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!
Folks, these games finally matter, and I couldn&#8217;t be happier about it. Let&#8217;s. Do. This.
Just 2:01 into the season, the Canucks&#8217; penalty kill, which ranked 17th overall with a 79.1% success rate last season, got their first opportunity of 2024-25 when Danton Heinen was called for slashing. The Canucks&#8217; penalty kill showed very well in the preseason, and that continued early on tonight. They were very aggressive in closing in on any open space, and Calgary struggled to get set up as a result. 100% so far!
JT Miller threw a hit on Kevin Rooney that shook the Flames&#8217; centre up after he went awkwardly into the boards. Remember this hit for later.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Here is another look at the J.T. Miller hit on Kevin Rooney. 
🎥: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/ZE7GXk858K">pic.twitter.com/ZE7GXk858K</a>
&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1844203807980339337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2024</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;
The Canucks ended up with a power play out of this sequence, in which four minor penalties were handed out.
On the Canucks&#8217; first power play opportunity of the year, Daniel Sprong showed off his incredible release to open the scoring and made it 1-0 Canucks.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
🚨Canucks Goal🚨
Daniel Sprong shows off his incredible shot as he picks a corner on Dan Vladar! 
🎥: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/yHRGhFIUXu">pic.twitter.com/yHRGhFIUXu</a>
&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1844205488159748399?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The first unit had to get in on the fun of course, and that they did, as the 1-for-1 power play got another chance shortly after Sprong&#8217;s goal. Jake DeBrusk helped execute a beautiful tic-tac-toe play to Brock Boeser, who scored his first of the season and make it 2-0 Canucks. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
🚨Canucks Goal🚨
Jake DeBrusk finds Brock Boeser in slot and he buries it! 
2-0 Vancouver 
🎥: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/mg6IRIWr4B">pic.twitter.com/mg6IRIWr4B</a>
&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1844207289764389172?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2024</a></blockquote>
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DeBrusk seems to be a good fit on the power play.
On the very next shift, Conor Garland&#8217;s line got to work and blew this one wide open at 3-0 in the first period.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
🚨Canucks Goal🚨
It&#39;s 3-0! Now Conor Garland scores! What a start to this game! 
🎥: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/XaNqz8ucZz">pic.twitter.com/XaNqz8ucZz</a>
&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1844207851075473640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2024</a></blockquote>
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After Anthony Mantha stepped out of the box and chipped in with a shorthanded goal to get the Flames on the board, Mr. Opening Night &#8212; a name I came up with tonight &#8212; Brock Boeser, scored his second of the season. His second of the game. His second of the period, to make it 4-1 Canucks.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
🚨Canucks Goal🚨
Mr Opening Night strikes again! That&#39;s Boeser&#39;s 2nd goal of the game! 
4-1 Vancouver! 
🎥: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/rDjiMiCvjS">pic.twitter.com/rDjiMiCvjS</a>
&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1844210268521267527?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The chaotic first period came to a close with JT Miller and Anthony Mantha dropping the gloves.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
J.T. Miller and Anthony Mantha drop the gloves! 
🎥: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/7XkytKyJQN">pic.twitter.com/7XkytKyJQN</a>
&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1844210910757327241?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Honestly, it might be recency bias, but I&#8217;m comfortable saying that might be the wildest first periods of hockey I&#8217;ve ever seen.
The pace in the first period was so high that it felt like the game came to a screeching halt in the second. the Flames scored the only goal of the second period with just under three minutes remaining when Rasmus Andersson scored to cut the Canucks&#8217; lead down to 4-2.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Rasmus Andersson scores the Flames second goal of the night! <a href="https://t.co/8Vk6JsjKTc">pic.twitter.com/8Vk6JsjKTc</a>
&mdash; FlamesNation (@FlamesNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/FlamesNation/status/1844225557032206701?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The Flames picked up where they left off, as Martin Pospisil let go of a wrist shot in the high slot that made its way past Arturs Silovs to make it 4-3 Canucks.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
🔥Flames Goal🔥
Martin Pospisil makes this a one goal game! What a shot! 
🎥: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/CgBSYiYvqE">pic.twitter.com/CgBSYiYvqE</a>
&mdash; Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1844232050234229074?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2024</a></blockquote>
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All of a sudden, the Flames were right back in this game. This led Rick Tocchet to shake up his line combinations, as his team had officially taken their foot off the gas pedal.
The first period came so easy to the Canucks that it really did seem like they lost their drive after the opening 20 minutes. Whereas every pass had a purpose and was crisp, everything the Canucks did in the periods that followed felt far more sluggish.
Kiefer Sherwood took a tripping penalty with under 13 minutes to go, giving the Flames a prime opportunity to tie this game up, and a prime opportunity for the Canucks&#8217; penalty kill to continue their perfect streak.
Instead, Arturs Silovs&#8217; streak of getting beat by point shots continued, as Mackenzie Weegar let go of a point shot that beat the Canucks&#8217; netminder, and it was a whole new ballgame for the suddenly reeling Canucks.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
🔥Flames Goal🔥
MacKenzie Weegar ties the game! The Flames come all the way back from being down 4-1!
🎥: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/xCpUvdKAtB">pic.twitter.com/xCpUvdKAtB</a>
&mdash; Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1844235011467452764?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The wheels officially came off when the Flames took their first lead of the night just minutes later. Jonathan Huberdeau banged home a loose puck in the crease to make it 5-4 Flames. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
🔥Flames Goal🔥
The Flames score their fourth straight goal and they take their first lead of the night! 
🎥: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/5cvsXLC82i">pic.twitter.com/5cvsXLC82i</a>
&mdash; Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1844236756373340429?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
All of a sudden, the Canucks were the ones playing catch up, and unlike the home team, the Flames weren&#8217;t taking their foot off the gas.
With just over two minutes remaining, the Canucks pulled their goalie, and the sloppiness continued. After a botched zone entry, it looked like the Flames were about to ice this one until Quinn Hughes stood in front of the shot attempt and hit JT Miller with a stretch pass up ice. Miller moved in, and absolutely rifled one over Dan Vladar&#8217;s glove to tie it up at 5-5.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
🚨Canucks Goal🚨
J.T. MILLER TIES THE GAME! WHAT AN UNBELIEVABLE PLAY BY QUINN HUGHES!!
🎥: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/FQbhNsmpRR">pic.twitter.com/FQbhNsmpRR</a>
&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1844240678852714918?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
This one needed overtime, and with the way the Canucks played over the final 40 minutes, getting a point from this game felt like getting away with murder.
In OT, Connor Zary worked his way in tight on Arturs Silovs and slid the puck home for the winner.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
ZARY WINS IT IN OT!!! WHAT A COMEBACK!! <a href="https://t.co/993llWZd02">pic.twitter.com/993llWZd02</a>
&mdash; FlamesNation (@FlamesNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/FlamesNation/status/1844242705653825577?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
6-5 Flames final.
Some takeaways from tonight:
-What an advantage it will be if the Canucks&#8217; second power play unit can be a consistent threat. In years&#8217; past, PP2 usually only saw the ice if PP1 was beyond drained or of course, if they got scored on. The latter was meant to be a punishment for the PP1 personnel, but for years, it also served as a punishment for the fans. 
-Aatu Räty was solid in the faceoff dot, finishing the night 5-for-6. 
-Daniel Sprong and Räty saw their ice time limited while the Canucks were chasing the game in the third. Something to note. 
-The Canucks need more from their goaltender than they got from Arturs Silovs tonight. Kevin Lankinen was likely always going to get the start Friday vs. Philadelphia, but tonight&#8217;s performance from Silovs basically guaranteed that will be the case. 
-The first period was certainly more fun than the final two. It&#8217;s a long season, folks.
Tune into Rink Wide Vancouver with Jeff Paterson and Irfaan Gaffar LIVE on YouTube just moments after the final horn! And after that, catch Wyatt Arndt&#8217;s first Stanchies of the season later tonight or tomorrow morning here at CanucksArmy.com!
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="RINK WIDE POST-GAME: Vancouver Canucks vs Calgary Flames | Game 1 - Oct. 9, 2024" width="1424" height="801" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NjeB0bIQSIg?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
What&#8217;s your instant reaction to tonight&#8217;s game? Let us know in the comments section below!

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!

Folks, these games finally matter, and I couldn't be happier about it. Let's. Do. This.

Just 2:01 into the season, the Canucks' penalty kill, which ranked 17th overall with a 79.1% success rate last season, got their first opportunity of 2024-25 when Danton Heinen was called for slashing. The Canucks' penalty kill showed very well in the preseason, and that continued early on tonight. They were very aggressive in closing in on any open space, and Calgary struggled to get set up as a result. 100% so far!

JT Miller threw a hit on Kevin Rooney that shook the Flames' centre up after he went awkwardly into the boards. Remember this hit for later.

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1844203807980339337

&nbsp;

The Canucks ended up with a power play out of this sequence, in which four minor penalties were handed out.

On the Canucks' first power play opportunity of the year, Daniel Sprong showed off his incredible release to open the scoring and made it 1-0 Canucks.

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1844205488159748399

The first unit had to get in on the fun of course, and that they did, as the 1-for-1 power play got another chance shortly after Sprong's goal. Jake DeBrusk helped execute a beautiful tic-tac-toe play to Brock Boeser, who scored his first of the season and make it 2-0 Canucks. 

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1844207289764389172

DeBrusk seems to be a good fit on the power play.

On the very next shift, Conor Garland's line got to work and blew this one wide open at 3-0 in the first period.

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1844207851075473640

After Anthony Mantha stepped out of the box and chipped in with a shorthanded goal to get the Flames on the board, Mr. Opening Night -- a name I came up with tonight -- Brock Boeser, scored his second of the season. His second of the game. His second of the period, to make it 4-1 Canucks.

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1844210268521267527

The chaotic first period came to a close with JT Miller and Anthony Mantha dropping the gloves.

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1844210910757327241

Honestly, it might be recency bias, but I'm comfortable saying that might be the wildest first periods of hockey I've ever seen.

The pace in the first period was so high that it felt like the game came to a screeching halt in the second. the Flames scored the only goal of the second period with just under three minutes remaining when Rasmus Andersson scored to cut the Canucks' lead down to 4-2.

https://twitter.com/FlamesNation/status/1844225557032206701

The Flames picked up where they left off, as Martin Pospisil let go of a wrist shot in the high slot that made its way past Arturs Silovs to make it 4-3 Canucks.

https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1844232050234229074

All of a sudden, the Flames were right back in this game. This led Rick Tocchet to shake up his line combinations, as his team had officially taken their foot off the gas pedal.

The first period came so easy to the Canucks that it really did seem like they lost their drive after the opening 20 minutes. Whereas every pass had a purpose and was crisp, everything the Canucks did in the periods that followed felt far more sluggish.

Kiefer Sherwood took a tripping penalty with under 13 minutes to go, giving the Flames a prime opportunity to tie this game up, and a prime opportunity for the Canucks' penalty kill to continue their perfect streak.

Instead, Arturs Silovs' streak of getting beat by point shots continued, as Mackenzie Weegar let go of a point shot that beat the Canucks' netminder, and it was a whole new ballgame for the suddenly reeling Canucks.

https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1844235011467452764

The wheels officially came off when the Flames took their first lead of the night just minutes later. Jonathan Huberdeau banged home a loose puck in the crease to make it 5-4 Flames. 

https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1844236756373340429

All of a sudden, the Canucks were the ones playing catch up, and unlike the home team, the Flames weren't taking their foot off the gas.

With just over two minutes remaining, the Canucks pulled their goalie, and the sloppiness continued. After a botched zone entry, it looked like the Flames were about to ice this one until Quinn Hughes stood in front of the shot attempt and hit JT Miller with a stretch pass up ice. Miller moved in, and absolutely rifled one over Dan Vladar's glove to tie it up at 5-5.

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1844240678852714918

This one needed overtime, and with the way the Canucks played over the final 40 minutes, getting a point from this game felt like getting away with murder.

In OT, Connor Zary worked his way in tight on Arturs Silovs and slid the puck home for the winner.

https://twitter.com/FlamesNation/status/1844242705653825577

6-5 Flames final.

Some takeaways from tonight:

-What an advantage it will be if the Canucks' second power play unit can be a consistent threat. In years' past, PP2 usually only saw the ice if PP1 was beyond drained or of course, if they got scored on. The latter was meant to be a punishment for the PP1 personnel, but for years, it also served as a punishment for the fans.
-Aatu Räty was solid in the faceoff dot, finishing the night 5-for-6.
-Daniel Sprong and Räty saw their ice time limited while the Canucks were chasing the game in the third. Something to note.
-The Canucks need more from their goaltender than they got from Arturs Silovs tonight. Kevin Lankinen was likely always going to get the start Friday vs. Philadelphia, but tonight's performance from Silovs basically guaranteed that will be the case.
-The first period was certainly more fun than the final two. It's a long season, folks.

Tune into Rink Wide Vancouver with Jeff Paterson and Irfaan Gaffar LIVE on YouTube just moments after the final horn! And after that, catch Wyatt Arndt's first Stanchies of the season later tonight or tomorrow morning here at CanucksArmy.com!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjeB0bIQSIg

What's your instant reaction to tonight's game? Let us know in the comments section below!

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