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Instant Reaction: Räty and Höglander score in Canucks loss to Golden Knights

Photo credit: © Bob Frid-Imagn Images

By David Quadrelli

Apr 7, 2025, 00:48 EDT

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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!

The Canucks started this game with some great intensity, and after the Canucks’ top line built some pressure on Vegas, it was the home side that opened the scoring.

🚨CANUCKS GOAL🚨Nils Hoglander scores in his return to the lineup! 🎥: Sportsnet | #Canucks

— CanucksArmy (@canucksarmy.bsky.social) 2025-04-07T02:16:37.554Z

The goal went to Höglander, but there was some great work by Brock Boeser and Marcus Pettersson on this goal as well. Great to see Höglander pick up right where he left off. 1-0 Canucks.

The Golden Knights bounced back less than five minutes later, as Ivan Barbashev broke in on a close play at the blueline that the home crowd seemed to believe the Canucks should have challenged for offsides.

Ivan Barbashev ties the game for Vegas.🎥: Sportsnet | #Canucks

— CanucksArmy (@canucksarmy.bsky.social) 2025-04-07T02:22:47.311Z

It was close, and a couple years ago, it’s for sure offside, but with the new rules where the trailing skate can be in the air, I think this was too close to challenge. Especially given how good the Vegas power play is.

The Golden Knights seemed to feed off that first goal, as all of a sudden, the Canucks were struggling to stack shifts and get real forechecking pressure going as they did to start this game.

The Canucks gave up the game’s next goal, as old friend Tanner Pearson jumpstarted a rush chance that ended with an unfortunate bounce off of Victor Mancini’s skate and behind Kevin Lankinen.

Tough break for the Canucks as the puck goes in off Victor Mancini's skate. It's 2-1 Vegas. 🎥: Sportsnet | #Canucks

— CanucksArmy (@canucksarmy.bsky.social) 2025-04-07T02:34:24.888Z

2-1 Vegas.

With just under three minutes remaining in the first, Jack Eichel gave the Canucks the game’s first power play when he took just his fourth minor penalty of the season. Which seems crazy.

The Canucks’ power play was great against Anaheim on Saturday, and they were going to need more of that if they wanted to hang with the Knights. This time around, they got a couple of good looks, uncluding one where Hughes rifled one at Boeser’s stick in an attempt that was nearly identical to the one the Canucks scored yesterday.

Vegas killed that one off, and with one second remaining on the Canucks’ PP, Aatu Räty took a penalty. The Canucks’ PK turned in a successful kill of their own to close out the first, and to open the second as well.

Kevin Lankinen made two huge saves in the early parts of the second period, and this one on Brett Howden was likely the bigger of the two:

Kevin Lankinen makes a great save! He robs Brett Howden!🎥: Sportsnet | #Canucks

— CanucksArmy (@canucksarmy.bsky.social) 2025-04-07T03:18:25.881Z

That opened the door for Aatu Räty to be Johnny-on-the-Spot for a point shot rebound to tie this one up at two all.

🚨CANUCKS GOAL🚨Aatu Räty ties the game for Vancouver! 🎥: Sportsnet | #Canucks

— CanucksArmy (@canucksarmy.bsky.social) 2025-04-07T03:24:35.887Z

Vegas challenged for goaltender interference, but after a lenghty review, this one stood. 2-2.

That also gave the Canucks another power play, but once again, Vegas killed it off. Again though, it wasn’t for a lack of trying. The Canucks’ PP got a great bumper spot look for Pius Suter, who was robbed by Adin Hill’s glovehand.

Adin Hill robs Pius Suter. That was an incredible save by the Vegas goaltender🎥: Sportsnet | #Canucks

— CanucksArmy (@canucksarmy.bsky.social) 2025-04-07T03:27:22.247Z

The third got underway with the two teams deadlocked at two apiece.

The Canucks and Vegas were playing solid lockdown hockey, with neither side really willing to give an inch. As the period went on, the Golden Knights were clearly the better team, but struggled to beat Kevin Lankinen. That, was until with just over three minutes remaining in the third, when Victor Olofsson broke the tie:

Vegas takes a one goal lead late in the 3rd period. 🎥: Sportsnet | #Canucks

— CanucksArmy (@canucksarmy.bsky.social) 2025-04-07T04:41:43.861Z

3-2 Vegas. This team is really missing Tyler Myers right now.

3-2 final.

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!