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<\/p>\n
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Published Mar 30, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 1\u00a0hour ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 6 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 There are magic numbers and tragic numbers.<\/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 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.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The Vancouver Canucks<\/a> 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\u2019re not guaranteed top spot.<\/p>\n And so the hope Monday in Las Vegas was to produce some magic of their own.<\/p>\n Could the Canucks heed the collective call and make Evander Kane\u2019s 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?<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cWe were fighting and battling because we knew they would come out hard,\u201d said Canucks head coach Adam Foote. \u201cThey were finishing checks and we matched them and competed. Guys didn\u2019t back down. The hardest thing for young defencemen is to see what\u2019s coming behind you and we\u2019ll learn from that.<\/p>\n \u201cBut there were a lot of good things. Zeev (Buium) was moving the puck well and making plays.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n It overshadowed a strong start and playing at pace before the Canucks lost structure and put a damper on Kane\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Canucks Report<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cIt 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,\u201d said Kane. \u201cNice to have a moment in that milestone game. Special moment.<\/p>\n \u201cI liked a lot of our game. They\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going into back-to-backs and we\u2019re going to need the effort we had in the majority of this game.\u201d<\/p>\n Brock Boeser<\/a> also struck on the power play Monday for his 79th PP marker to move into fifth place in franchise history with Todd Bertuzzi.<\/p>\n Tortorella sings familiar refrain<\/p>\n John Tortorella was hired Sunday afternoon to replace the fired Bruce Cassidy and was in full media mode Monday morning.<\/p>\n The former Canucks bench boss inherits a confusing veteran-laden Golden Knights roster that\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s kind of a crazy situation with only eight games left and we\u2019ve got to start thinking ahead and just take this day,\u201d he said of being under contract for the remainder of this season then seeing where the chips fall. \u201cIn this business, whether a coach or player, you need to have the ability to accept a challenge.<\/p>\n \u201cI got bombed out of Philly with nine games left last year. That\u2019s pro sports. When you get to this level, you have to be prepared to handle that stuff. I\u2019m very fortunate to get the opportunity and it\u2019s a very well-respected organization. I don\u2019t want to let them down and be the best version of me.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve never wanted to stop coaching. Philly caught me off guard. I\u2019m not trying to find jobs. When this came up, I said: \u2018Man, I\u2019m in.\u2019 And we\u2019ll see where we go from here.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s not a calculated risk. Vegas doesn\u2019t do roster rebuilds.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s a team that\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Advertisement 6<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cI was very frank with how I\u2019m going to approach it,\u201d added Tortorella. \u201cI want to just see a hardness and that\u2019s not fighting or bodychecking, It\u2019s comes through mindset. We have a lot of faith that we can find our way. I\u2019m sure I\u2019ll make some mistakes along the way, but I\u2019ve got to get out of the way and learn from them.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve done some dumb things along the way.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cTorts really cares about his guys,\u201d Corrado said Monday. \u201cHe comes across prickly at times, especially in video sessions, but he just wants his guys to succeed. He\u2019s the first person to tell you when you\u2019ve done something well, and at the same, the first to tell you when you should have done something different.\u201d<\/p>\n REPORT CARDSForwards<\/p>\n Liam Ohgren (C+)<\/p>\n Took slashing minor on backcheck, but good late chance to tie game.<\/p>\n Elias Pettersson<\/a> (C)<\/p>\n Advertisement 7<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Four shots but rough time in faceoff circle. Won just eight of 20 (40%).<\/p>\n Linus Karlsson (C)<\/p>\n Deft deflection of Ohgren centring pass goes off crossbar in second.<\/p>\n Drew O\u2019Connor (C-)<\/p>\n Lost check on backcheck for easy Andersson goal. Chance in third.<\/p>\n Marco Rossi (C-)<\/p>\n Those 10 points in five games seem so long ago. Another quiet night.<\/p>\n Brock Boeser<\/a> (B)<\/p>\n Deflection for PP goal, long flip on Kane goal. Three shots, three hits.<\/p>\n Evander Kane (B)<\/p>\n More giddy-up pace. More feisty, big goal, five shots, six attempts.<\/p>\n Teddy Blueger<\/a> (C+)<\/p>\n Good pressure versus No. 4 PP. Fought Sissons, 9-for-13 on draws.<\/p>\n Jake DeBrusk (C)<\/p>\n Sent cross-ice feed on Kane goal, but just one shot, two blocks.<\/p>\n Curtis Douglas (C)<\/p>\n Got into an early scrum when Stone tried to get into Lankinen\u2019s kitchen.<\/p>\n Aatu Raty (C+)<\/p>\n Nic Dowd in concussion protocol off reverse hit. Won 12 of 14 draws.<\/p>\n Nils Hoglander<\/a> (C)<\/p>\n Not a lot of minutes to make any impact. Logged just 6:40 in a tight tilt.<\/p>\n Defence<\/p>\n Zeev Buium (C)<\/p>\n Shifty moves at offensive blue-line caused chaos, three giveaway night.<\/p>\n Advertisement 8<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Filip Hronek<\/a> (B-)<\/p>\n Solid as usual in schooling D-men. Set up Boeser goal with smart point shot.<\/p>\n Marcus Pettersson (C)<\/p>\n Playing more simple was the solution. Better puck decisions, exit passes.<\/p>\n Tom Willander (C+)<\/p>\n Avoided forechecking pressure with effortless exits. Three blocked shots.<\/p>\n Elias Pettersson<\/a> (C)<\/p>\n Mettle tested on the PK, better positioning, more physical. Three big hits.<\/p>\n Victor Mancini (C)<\/p>\n Good physical wall work against hulking Hertl, bad neutral-zone trip minor.<\/p>\n GOAL<\/p>\n Kevin Lankinen (B)<\/p>\n Ten solid saves in opening period. Denied Eichel on a trio of Grade As.<\/p>\n bkuzma@postmedia.com<\/a><\/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\/cp176069997_302362694.jpg\")
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<\/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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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<\/p>\n![\"When](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774942316_916_1350116564_97323210.jpg\")
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