By AakashSports_
The Vancouver Canucks fell 3–1 to the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place in a game where their offense never really got going. The Oilers controlled much of the play, outshooting Vancouver 37–15, while Thatcher Demko once again stood out in goal and kept the game closer than it could have been.
First Period, A Quiet Start
The Oilers opened the scoring at 12:21 when Noah Philp converted a pass from Kasperi Kapanen and Vasily Podkolzin. From there, Edmonton dictated the pace while Vancouver struggled to find its footing.
The Canucks managed only four shots in the opening frame and had trouble sustaining any pressure. Their transitions through the neutral zone were slow, and offensive zone entries often broke down quickly. Edmonton’s structure and forecheck made it difficult for Vancouver to get anything going.
Second Period, The Bleak Middle
Edmonton doubled its lead late in the second when Andrew Mangiapane scored unassisted at 19:09, capitalizing on a loose puck in front. The Canucks’ response was minimal. They had five shots in the period and couldn’t generate quality scoring chances.
Vancouver’s power play went 0-for-2, failing to create momentum. The Oilers’ penalty kill pressured well and forced Vancouver into rushed decisions. Through forty minutes, the Canucks had just nine total shots and little offensive rhythm.
Third Period, Too Little, Too Late
Brock Boeser gave Vancouver some life early in the third, scoring 47 seconds into the period off a setup from Quinn Hughes and Jake DeBrusk. It briefly looked like the Canucks might find a push, but the spark faded as quickly as it appeared.
Vancouver couldn’t sustain any extended zone time or build on that goal. Edmonton continued to control the puck and limited the Canucks to just six shots in the period. Leon Draisaitl sealed the game for the Oilers with a short-handed goal at 18:47, making it 3–1.
The shot totals at the end told the story, with Edmonton leading 37–15.
Demko the Lone Bright Spot
Thatcher Demko was excellent once again. He faced 37 shots and kept the Canucks in it throughout. His calm presence and positioning were the main reasons the score stayed close.
The defense in front of him, however, struggled with puck management and coverage. Too often, Edmonton generated chances off turnovers or broken plays. While Demko did his part, he didn’t get much support from the group in front of him.
Bottom Line, A Game to Learn From
This wasn’t Vancouver’s night. The team lacked offensive rhythm, and their passing and execution were off. The Canucks had trouble creating clean exits, and their power play couldn’t provide a lift.
It wasn’t an overly poor effort, but it was a flat one. Edmonton played with more pace and confidence, and Vancouver simply didn’t match it.
The Canucks will need to clean up their puck movement and find ways to generate more consistent offense. Demko’s steady play continues to be a strength, but the team will have to give him more support if they want better results moving forward.
A forgettable night, but one the Canucks can learn from as they look to find more consistency in their game.
