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.<\/p>\n
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Published Apr 11, 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 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.<\/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 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<\/a> and San Jose Sharks played a game of loosey-goosey and put up enough entertainment for even the most jaded fan to say \u201cthat was fun.\u201d<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n A back-and-forth game<\/a>, some bad defending, some outstanding goaltending, a wild shootout \u2026 if you\u2019re not getting the playoffs, this isn\u2019t a bad alternative.<\/p>\n The Canucks won 4-3 after a six-round shootout, Linus Karlsson picking the top corner to win the game:\u00a0A fitting winning goal from their most consistent forward all season. He\u2019s not the top goal scorer on the team \u2014 Jake DeBrusk scored his 20th of the season, joining Brock Boeser<\/a> in the 20s \u2014 but he\u2019s been there every night trying to make something happen.<\/p>\n Keep moving!<\/p>\n Goalies are so big now. They\u2019re so good facing up to shooters in a shootout.<\/p>\n But getting them to keeping moving across the crease and backing off remains the most effective way to score.<\/p>\n Karlsson\u2019s tally was such a good example of this: he didn\u2019t slow up much, he kept moving across the slot and never let San Jose goalie Yaroslav Askarov get set.<\/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 Spoilers<\/p>\n Even before the game, the Sharks\u2019 playoff chances were hanging by a thread.<\/p>\n But this win by the Canucks seals the deal for the Sharks. They can\u2019t get more than 88 points now. The Kings just need a win<\/a> \u2014 or two points \u2014 and the Sharks\u2019 season is cooked.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s sealing their spot in the playoffs (first they play Monday in Seattle), or fighting to finish in the top three of the division.<\/p>\n 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?<\/p>\n Depthless Sharks<\/p>\n Macklin Celebrini\u2019s talents are staggering. He was a shooting star at the Olympics; against much poorer opposition, he was electric every time he touches the puck.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The Canucks have seen that every night this season. He\u2019s a one-man wrecking ball.<\/p>\n Power play prowess<\/p>\n The Canucks came into the game with the NHL\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n They snared two; so, they stayed in the game.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Teddy Blueger<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n Punchless Petey<\/p>\n One of the consequences of Elias Pettersson<\/a> apparently losing faith in his shot is he hasn\u2019t scored a game-winning goal once this season.<\/p>\n As Sportsnet\u2019s John Shorthouse noted, he has 33 all-time, tying him with Trevor Linden for fourth in the Canucks\u2019 history books.<\/p>\n The good news Saturday night was Pettersson wasn\u2019t shy to shoot, and he wasn\u2019t passing up opportunities: With seven shots on goal, he showed up ready to fire.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u00d6hgren. Elias Pettersson<\/a>. Boeser. C<\/p>\n 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 \u00d6hgren lost track of Chernyshov on his second goal too, leaving him with space at the top of the slot.<\/p>\n Drew O\u2019Connor. Marco Rossi. Linus Karlsson. B<\/p>\n It\u2019s not a big surprise that the Canucks\u2019 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\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n Jake DeBrusk. Teddy Blueger<\/a>. Nils H\u00f6glander. C+<\/p>\n 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\u2019Connor won a puck battle. Good on DeBrusk for grabbing another power play goal. He\u2019s been so-so five-on-five, but in the end he\u2019s been scoring, and the Canucks need that guy next season.<\/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. Ty Mueller. Aatu R\u00e4ty. C<\/p>\n Very little going here.<\/p>\n Zeev Buium. Filip Hronek<\/a>. C-<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Marcus Pettersson. Tom Willander. C<\/p>\n Struggled badly against the Celebrini line.<\/p>\n Elias Pettersson. Victor Mancini C<\/p>\n Not a great night for the young defencemen. Mancini hit Celebrini hard at one point.<\/p>\n Goalie<\/p>\n Kevin Lankinen B<\/p>\n Battled hard<\/a>. Not much help, as ever, in front of him.<\/p>\n pjohnston@postmedia.com<\/a><\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n A good news story for the Canucks: Brock Boeser is the King Clancy nominee<\/p>\n![\"San](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/cp176129099_302544235.jpg\")
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<\/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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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<\/p>\n![\"Canucks](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/icon-vs-canucksReport.svg\"\/){kind=icon}
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