The Vancouver Canucks head into Utah tonight to face the Mammoth, a team that has been a thorn in their side since moving to the Beehive State. Vancouver is winless against Utah, including a 4–1 home loss in December, and they’ll need their top players to lead the charge if they want to break that streak.
Elias Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk have been hot lately, both riding point streaks and carrying the team’s offensive momentum. But Utah is disciplined, fast, and opportunistic, and the Canucks can’t afford to hesitate.
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Kevin Lankinen is expected to get the start in net, and while his career numbers against Utah aren’t spectacular, Vancouver has looked cleaner defensively in recent weeks. If they can control the pace early, protect the puck, and keep the penalty kill sharp against Utah’s shorthanded threats, there’s a chance to flip a matchup that’s been frustrating all season.
It’s a familiar story in Vancouver: talent meets challenge, and the solution often comes down to execution, energy, a little luck, and a hot goalie. Against Utah, the Canucks have hit more speed bumps than clean ice—fluky goals, fast transitions, and that relentless forecheck have made every game a challenge.
Item One: Drew O’Connor Has Become One of Vancouver’s Biggest Surprises
Drew O’Connor has turned into one of the Canucks’ most dependable forwards. If you were making a preseason list of players who might tilt games, he wouldn’t have been near the top. Yet here he is, midseason, making a real impact in the bottom six without power-play help.
Thursday’s game-winner against the Anaheim Ducks was just the latest example of his knack for appearing exactly when the Canucks need someone to break a deadlock. He’s now up to 13 goals and 21 points in 54 games while still landing hits, blocking shots, and driving the play. That’s not bad for a player who was mostly an afterthought before the season started.
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What’s impressive is how adaptable he is. Middle six, second line, defensive minutes; it doesn’t matter. He thrives wherever he’s slotted, and when the opportunity arises, he delivers. O’Connor’s consistency and ability to create momentum make him one of the roster’s most reliable pieces, and the Canucks are starting to lean on him in ways that could pay dividends down the stretch. For a 27-year-old who came to Vancouver fighting for a role, he’s become impossible to ignore.
Item Two: Feel-Good Moment for Ohgren and Lekkerimäki
Another feel-good story of the night isn’t just about points; it’s about chemistry and history. Liam Ohgren, acquired from the Minnesota Wild in the Quinn Hughes trade, and Jonathan Lekkerimäki reunited for just the third time in the NHL after their junior days with Djurgårdens in Stockholm. Ohgren, 22, and Lekkerimäki, 21, immediately found a rhythm.
(Bob Frid-Imagn Images)
In their first game together, Lekkerimäki ripped a snap shot from the high slot to open scoring, while Ohgren was busy winning pucks, setting plays, and creating space. “We’re good friends off the ice,” Ohgren said. “We’ve known each other a long time… my style fits his style. I work hard, and he plays with speed. Today, he used his shot.”
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Combined with O’Connor’s steady emergence, this duo represents a promising spark in Vancouver’s young core. These moments do more than boost confidence; they also give these players a tangible sense of momentum, a reason to push harder, and a glimpse at what’s possible when chemistry clicks. In a team looking to rebuild while staying competitive, those sparks matter.
Item Three: Is Vancouver Headed for Another Arturs Silovs Situation?
Canucks fans haven’t forgotten the Arturs Silovs trade fiasco in July 2025, when he was moved to the Pittsburgh Penguins because the team feared he wouldn’t clear waivers. Now Nikita Tolopilo is making management sweat. His 39-save performance against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday highlighted what’s become an awkward logjam: Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen have term, but Tolopilo is arguably the best-performing goalie right now.
Once his waiver-exempt window closes, Vancouver can’t stash him without risking exposure. Options are confusing. Should the Canucks carry three goalies, assume Demko stays healthy, waive Tolopilo, move Demko, or try to trade Lankinen? Only one of these feels remotely practical, and even that’s messy.
If Lankinen waives his no-trade clause, it won’t be because he dislikes Vancouver. However, the reality of a veteran navigating a rebuilding team might not sit well with him. His recent starts have been frustrating, for sure. Whether the Canucks learned anything from Silovs will be tested all over again.
What’s Next for the Canucks?
Tonight’s game with Utah is an opportunity to flip a stubborn narrative. The Mammoth challenge the Canucks with speed, transition scoring, and a punishing forecheck. Vancouver will need early offence from Pettersson and DeBrusk, the momentum O’Connor brings, and disciplined execution in all zones to finally make this matchup work in their favour.
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After Utah, the Canucks hit the road for a Wednesday game against the Vegas Golden Knights before the Olympic break. It’s a tight window to carry confidence, develop chemistry, and address lingering roster questions. With young players stepping up and key veterans navigating tricky situations, the second half of the season could define not just the standings but the trajectory of Vancouver’s rebuild.
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