There was plenty to sort through in the Canucks’ 4-1 win over the Flames on Saturday: the hits, the scrums, the dirty stuff, the goals, and a calm night in net from Leevi Meriläinen. It wasn’t always pretty, but it ended with the home side getting the result and the building buzzing.
The game had a choppy feel for long stretches, yet it also delivered the kind of finish that can ripple through a crowd and keep the noise rolling. Whether that energy helped spark the comeback is impossible to say. What is clear is that the Canucks found their footing after an ugly opening stretch and never let go.
That opening stretch was rough. Calgary rang the crossbar in the first minute, and Zeev Buium and Filip Hronek struggled to clear the puck out of the Canucks’ zone for nearly the first two minutes. Then Luke Schenn changed the temperature of the game with a big hit on Adam Klapka, which led to a fight and gave Vancouver a jolt.
Schenn was back in the middle of it before the second period was done, mixing things up near the benches while officials sorted out the call on Kevin Bahl for his dirty, in the numbers and blindsided hit on Aatu Raty.
Another Canuck who made noise, though in a very different way, was Elias Pettersson. The “let’s go Petey” chant wasn’t tied to a goal from the No. 1 centre, but he still had a rugged night, throwing more than a couple of big hits.
Then there was the other Pettersson, the one on the blue line, who flipped the script with a beautiful goal. D-Petey is usually associated with physical play, not finishing touches like that.
The biggest reason the Canucks could settle into the game, though, was Meriläinen. Kevin Lankinen is a quality guy and a solid NHL goalie, but Meriläinen has been a top prospect as recently as two years ago, and he looked the part on Saturday. Goalie coach Marko Torenius described him to me on Friday as “Cold blooded,” and the young Finn backed that up with a composed, steady performance.
He was excellent, the kind of cool cucumber the Canucks needed.
That’s why there’s a real sense he’s going to get plenty of starts. It’s also why Ryan Johnson and his staff had their eyes on him for so long.
If there was a lasting flaw in the win, it was the power play. No matter who was on the ice, the unit looked ugly. That’s a far cry from the lethal group the Canucks were rolling out as recently as two years ago, and it remains the one area that could keep them from fully taking advantage in games like this.
Still, if they can clean that part up, they’ve got a way to stay in games and finish them off. Saturday showed that much.
In Other News...
Elias Pettersson Looked Like A Difference-Maker Again In Canucks Win
The Canucks got what they needed in a 4-1 win over the Flames, and Elias Pettersson was in the middle of it again. The center not only picked up an assist, he also led Vancouver in hits, a reminder that his value stretches well beyond the scoring sheet when the game gets heavy.
Behind him, the night also brought a milestone in goal, with Leevi Merilinen earning his first win in Vancouver after stopping 23 shots. Luke Schenn added the kind of physical presence and leadership the Canucks often lean on in divisional games, helping set the tone in a matchup that had plenty of edge from the opening shift. [Read more 🡒]
Senators Blue-Line Trouble Just Made This Trade Rumor More Interesting
The early-season picture around the Vancouver Canucks has only made one of the leagues lingering trade ideas feel a little more complicated. Elias Pettersson has gotten off to a strong start and given the organization something to think about at a time when every conversation about the roster seems to come with a bigger strategic question attached, especially with the Canucks trying to sort out where they stand in the longer view.
Ottawas injury situation on the blue line adds another layer to the chatter. With Artem Zub and Jake Sanderson both out, the Senators have a real need on defense and could be pushed toward exploring the market, which is why a name like Simon Edvinsson is suddenly worth watching after reports that contract talks with Detroit have stalled and he would rather be moved than sign a new deal. For Vancouver, it is one more reminder that the trade board around the league is starting to shift in ways that could eventually spill over into their own decisions. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Let A New Canucks Goalie Settle In Too Easily
Leevi Merilainen did not need long to make himself at home in Vancouver. Claimed off waivers from Ottawa late last month, the 22-year-old got his first start for the Canucks and turned in a calm, poised effort in a 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames, stopping 23 shots while drawing praise from teammates and coach Manny Malhotra. It was exactly the kind of settling-in performance Vancouver was hoping for from a goalie still early in his new opportunity.
Merilainen had already logged 12 NHL games with the Senators in 2024-25, but this one felt like an important first impression in a different sweater. Calgary did not make it easy, yet the newcomer never looked rattled, and the Canucks were able to build around that steadiness as the night went on. For a club that is always watching its goaltending depth closely, this was the sort of debut that invites a longer look. [Read more 🡒]