The Canucks’ most competitive effort of the season saw their mettle successfully tested for an elusive victory in Denver.<\/p>\n
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Published Apr 01, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 12\u00a0minutes ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 5 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 It\u2019s always a danger game when you face the Vancouver Canucks<\/a>.<\/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 danger for the league-leading Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday was taking the last-place Canucks too lightly. After all, the high-octane club leads the NHL in points, offence, 24-7-5 home-ice record and is favoured to capture the Stanley Cup.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n And the plummeting Canucks had lost six straight, and Kevin Lankinen had a 1-4-1 career mark against the Avalanche with a bloated 4.08 goals-against average and paltry .883 saves percentage.<\/p>\n So, what could go wrong<\/a> in Denver for the dominant Avalanche? A lot, in a wild 8-6 setback in which Colorado trailed 6-2 and rallied.<\/p>\n Marcus Pettersson buried a Brock Boeser<\/a> pass from behind the net to snap a 6-6 draw with 5:39 remaining, and with their goalie pulled with 2:15 left, the Avalanche were denied. Boeser then ended the suspense with an empty-netter for his seventh hat trick and 21st goal of the season. He finished with a four-point night and has 14 points (8-6) in his last 10 games.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought we just competed hard throughout the whole game,\u201d said Boeser. \u201cObviously, we were expecting a big push from them. They scored a few and I\u2019m just happy we stuck with it and got the win. It\u2019s been a rough go of late and we just want to compete each and every night and play as hard as we can.<\/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 \u201cAny time you can get a win against the top team in the league we should enjoy this one because we have a tough one tomorrow (Minnesota). \u201cI thought our last game was better and tonight was better, too.\u201d<\/p>\n Teddy Blueger<\/a> nearly scored his first career hat-trick, struck for a shorthanded goal, and led by example as an unrestricted free agent who wants to return to help set the roster rebuild culture. It was the Canucks\u2019 most competitive effort of the season in which their mettle was tested to hang on for an elusive victory.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was just the way we stuck together,\u201d said Blueger. \u201cWe gave up some goals we\u2019d like to have back, but got the winning goal and were unfazed throughout the whole course of the game in not getting too high or too low. We showed great unity, togetherness, and just a great win. We pressured well on the PK and had good sticks and it\u2019s getting better. We\u2019re getting in a rhythm.\u201d<\/p>\n A fast start<\/a> by the Canucks and sloppiness by the sleepy Avalanche, who gave up odd-man rushes and a goal after just 29 seconds elapsed, set the tone. Vancouver scored twice the opening six minutes and three times in the first 11:38. The outurst included power play and shorthanded goals to stun the sold-out throng.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n If that wasn\u2019t bad enough for the Avalanche, starting goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood was yanked in the second period after allowing six goals on 19 shots.<\/p>\n Maybe it was those sharp throwback Quebec Nordiques uniforms that affected the Colorado\u2019s eyesight and threw the club off.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s put it this way for some shocking perspective. The last time the Canucks scored a power-play goal in Denver was seven years ago when the mercurial Nikolay Goldobin pulled the trigger. Yes, Goldobin. He of just 18 goals in 113 career games in Vancouver.<\/p>\n Of course, the biggest concern was would the Canucks keep playing on their toes and not sit back on their heels.<\/p>\n There\u2019s too much evidence of sour second periods when they fold at the slightest hint of adversity after giving up a goal. They had surrendered the most middle-frame tallies (106) and scored the fewest, (59) entering the night, so they knew the wolves would be at the door and the Avalanche would not go quietly into the night.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Their 89 goals in the second period ranked sixth and the 64 allowed are third fewest. And to their credit, the Canucks weathered the storm and allowed just one second-period goal and six shots, while scoring three times.<\/p>\n As expected, Colorado pushed hard in the third period and even though Lankinen made several sprawling saves, the Avalanche struck three times, including two in a span of 37 seconds, to make it 6-6 and a wild finish.<\/p>\n REPORT CARDSForwards <\/p>\n Liam Ohgren (C)<\/p>\n Speed turned PK shift in and odd-man rush and Blueger\u2019s first goal.<\/p>\n Elias Pettersson<\/a> (C+)<\/p>\n Assisted DeBrusk goal and won 11 of 16 draws, but had just one shot.<\/p>\n Jake DeBrusk (C+)<\/p>\n Deft tip down low for his 16th goal and 14th on PP. Had three shots.<\/p>\n Drew O\u2019Connor (C+)<\/p>\n Big guy can move, forecheck, score. Three shots and Grade A look.<\/p>\n Marco Rossi (C+)<\/p>\n Must get greedy. Passed on Grade A PP shot. Two assists. No shots.<\/p>\n Brock Boeser<\/a> (A)<\/p>\n Four points. No hesitation goal, wrister, empty-netter. Four shots.<\/p>\n Advertisement 6<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Max Sasson (C+)<\/p>\n Speed to slip home opening goal, set up Blueger, nearly potted pair.<\/p>\n Teddy Blueger<\/a> (B+)<\/p>\n Sweet feed from Ohgren for third SH tally, breakaway goal, almost trio.<\/p>\n Linus Karlsson (C)<\/p>\n Quiet night for a guy with improved stride and net presence. No shots.<\/p>\n Curtis Douglas (C+)<\/p>\n Grinder got to net, nearly scored first goal in 37 career games, four shots.<\/p>\n Aaty Raty (C+)<\/p>\n Low-event night for fourth-liner. Not many minutes, won 9 of 13 draws.<\/p>\n Nils Hoglander<\/a> (C)<\/p>\n Played with chip on shoulder. Mixed it up. Drove hard. Proved something.<\/p>\n Defence<\/p>\n Zeev Buium (C)<\/p>\n Head on swivel against speedy Avs. Screened Lankinen on fifth goal.<\/p>\n Filip Hronek<\/a> (C+)<\/p>\n Solid as usual. Veteran leadership by example on back end with Buium.<\/p>\n Marcus Pettersson (B-)<\/p>\n Big goal<\/a>. Kept it simple. Moved pucks quickly, three hits, three blocks.<\/p>\n Tom Willander (C+)<\/p>\n Smart play in offensive zone to buy time, spot Pettersson at back door.<\/p>\n Elias Pettersson<\/a> (C)<\/p>\n Got caught on long second-period shift, but threw three heavy hits.<\/p>\n Pierre-Olivier Joseph (C)<\/p>\n Struggled in own zone once Avs decided to push issue. Minus-2.<\/p>\n Goal<\/p>\n Kevin Lankinen (C+)<\/p>\n Under siege in third period as Avalanche rallied back to make it 6-6.<\/p>\n bkuzma@postmedia.com<\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n Canucks Preview: Why severe Avalanche warning has put entire NHL on notice<\/p>\n![\"Vancouver](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/cp176081764_302393383.jpg\")
Vancouver Canucks center Linus Karlsson, left, congratulates center Max Sasson after his goal against the Colorado Avalanche in the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Denver. Photo by AP Photo\/David Zalubowski \/APArticle content<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-vp.svg\"){kind=logo}
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