By AakashSports_
First Period, Canucks Find Their Legs and Take Off
The Vancouver Canucks turned a tight game into a rout, burying the Calgary Flames 5–1 on Thursday night. It took a little while for Vancouver to find their groove, but once they did, it was all blue and green. Filip Chytil led the charge with two goals in the third, while Thatcher Demko anchored things calmly in net.
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The Canucks started slow, shaking off some early rust, but once they got their legs going, they took full control.
Kiefer Sherwood opened the scoring midway through the frame, jumping on a loose puck in the slot and wiring it past Dustin Wolf. Drew O’Connor did the heavy lifting below the goal line to set it up, creating the turnover that led to the goal.
From there, Vancouver dictated the pace. They outshot Calgary 8–1 in the period, suffocated them defensively, and entered the intermission up 1–0 with all the momentum.
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Second Period, Flames Push, Pettersson Scare
Calgary came out harder in the second, pressing for an equalizer and drawing a pair of power plays. Thatcher Demko stood tall, tracking every puck through traffic and keeping the Flames’ chances to the outside.
Midway through the period, the energy dipped after Elias Pettersson took a big hit from MacKenzie Weegar along the boards. He went down, slow to get up, and immediately headed to the dressing room. For a few tense minutes, the building went quiet, even fans watching at home held their breath. Losing your top line center, especially someone as pivotal as EP40, is the last thing you want.
Then came the relief.
A few shifts later, Pettersson skated back onto the ice. You could feel the energy snap right back into Rogers Arena. The fans were relieved, the bench was energized, and the game’s mood shifted instantly. Pettersson didn’t look shaken either, he jumped right back into the play, handling the puck with confidence and taking a couple of strong offensive shifts before the period ended.
Despite Calgary’s push, Vancouver stayed composed and held firm defensively, taking their 1–0 lead into the third.
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Third Period, Canucks Erupt
Once the puck dropped for the final frame, the Canucks put on a clinic.
Filip Chytil doubled the lead early, ripping a shot past Wolf glove side off a forced turnover. A few minutes later, he struck again, finishing off a slick feed from Arshdeep Bains to make it 3–0. Those two goals broke the game wide open and completely deflated the Flames.
Jonathan Lekkerimäki added to the fun soon after, finishing a smooth passing sequence with Evander Kane and Conor Garland to push it to 4–0. Calgary finally got one back when Morgan Frost scored off a setup from Yegor Sharangovich and Joel Farabee, but the game was already out of reach.
Brock Boeser capped off the night late in the third, finishing a beautiful passing play with Elias Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk. Seeing Pettersson pick up that assist after the earlier scare was a welcome sight for fans, proof that their star center wasn’t just fine, he was firing again.
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Between the Pipes
Thatcher Demko didn’t face a ton of rubber, but he was dialed in when needed. He stopped 17 of 18 shots, tracking everything cleanly and controlling rebounds like a veteran goaltender at ease.
At the other end, Dustin Wolf turned aside 21 of 26 shots but couldn’t bail out a Flames team that unraveled defensively in the third.
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Special Teams and Discipline
Neither team scored on the power play, both going 0 for 4, but Vancouver’s penalty kill looked sharp and aggressive. The Canucks pressured the puck, blocked lanes, and didn’t let Calgary’s setup breathe.
Discipline also played a role. Vancouver didn’t bite on after whistle scrums or retaliations, staying focused on the game plan and outworking Calgary five on five, where all five goals came from.
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Three Stars
- Filip Chytil – Two goals in the third, total game breaker.
- Thatcher Demko – Calm, reliable, quietly dominant.
- Kiefer Sherwood – Opened the scoring and set the tone early.
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Final Thoughts, Statement Hockey
This wasn’t just a win, it was a statement.
The Canucks took their time getting settled, but once they did, they dominated. Chytil’s third period surge showed off the team’s depth. Sherwood’s early goal gave them belief. And Pettersson’s resilience after that hit reminded everyone why he’s the heartbeat of this roster.
Demko looked composed and confident, the defense moved pucks efficiently, and the forward group rolled all night long. It was structured, fast, and ruthless hockey, the kind that wins you respect around the league.
For Calgary, it was night of inconsistency. They worked hard early playing a long game against Edmonton the night prior, but couldn’t handle Vancouver’s pace once the Canucks started connecting on their passes and forecheck pressure.
Vancouver didn’t just win, they imposed their will. This was the kind of team performance that makes the rest of the Pacific take notice.
Final Score, Canucks 5–1 Flames
The Canucks didn’t just light the lamp, they lit up the Flames and sent a message, this team’s for real.
