VANCOUVER – After a provincial day of celebration, the Vancouver Canucks followed their first win of 2026 by starting another losing streak Friday with a 5-4 setback against the New Jersey Devils.
But the way the Canucks competed, and their ability to finally dress something very close to a full National Hockey League lineup, it won’t be another 10 games before Vancouver wins again.
Unlike several of their losses during their historic, 11-game freefall that ended with Wednesday’s 4-3 win against the Washington Capitals, the Canucks pushed back from 3-0 down against the Devils, pulled within a goal at six-on-five with 1:12 remaining and might have forced overtime had Drew O’Connor not shot high from the low slot just before the final buzzer.
But the Canucks’ most encouraging mark on the scoresheet was their lineup, as Vancouver was able to dress four bona fide NHL centres for the first time this season: Elias Pettersson, Filip Chytil, Teddy Blueger and David Kampf.
It was Chytil’s first game since Oct. 19, and Blueger’s second.
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“There was some good things,” coach Adam Foote said as his last-place-overall team reached the mid-point of an eight-game homestand. “Some things, especially early, we had a slow start. Just not being ready early, we gave them one. Our PK gave them two.
“We just kind of gave them that. But we were resilient. When we played our game plan, we were all over them. But we can’t give them, you know, two or three just because we’re a little bit loose.”
Lenni Hameenaho beat Canuck rookie Tom Willander from a faceoff and banked in an end-boards rebound to make it 1-0 for the Devils just 1:41 into the first, and Nico Hischier made it 2-0 from alone at the hashmarks to double the lead with Willander in the penalty box at 2:34 of the second.
Cody Glass’ deflection just 40 seconds later made it 3-0.
But Linus Karlsson scored for Vancouver on Nils Hoglander’s rebound at 9:47 before Blueger scored from O’Connor’s pass on a shorthanded two-on-one at 11:59.
Canuck penalty-killers, however, gave that goal back to Connor Brown at 15:12 when defenceman Tyler Myers drifted out of the passing lane and Karlsson was a step behind Brown, who, like Hischier, was completely unchecked in front of Vancouver goalie Kevin Lankinen.
After Glass and Canuck rookie Zeev Buium, with his first goal in Vancouver since his Dec. 12 trade from the Minnesota Wild, traded markers, Brock Boeser scored on a rebound to bring the Canucks within one for the third time in the game.
It was the kind of pushback that has been absent in a bunch of Vancouver losses over the last month.
“I think just better effort,” Blueger said. “We can’t be OK with losing, regardless of what’s going on around the team or whatever. When you’re out there on the ice, you’ve got to compete and work. And I think tonight was pretty good in that regard.
“Obviously, (we’d) like to do some things better. But especially at home, people come watch us play, they pay a lot of money, so to not give your full effort, it’s kind of, I think, disrespectful. So I think we owe it to each other and the guys in the room to play hard for each other and the people that come support us.”
The Pittsburgh Penguins visit Rogers Arena on Sunday.
First line last
Although the Canucks’ forward group was as strong on paper as it has been this season, the first line of Elias Pettersson between Jake DeBrusk and Evander Kane had a lousy night. The trio was caved in territorially and did not generate a five-on-five shot on goal in more than seven minutes of full-strength ice time together.
Pettersson’s best moment was an empty-net butterfly save against Jesper Bratt shortly before Boeser scored to make it 5-4.
“No excuses, but they were both under the weather,” Foote said, referring to DeBrusk and (we think) Pettersson. “Jake, we almost didn’t play him. Petey’s been fighting something, too. So, yeah, we do need to see something (from them). I felt like they didn’t have their legs or zip tonight, and I felt a couple of other lines were giving us that. And that happens.”
Both Pettersson (14:18) and DeBrusk (12:44) logged their lowest ice times this season. Kane (15:33) was the only one of the three to register a shot on target, although DeBrusk missed twice from close-range during a third-period power play.
Chytil healed
The most important move by Filip Chytil came about halfway through the second period when he sensed danger as he was turning up-ice with the puck, and instead angled away from oncoming Devil defenceman Brenden Dillon’s hit.
It was Chytil’s first game since suffering another in a series of concussions on Oct. 19 when he was blindsided in open ice by Washington Capital Tom Wilson. Chytil talked before the season about being smarter and more aware on the ice to avoid the kind of big hits that have pockmarked his career like bomb craters.
The 26-year-old centre’s excitement about returning to the NHL lineup after so long an absence was obvious before the game. But so, too, was his frustration with the popular narrative about his history of head injuries.
“People just don’t know,” he told reporters after the morning skate. “It’s like they think I’m about to die. I’d read all these things in the media… about how many concussions I’d had, like eight, and it’s just not true. People who don’t know what I’m doing trying to say what’s going on.
“I’m not going to say how many concussions I had in my life, but yeah, the number (that) people say on the internet is crazy. I know what kind of injuries those are, and I know what I’m going through and my closest people here, as well, know. So I’m not bothered about anything.”
Starting the season as the Canucks’ second-line centre, Chytil scored three times in six games before he was clobbered by Wilson. He had a terrific chance to score on his second shift back Friday, but shot over the goal with a lot of net showing after a goalmouth pass by O’Connor.
Chytil lamented after the game that he shot it into “Row 10.” He finished with 18:29 of ice time, two shots on target and an 8-5 faceoff record. So far, so good.
Fil thrilled to be here
It is more likely the Canucks name Filip Hronek captain than trade him (although either would be a mistake), but the defenceman’s agent, Allan Walsh, erased any doubt about his client’s standing as the team rebuilds.
“Let’s just say there is an understanding that Filip Hronek is going to be part of the solution going forward in Vancouver, and not somebody that they’re going to be looking to move,” Walsh told the Steve Dangle podcast. “Both sides are basically saying: We’re really happy with each other and we really like the role that you’re playing, and the player is satisfied with the role he is playing.
“Obviously, Filip is not happy when Vancouver loses because there is no more competitive guy that hates losing… more than him. He’s not OK with losing. But he understands the reality of where Vancouver is right now. He believes in the organization’s plan. . . and wants to be part of it.”
Hronek has played arguably his best hockey as a Canuck since his partner, Quinn Hughes, was traded six weeks ago. He has led by example each game, and also led Vancouver in scoring with 13 points since the trade until Karlsson passed him with a goal and assist on Friday.
And if Hronek just spoke more than the heads on Easter Island, he’d make a great captain in a Canadian market that demands much of them.
Raising Kane’s price
Since president Jim Rutherford confirmed in November that the Canucks had informed 31 other NHL clubs that the team’s UFA-eligible players were available, it makes sense that Monday’s trade of Kiefer Sherwood moves Evander Kane to the top of the trade block.
What was encouraging in NHL insider Kevin Weekes’ report Friday is that at least a couple of contending teams, the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche, are interested in adding Kane for his playoff experience despite his disappointing season so far.
More demand means higher prices, so maybe Vancouver GM Patrik Allvin can do better than merely recoup the fourth-round draft pick he sent in June to the Oilers for Kane.
The Canucks will also be trying to move UFA-eligible centres Blueger and Kampf.
With the team healthy down the middle for the first time in three months, second-year centre Max Sasson was a healthy scratch on Friday. Another centre prospect, Aatu Raty, has sat out the last two games.
