The Canucks head into Anaheim with a clear early-season pattern in front of them: this is the first of four meetings with the Ducks, and the schedule will keep bringing these two teams back together. Vancouver and Anaheim will meet again on Nov. 3 in Vancouver, then Dec. 16 back on the road, and Mar. 27 at home.
History has leaned Vancouver’s way. The Canucks are 64-51-9-7 all-time against the Ducks, and they’ve been even stronger lately, going 8-2-0 in their last 10 against Anaheim and 4-1-0 in the last five.
Elias Pettersson has been one of Vancouver’s most productive players in this matchup, leading active Canucks skaters in scoring against Anaheim with 23 points in 24 career games. Brock Boeser has also been effective with 18 points in 23 games, while Filip Hronek has 17 points in 18 career meetings with the Ducks. Brendan Gallagher has 12 points in 17 career games against Anaheim.
In net, Kevin Lankinen has handled the Ducks well, going 4-1-0 with a 2.20 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage in six career appearances against them. Leevi Meriläinen has not faced Anaheim before.
There are a couple of individual stat lines worth watching on Vancouver’s side. D Elias Pettersson is tied for third among all defencemen in goals this season with three, and he’s tied for third in the NHL in power-play goals with four.
The most recent meeting between these teams came on Apr. 12/26, when Vancouver skated away with a 4-3 overtime win in Anaheim. Cutter Gauthier opened the scoring 3:41 into the first period, then Curtis Douglas scored his first career goal at 10:49, with Aatu Räty and Kirill Kudryavtsev earning the assists. Jake DeBrusk put the Canucks ahead 3:48 later, with Marco Rossi and Filip Hronek on the setup.
Brock Boeser added a shorthanded goal 4:28 into the third to stretch the lead, but Anaheim answered quickly. Gauthier scored again 37 seconds later, Leo Carlsson tied it 1:51 after that, and Rossi finished it off with the overtime winner on the power play with 10 seconds left. Hronek finished with five shots, D Elias Pettersson had five hits, Zeev Buium blocked three shots, and Nikita Tolopilo made 24 saves.
In Other News...
Eric Tulsky Just Clarified Carolinas Nikita Nikishin Contract Leverage
The NHLs 10.2(c) designation has become a useful shorthand for understanding why certain young players have so little room to maneuver, and the latest example centers on Nikita Nikishin in Carolina. Under that category, players do not get restricted free agency rights and are essentially tied to their teams without the kind of alternative options that usually create leverage in contract talks. It is a setup that looks very different from the NFL, where players in similar stages can often work through qualifying offers to gain some say in their next deal.
For Canucks fans, the comparison hits close to home because Vancouvers handling of Zeev Buium shows how teams can treat a 10.2(c) player like an extension of the entry-level process rather than a true negotiating reset. In practical terms, that means the club controls the timeline, the players bargaining position stays limited, and any future discussion depends heavily on how the team chooses to frame the contract. The question now is how much that reality shapes the next round of talks around players in this same class. [Read more 🡒]
Canucks Face A Drew O'Connor Decision That Could Split Fans
The Canucks skid has pushed the organization squarely into seller territory, and that makes every move between now and the deadline feel bigger than it might have a month ago. Drew OConnor is right in the middle of that conversation. The alternate captain has become a possible trade chip while Vancouver works through its rebuild, and the front office has to decide whether he fits into the next phase or whether he is better used to bring back future value.
It is the kind of call that can split a fan base, because OConnor is not just another depth piece. He has a leadership role, he has been part of the room through a difficult stretch, and moving him would signal a clear commitment to the long view. Keeping him, on the other hand, would suggest the Canucks still see a reason to hold some experienced pieces in place while the bigger picture comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Canucks Prospect Caleb Malhotra May Be Turning A Corner At BU
Caleb Malhotras first stretch at Boston University has been a quiet one by design, at least in the box score. The Vancouver Canucks prospect and 2026 third overall pick came into the NCAA with plenty of attention, but early production was limited as he settled into the college game and the pace that comes with it.
A recent game against UConn suggested the turnaround Canucks fans have been waiting for might be starting to take shape. Malhotra drew praise for the way he played beyond the numbers, with his overall impact standing out enough to get noticed by both a scout and his coach, and the performance felt like the kind that can change the tone of a young season. [Read more 🡒]