Canucks Look to End Slide in Vegas Before Olympic Break
The Vancouver Canucks are limping into the Olympic break, and Wednesday’s road game in Las Vegas feels less like a getaway and more like a gut check. Losers of 16 of their last 18, the Canucks are in desperate need of something-anything-to stop the bleeding. A win over the Golden Knights wouldn’t erase the struggles of the past month, but it could be just enough to inject a little belief into a team that’s been searching for answers.
This final game before the break offers a rare opportunity. Vegas has dropped seven of its last eight and is clearly vulnerable, even if they remain a formidable opponent on paper. Vancouver hasn’t had much success against the Golden Knights historically, but this is the kind of matchup that sometimes flips the script-two slumping teams, one looking to rediscover its edge, the other clinging to its identity.
For the Canucks, it starts with lineup challenges that have become all too familiar.
Chytil Out, Secondary Scoring Still a Question Mark
Filip Chytil will miss Wednesday’s game as he deals with migraines-unfortunate timing, but the Olympic break gives him a built-in window to recover. Chytil hasn’t been a major offensive piece this season-three goals on 24 shots across 12 games-but he’s a key cog in Vancouver’s bottom six. His absence forces head coach Adam Foote to shuffle the deck once again, asking more of depth forwards who are already stretched thin.
For a team that’s struggled mightily to generate secondary scoring, that’s not a small ask. Vancouver has leaned heavily on its top players to carry the offensive load, and without consistent contributions from the supporting cast, the margin for error shrinks fast.
Chytil is expected back after the break, but in the meantime, the Canucks will need energy, discipline, and opportunistic play just to stay competitive.
Garland Guts It Out
Conor Garland is set to suit up in Vegas, even though he’s still battling through illness. He skipped Tuesday’s practice, but his presence in the lineup is critical-especially with Chytil out. Garland snapped an 11-game scoring drought in Monday’s 6-2 loss to Utah, picking up two assists in a game where little else went right.
Through 45 games this season, Garland has quietly put together a solid stat line: seven goals, 24 points, nearly 100 shots on goal, and a noticeable presence on both ends of the ice. He’s not flashy, but he’s effective-and on a team that’s been short on consistency, that matters.
Even at less than 100 percent, Garland brings the kind of veteran stability that can help settle younger linemates. He’s the kind of player who finds ways to contribute, whether it shows up on the scoresheet or not.
DeBrusk’s Struggles Continue
Jake DeBrusk is still searching for his scoring touch. On Monday, he opened on the top line but didn’t register a single shot in nearly 18 minutes of ice time. One goal in his last 13 games tells the story-this is a player in a funk.
What’s more concerning is that even his power-play production has dried up. DeBrusk leads the Canucks with 11 goals on the man advantage, but he hasn’t scored one since January 8. That’s a long drought for someone counted on to be a difference-maker in special teams.
Foote has been tweaking the lines in search of chemistry. At practice, DeBrusk skated with David Kämpf and Linus Karlsson-a trio that, on paper, offers some balance but hasn’t delivered results of late. Karlsson, who caught fire after Christmas, has cooled off significantly, with just one goal in his last 16 games.
The bigger picture? Vancouver has scored just two goals in each of its last five games. That’s not going to cut it-especially against a Vegas team that, even while slumping, can still put up crooked numbers in a hurry.
One Last Push Before the Break
With the Olympic pause looming, the Canucks aren’t talking about turning the season around in one night. Right now, it’s about effort, structure, and finding small wins in the chaos.
As defenseman Marcus Pettersson put it, “Just give it everything you got. You never want to go into a break on a losing skid.
One game. Play harder.”
That’s the mindset: keep it simple, stay disciplined, and capitalize when the opportunity presents itself. The Canucks don’t need a miracle-they need a pulse. A clean penalty kill, a rebound goal, a big save-those are the moments that can shift momentum, even if just for a night.
This isn’t about rewriting the narrative. It’s about stopping the free fall, even briefly, and heading into the Olympic break with something to build on. If Vancouver can find a way to compete hard, limit mistakes, and maybe catch a bounce or two, that might be enough to reset the tone for the stretch run.
No one’s pretending it’s been easy. But a strong showing in Vegas-even just 60 minutes of focused, determined hockey-could go a long way in reminding this group that the fight isn’t over.