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Instant Reaction: Canucks defeat Kings 4-3 in penultimate game of 2025-26 season
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Photo credit: © Bob Frid-Imagn Images
David Quadrelli
Apr 15, 2026, 00:51 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!

Starting Lineup

First Period

The Kings are heading to the playoffs. That much we know. But what we don’t yet know is exactly how the Pacific Division will shake down. The pillow fight to the top is coming right down to the wire, and the Kings are fighting for the chance to not face the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the playoffs (which is who they’d face if the season ended today).
So it was not much of a surprise to see the Kings come out strong to start this game. Despite controlling play to start the game, that didn’t really equate to many shots on goal for the Kings, and the Canucks took advantage. There were some close calls though:
Just before the ten minute mark of the first period, Elias Junior Pettersson took a pass from Kirill Kudryavtsev and snapped a shot through traffic and past Darcy Kuemper to open the scoring.
1-0 Canucks. Also, major shoutout to Marco Rossi, who’s stickhandling through traffic and ability to keep his feet moving created this play in the first place.
Quinton Byfield muscled his way to the net and evaded the stick pressure from Brock Boeser before tapping in the cross crease pass to tie this one up before the end of the first.
1-1.
In the dying moments of the period, Zeev Buium drew a holding penalty, giving the Canucks an abbreviated power play that they’d get to begin the second period with.

Second Period

Canucks on the power play? You know what that means! Yes, Jake DeBrusk scored again.
It took shockingly little time for the Kings to answer back, as the Canucks, as they so often have this season, got absolutely lost in their defensive zone coverage. The Kings took advantage.
2-2.
The goals kept coming. While the broadcast was still showing who got the assists on the King’s last goal, Drew Doughty took a slap shot through traffic that led to a perfect rebound for Alex Laferriere to bury on the backhand.
I didn’t note this in the first period, but I probably should have: Zeev Buium looked good. He’s been looking like a player who more and more is feeling good about his game. And how could he not have felt good about this goal he scored, which tied the game up?
Keeping his feet moving the whole time, Buium executed a nice give and go with Nils Höglander, who chipped the return pass beautifully back to a streaking Buium, who made no mistake, tying this game up at three all.
3-3.
From there, it was a bit of a sloppy period for both sides. No real takeaways from the second, but did want to say I think the fans got it right with the team awards, which were announced throughout the game.

Third Period

Wright was called for goaltender interference on Kevin Lankinen, giving the Canucks’ red-hot power play another chance to work. And sure enough, they nearly scored. Remember when we would write about them struggling to get set up at all? Me neither. Feels like forever ago.
Back at 5v5, Zeev Buium took a big hit from Mathieu Joseph and was slow to get up. Filip Hronek stepped in and challenged Joseph to a fight. Even if Hronek didn’t throw many punches during the bout, this is similar to Teddy Blueger challenging Radko Gudas over the weekend. It’s about showing the courage and showing your teammates — especially your young ones — that you’re not going to let them get pushed around.
Go check out the fight over at hockeyfights.com!
Hronek was assessed an extra two minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct, and on the Kings’ power play, Kevin Lankinen had to be sharp, making multiple saves in-tight. After the power play expired, the Kings continued to pepper Lankinen with shots and crank up the pressure on the Canucks. The Kings got up to 30 shots with seven minutes still left to play, but the two sides still remained tied at three.
Also: Aatu Räty was an absolute menace in the circle tonight. Glad he’s in the lineup now. Crazy how many times he was a healthy scratch down the stretch of a rebuilding year, but oh well.
This one needed overtime.

Overtime

Elias Pettersson won the opening draw of overtime, giving the Canucks an all-important first possession that they did a good job of not relinquishing.
Pettersson got involved again, too. After gaining the zone, Pettersson slid the puck to open ice, regained possession, batted the puck out of the air, then feathered a pass to Jake DeBrusk, who scored his second of the game:
4-3 final.
What’s your instant reaction to tonight’s game? Let us know in the comments section below!
Also, if you haven’t already, be sure to check out our interview with Cory Schneider on episode 1000 of Canucks Conversation earlier this week!

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