Welcome back to Instant Reaction, the series here at CanucksArmy where we give you our instant reaction to tonight’s Vancouver Canucks game and ask our readers to do the same in the comments section below!
This game got started with such a fast pace that I actually found myself wondering what it might be like for these two teams to meet in round one of the playoffs…
The Canucks got the party started against the NHL’s top team when they *checks notes* scored off the rush?!
Teddy Blueger made a nice drop pass and took the Jets defenceman with him as Quinn Hughes set up Drew O’Connor for a one timer that O’Connor made no mistake in burying.
1-0 Canucks. 
The Jets, as expected, looked to strike back quickly, and Kevin Lankinen made a phenomenal save to keep his team in front.
Connor Hellebuyck made an even better save just moments later (even if it came as a result of his own mistake), off of Jonathan Lekkerimäki just moments later.
It could’ve been 2-0 Canucks in a hurry, but instead, it was the Jets who struck quickly, scoring a pretty rush goal of their own:
1-1 thanks to future Canuck Nikolaj Ehlers.
The Canucks got the game’s first power play opportunity just under 10 minutes into an action-packed first period. They converted, as Brock Boeser got the monkey off his back when he deflected a Quinn Hughes point shot past Hellebuyck for his first goal in 13 games.
2-1 Canucks. 
Side note: I liked Jonathan Lekkerimäki’s work on PP1 here. Nice for him to get an assist on the goal.
The Canucks’ first period went about as well as they could have hoped, as they did what so few teams have been able to do against the Jets this season: score three goals.
And the Canucks did it in just one period!
With three seconds to go, Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson executed a pretty East-West passing play off the rush as Nils Höglander charged for the net and put another one past Connor Hellebuyck.
3-1 Canucks after 20 minutes of play. 
What?!
The Jets cut into the Canucks’ lead after some sustained pressure, bringing the lead down to 3-2.
The Canucks jumped ahead to 4-2 after Nils Höglander showed some dogged determination on the forecheck to win the puck back to Quinn Hughes, who blasted a point shot on goal that Brock Boeser promptly buried past Hellebuyck.
Then, the unthinkable happened. The Canucks immediately got in on the forecheck and created another goal off an east-west passing play.
5-2. 
Just like we all thought.
Filip Hronek was called for high-sticking, giving the Jets’ league-best power play their first chance of the game. The Canucks’ red-hot PK got to work, but with 17 seconds left on the Hronek penalty, Teddy Blueger took a very unlucky puck over glass penalty to give the Jets a 5-on-3 chance.
The Canucks’ PK killed both of those off, and the Canucks entered the third period with a three goal lead.
And in the third, the Canucks locked it down confidently. No sitting back. No dumping pucks in, changing, and playing scared. They kept up their pressure and their momentum, and yes, continued their east-west passingm which feels like something we haven’t seen from them in quite some time.
Shoutout to Derek Forbort for this play:
Pius Suter added an empty netter for his 20th goal of the season.
6-2 final.
Some more takeaways from tonight:
-That has to be as convincing an effort we’ve seen from the Canucks.
-I’ll be curious to dive into this one in The Statsies tomorrow, but it really felt like the Pettersson line was phenomenal in this one, and Nils Höglander continued to stand out in a big way.
-With the Jets having the best power play and the Canucks having the best PK in the league since February 1st, this one really seemed like it was going to come down to special teams, and not only did the Canucks win that battle, they won the 5v5 one as well.
-Thought Linus Karlsson played well tonight. Some good defensive reads and strong forechecking efforts.
-For the Canucks to put in an effort like this without Filip Chytil and Conor Garland was truly respectable.
-Crazy what can happen when your best players are your best players.
-What’s it going to cost to re-sign Pius Suter, who is a 20-goal scorer for the first time in his career?
Tonight is also of course the Canucks for Kids Fund Telethon. If you are able, please consider donating to the important work being done. It’s not too late to donate, and you can do so by clicking here.
What’s your instant reaction to tonight’s game? Let us know in the comments section below! And be sure to tune into Rink Wide Vancouver moments after the final horn!
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