The Canucks needed a result badly, and Tuesday night in Anaheim gave them something more valuable than just two points. After staring at a three-goal deficit late in the third period, Vancouver clawed all the way back for a 6-5 overtime win, becoming the first NHL team to erase that kind of hole this season. For a team slogging through a 10-game losing streak, that kind of finish can’t solve every problem in a rebuild, but it can absolutely lighten the mood.
That was the whole point of this one. The Canucks have been carrying the grind of a brutal stretch, and the mental and physical toll has been obvious.
A win like this doesn’t erase the damage, but it gives the room something to hold onto. It matters to veterans.
It matters even more to younger players who are still learning how to handle the daily wear and tear of a season like this.
“One of the biggest stories inside the comeback was the energy around the bench, especially from a player who had been a healthy scratch and still found a way to stay involved. He had five hits and, after taking a 10-minute misconduct at 10:36 of the third period, went back to the room.
But he kept watching, started taking off some equipment when the Canucks fell into a 5-2 hole, and then dressed again as the comeback gathered steam. By overtime, he was back in the penalty box.
The Canucks were refusing to quit, and so was he, even if that meant serving as a cheerleader for part of the night.
“He was a welcome addition,” chuckled Manny Malhotra. “We had kind of forgotten about him.”
Malhotra also put plain words to what this kind of finish can do for a group that has taken hit after hit. “Massive,” he stressed.
“When you string together as many losses as we have, it bleeds into the room, and morale obviously takes a hit. A big come-from-behind win in the third is something we can build off.
There were a lot of instances where we could have gone away.”
Then there was Jonathan Lekkerimaki, who delivered the kind of late-game burst that changes everything in a hurry. His two goals in the final three minutes of the third period came only 49 seconds apart and forced overtime. Both finishes were clean and sharp: he found space, changed shooting angles smartly, released the puck quickly, and used Jake DeBrusk as a screen to beat the goaltender with pace and precision.
Lekkerimaki’s impact went beyond the goals, too. He was engaged early along the wall to win a puck battle and help set up Drew O’Connor.
Later, he jumped into a rush at speed that opened things up for Filip Chytil, who then found O’Connor. He also kept a play alive in the offensive zone with strong puck pursuit.
That kind of involvement fits the bigger picture of his growth, and so does the production: 12 points, including six goals and six assists, in 14 games.
In Other News...
Canucks Suddenly Have A New Lineup Question Up Front
The Canucks forward depth chart got a quick shakeup with Jacob Quillan coming up from Abbotsford, giving the club another look at a player who has settled in well since arriving from Toronto a few weeks ago. Quillan has started strong in the AHL, and his promotion adds a fresh option up front at a time when Vancouver is trying to keep its lineup stable.
Filip Chytils move to injured reserve creates the opening, and it also underscores how quickly the Canucks have had to adjust around his health this season. He is dealing with an upper-body injury and is eligible to return next Thursday, so Vancouver now has to manage the short-term gap while waiting to see how the next stretch unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Canucks Suddenly Have Another Filip Chytil Injury Scare
Filip Chytils latest scare came after a hit from San Jose Sharks defenseman Darnell Nurse, and it sent the Canucks back into familiar territory with a player whose availability has too often been tied to injury updates. Chytil missed practice afterward while the team evaluated him, a frustrating development for a forward who has been trying to build momentum and stay clear of the kind of contact that has derailed him before.
Manny Malhotra said Chytil will get the day off for the upcoming game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, leaving Vancouver to manage another uncertain stretch without one of its more intriguing pieces. Chytil has been working on his on-ice awareness to help avoid dangerous situations, but for a player with his injury history, every collision seems to carry a little extra weight. [Read more 🡒]
Canucks May Like This Young Winger More Than His Trade Cost
A young winger with a tantalizing profile is suddenly in the trade conversation, and the Canucks are among the teams said to be paying attention. Ivan Miroshnichenko has drawn interest around the league as Washington makes him available, and Vancouvers curiosity makes sense for a club that is always looking for upside on the wing without having to wait too long for it to develop.
The catch is the price tag, which is where the discussion gets tricky for a Canucks front office that has to balance present needs with future value. Miroshnichenko has not yet locked down a full-time NHL role in Washington, but the Capitals are still believed to be setting a steep asking price, and that alone could determine whether Vancouver keeps kicking the tires or decides the fit is better than the cost. [Read more 🡒]