The Vancouver Canucks turned back the clock on Tuesday, delivering a standout performance against the Florida Panthers. Despite a rocky start to 2026, with only four wins to their name, the Canucks found their groove in a 5-2 victory.
Florida had reasons to celebrate, welcoming Seth Jones back and marking Sergei Bobrovsky’s 800th NHL game. However, the festivities were short-lived as the Panthers fell behind early and couldn’t claw their way back.
The Panthers, now 0-2 on their current road trip, have been outscored 11-4 in their games against Seattle and Vancouver. Their journey continues with a challenging back-to-back in Alberta, starting Thursday in Edmonton.
The game saw Florida briefly level the score at 1-1, thanks to Carter Verhaeghe’s hustle creating a turnover that led to Matthew Tkachuk’s equalizer. But Vancouver responded with Elias Pettersson’s second power-play goal and a strike from Marco Rossi, closing the first period at 3-1.
Sam Bennett pulled one back for Florida, making it 3-2. Yet, the Canucks extended their lead to 4-2 with Aatu Raty capitalizing on an Evander Kane setup. Despite a late push with Kane in the penalty box, Florida couldn’t solve Kevin Lankinen, who improved his record to 8-3-2 against the Panthers.
Game Highlights:
- Elias Pettersson was on fire, netting two power-play goals, the first from the right circle and the second bouncing past Bobrovsky after a deflection.
- Marco Rossi showcased his skill, finding space and beating Bobrovsky to extend the Canucks’ lead.
- Florida’s offense was driven by Tkachuk, who continues to lead the team with nine goals and 22 points in 20 games this season.
Key Moments:
- Canucks 1, Panthers 0: Pettersson opens the scoring with a power-play goal.
- Panthers 1, Canucks 1: Tkachuk ties it up after a Verhaeghe turnover.
- Canucks 3, Panthers 1: Rossi’s solo effort puts Vancouver ahead by two.
- Canucks 4, Panthers 2: Raty seals it with a slot shot off Kane’s pass.
FHN’s 3 Stars of the Game:
- Elias Pettersson, Canucks
- Marco Rossi, Canucks
- Matthew Tkachuk, Panthers
Next Up:
The Panthers face the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday at Rogers Place, looking to bounce back from their recent losses. The Oilers currently lead the season series, having won the first matchup in Florida. Following Edmonton, the Panthers will head to Calgary for a Friday night showdown.
Stay tuned for what promises to be an exciting continuation of this road trip as the Panthers seek to regain their footing.