The Vancouver Canucks didn’t just win a hockey game on Pride Night - they showed exactly the kind of resilience and team-first mentality that coaches love to see and fans have been waiting for. Down 2-0 early to the Washington Capitals, the Canucks could’ve folded. Instead, they regrouped, leaned into their structure, and clawed their way back for a much-needed win.
Head Coach Adam Foote was quick to highlight the calmness his team showed in the face of adversity. And it wasn’t just lip service.
Vancouver didn’t panic when the Capitals jumped out to a quick lead. They stuck to what’s been working - getting pucks deep, forechecking with purpose, and playing as a connected five-man unit.
That’s where they’ve been most effective, and they got back to that identity in this one.
“They were just calm,” Foote said postgame. “They knew we were having some success again below the opposition’s goal line. When we dump the puck and forecheck properly, and work as a unit of five, we really have a lot going on for us.”
That belief in the system paid off. The Canucks outworked Washington in the trenches, especially down low, and their veterans led the charge.
Foote singled out Connor Garland and Brock Boeser, calling it one of the best games he’s seen from the duo - not just because of the points, but because of the compete level. Boeser, in particular, was matched up against Tom Wilson for much of the night - a physical, grinding assignment - and he didn’t back down.
Boeser finished with a goal and an assist, but his impact went beyond the scoresheet. He was relentless on the boards, played with a purpose, and set the tone for the rest of the group. After the game, he spoke about how important it was to stay positive and lead by example, especially during tough stretches.
“We can’t have that bad body language, and the negative attitude on the bench,” Boeser said. “We can’t show that to the young guys. We’ve got to be good leaders and good role models and be positive, and I thought we were tonight.”
It’s that kind of mindset that can shift the energy in a locker room - and it showed on the ice.
Teddy Blueger also drew praise from Foote, both for his individual play and the spark he seemed to give Garland. Blueger’s return brought a noticeable jolt to the lineup, and his presence helped stabilize the bottom six. He played with pace, made smart decisions, and contributed to the kind of depth performance that good teams rely on.
Filip Hronek echoed what many in the room were feeling: this win meant more than just two points in the standings. After a rough stretch of losses, getting back in the win column was a mental reset.
“It’s big, really,” Hronek said. “It’s big for the mental side of things, and just to keep battling.”
Between the pipes, Kevin Lankinen turned aside 29 of 32 shots and earned the second star of the night. But true to form, he deflected the praise back to his teammates.
“It’s been a tough stretch,” Lankinen admitted. “But I think the guys battled hard, showed character, and we’ve just got to keep building from here.”
The game didn’t start the way Vancouver wanted. Washington struck twice on the power play in the first period - Dylan Strome and B.C. native Justin Sourdif each finding the back of the net. But the Canucks didn’t let the early deficit derail them.
They got back into it with a gritty forechecking shift, sparked by David Kämpf doing the dirty work down low. That pressure led to a prime scoring chance for Boeser, who buried a shot from the slot to cut the lead in half and shift the momentum.
From there, the Canucks tightened up defensively, found their legs offensively, and played with the kind of structure that’s been missing during their recent slide. It wasn’t flashy, but it was effective - and it was exactly what they needed.
This wasn’t just a comeback win - it was a statement about who this team wants to be. Calm under pressure, committed to the details, and led by veterans who know how to steady the ship. If they can bottle that effort and carry it forward, the Canucks might be turning a corner.