ice time has been hard to fine, even after the season has been lost.<\/p>\n And yet he keeps showing up, keeps making plays with the puck, keeps looking to find his team a goal.<\/p>\n He bagged a lovely tip in the third period of what could have been another dispiriting loss<\/a> on Saturday in Cowtown, the Canucks\u2019 final goal in a 7-3 loss to the Flames.<\/p>\n This was a game the Canucks must have circled on their calendar as one to push for near the end of the season.<\/p>\n Unfortunately they started the game with disastrous defending, and behind that was poor Nikita Tolopilo making his first start in two weeks.<\/p>\n Tolopilo had a dismal night, giving up four goals on just 11 shots before he was lifted.<\/p>\n Canucks Report<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Calgary\u2019s first four goals sandwich a lone marker by Liam \u00d6hgren, who finished off a quick turnover play in the first.<\/p>\n The Canucks just never gave themselves a chance against the Flames, who blew their team up even more than the Canucks did going into the trade deadline.<\/p>\n League leaders<\/p>\n As of Saturday, the Canucks have hit 100 goals allowed in the second period. No other team has hit 90 this year.<\/p>\n On Friday, Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford<\/a> suggested his team\u2019s second period struggles were down to players getting caught out on the ice for long shifts from the opening whistle, leading them to being tired in the second and then getting trapped by long chances.<\/p>\n Whether that theory is right or not, they\u2019ve been awful in the middle frame.<\/p>\n Three left<\/p>\n The Canucks\u2019 magic number is now three: That is, they have just 10 games left, so they can only manage 20 points maximum, and they\u2019re 17 points back of Chicago and New York in 31st place.<\/p>\n In other words, another Canucks loss plus a win for both the Rangers and Hawks (or, simply, two Canucks losses) will lock in the team\u2019s last-place standing for the season.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Forwards<\/p>\n Elias Pettersson<\/a> B- Lovely work in the neutral zone to turn the play around before \u00d6hgren\u2019s goal. He was actually pretty good on the night even if the Canucks were a mess in their own end. His best game in some time.<\/p>\n Liam \u00d6hgren B Great finish off a fast opportunity.<\/p>\n Linus Karlsson B- Smart quick attack on \u00d6hgren goal. Nice pass. Why he hasn\u2019t been playing more is a mystery.<\/p>\n Marco Rossi C\u00a0He\u2019s had better nights.<\/p>\n Drew O\u2019Connor C+ Drove the net well early.<\/p>\n Brock Boeser<\/a> B Went to the net and thought he had a goal. Too bad Mancini had already killed the goalie. Got his goal in the second. Been a good month. Too bad it doesn\u2019t matter.<\/p>\n Teddy Blueger<\/a> C Hockey does not look fun for Blueger of late.<\/p>\n Evander Kane C- Started the game with an aimless clearance that became a delay-of-game penalty. Empty calories most nights: Somehow he had four shots on goal and threw three hits.<\/p>\n Jake DeBrusk C Not much ice time tonight for whatever reason but was actually useful in those minutes.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Aatu R\u00e4ty C Won faceoffs. Not much else.<\/p>\n Curtis Douglas C Early fight. It happened. Not much else<\/p>\n Nils H\u00f6glander C+ Once again making stuff happen when he\u2019s on the ice. Seriously, why is Evander Kane getting more ice time at this point?<\/p>\n Defence<\/p>\n Zeev Buium C Hard night. Still creating with the puck but struggling defensively<\/p>\n Filip Hronek<\/a> C Tough whiff on a pass attempt that ended up as the Flames\u2019 second goal of the night. Didn\u2019t get much better from there.<\/p>\n Marcus Pettersson C Not too bad really, but the scoreboard still matters. Rough one.<\/p>\n Tom Willander C Alright night but wasn\u2019t enough.<\/p>\n P-O Joseph C+ Another decent night for him. Too bad the rest of the team was stinking it up.<\/p>\n Victor Mancini C+ He likes to skate. He made a lot happen offensively. Needed this, even in a loss, after some rough games before.<\/p>\n Goalie<\/p>\n Nikita Tolopilo F\u00a0He hadn\u2019t played in six games. He looked rusty, started from behind and just never got better. Pulled in the second.<\/p>\n Kevin Lankinen C\u00a0No one wants to come in midway through the game.<\/p>\n pjohnston@postmedia.com<\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n When tossing a sports reporter from the rink becomes a story<\/p>\n![\"Vancouver](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/cp176060867_302337070.jpg\")
Vancouver Canucks’ Zeev Buium battles with Calgary Flames’ Blake Coleman on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Photo by Larry MacDougal THE CANADIAN P \/The Canadian PressArticle content<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.8.4\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-vp.svg\"){kind=logo}
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Calgary Flames\u2019 Joel Farabee celebrates his goal against Vancouver Canucks goalie Nikita Tolopilo in Calgary on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Photo by Larry MacDougal THE CANADIAN P \/The Canadian Press<\/p>\n![\"Vancouver](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/cp176060452_302337154.jpg\")
Vancouver Canucks\u2019 Curtis Douglas fights Calgary Flames\u2019 Adam Klapka during a hockey game in Calgary on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Photo by Larry MacDougal THE CANADIAN P \/The Canadian Press<\/p>\n![\"When](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774770119_123_1350116564_97323210.jpg\")
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