Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen delivered a masterclass in clutch performance Monday night, backstopping his team to a hard-fought 3-2 shootout victory over the Seattle Kraken. The win snapped Seattle's four-game winning streak and provided a crucial two points for a Canucks squad searching for consistency.
Lankinen Stands Tall in Seattle
The story of the game was unequivocally Kevin Lankinen. The netminder was spectacular, turning aside 37 of 39 shots through regulation and overtime. His most critical work came in the third period, where he stopped all 16 Seattle attempts as the Canucks were outshot 16-3 and spent much of the frame under siege.
Lankinen's brilliance extended to the shootout, where he continued his season-long perfection. He stopped both Kraken attempts, improving to a perfect 17-for-17 in shootout saves this season. His career shootout record now stands at an impressive 48 saves on 54 attempts.
The game was decided when rookie Liam Ohgren beat Kraken goalie Joey Daccord for the only goal in the penalty-shot contest, securing the extra point for Vancouver.
Lineup Shakeup and Scratched Star
Prior to the puck drop, head coach Adam Foote sent a clear message by making veteran winger Jake DeBrusk a healthy scratch. The move came as DeBrusk struggles through a significant scoring drought, with just one goal in his last 16 games and only one even-strength tally all season.
Foote also shuffled his lines in an attempt to spark an offence ranked 23rd in the league. He placed Brock Boeser alongside Elias Pettersson and reunited former Minnesota Wild teammates Marco Rossi and Liam Ohgren. The results were mixed, as the team managed only 24 shots on goal.
The scoring opened when former Canuck Jared McCann beat Lankinen in the first period. Vancouver responded just over a minute later, after a spirited fight between Conor Garland and McCann provided a jolt of energy. On the ensuing shift, Ohgren and Rossi set up Linus Karlsson for his fourth goal in four games.
Seattle regained the lead late in the first after a defensive zone miscue, but Elias Pettersson tied the game in the second period with a laser wrist shot. The marker was Pettersson's 194th career goal, moving him past Alex Burrows for 11th place on the franchise's all-time list.
Garland's Grit and DeBrusk's Dilemma
While Lankinen stole the show, the tireless play of Conor Garland provided a necessary spark. Garland, who now has 14 points in 16 career games against Seattle, engaged in a first-period fight with the larger McCann, punching well above his weight class. The bout immediately energized his teammates and led directly to Karlsson's tying goal.
The decision to scratch DeBrusk raises broader questions about his future and the team's direction. The 29-year-old winger is in the first year of a four-year contract carrying a $5.5 million annual cap hit and possesses a no-movement clause. With the Canucks publicly stating a desire to get younger and considering trades for pending unrestricted free agents, DeBrusk's prolonged slump and significant contract could make him a subject of trade speculation if his play doesn't improve.
The Canucks will need to find more offensive punch quickly, as other key scorers are also struggling. Brock Boeser has now gone 13 games without a goal and has just one in his last 20 outings.
The team returns to action Tuesday night against the Philadelphia Flyers, where DeBrusk is expected to draw back into the lineup, looking to respond to his coach's message.
