Welcome back to Instant Reaciton — the series here at CanucksArmy where we give you our instant reaction to the game and ask our readers to do the same in the comments section below! Wyatt Arndt is on Stanchies duty and Mike Liu will have The Statsies — CA’s analytics-based post game report — up tomorrow morning!
As I said in December, the Vezina Trophy is a two-horse race, and in the first period, both of those horses didn&#8217;t disappoint in the first period.
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Connor Hellebuyck and Thatcher Demko going toe to toe in tonight&#39;s &#39;Battle for the Vezina&#39;.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a>  | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoJetsGo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoJetsGo</a>  📽️: Sportsnet | NHL<a href="https://t.co/AwWRmWzJee">pic.twitter.com/AwWRmWzJee</a>
&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1759065101431406836?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The first period was low-event and relatively quiet, but both goaltenders were up to the task when called upon. In other words, both coaches were going to be very happy after the opening 20 minutes of play.
So naturally, the second period was jam-packed with action. Bad officiating, a fight, more bad officiating, and the refs basically handing the Jets a lead despite the Canucks outplaying them quite handily. The second period played all the hits.
Let&#8217;s break it down. First, Noah Juulsen opened the scoring with his first goal since 2018:
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ALWAYS TRACK THE REBOUNDS, KIDS!! Noah Juulsen makes it 1-0 Canucks early in the second!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoJetsGo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoJetsGo</a> 📽️: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/C9HYRJ7ACp">pic.twitter.com/C9HYRJ7ACp</a>
&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1759067065544245389?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Shortly after the Canucks opened the scoring, the penalty shenanigans started. First, it was Nils Höglander &#8220;high-sticking&#8221; Neal Pionk.
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Nils Höglander gets called for roughing on Neal Pionk, and the Canucks head to the penalty kill<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoJetsGo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoJetsGo</a> 📽️: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/6ujNXGwZ7U">pic.twitter.com/6ujNXGwZ7U</a>
&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1759068177508733248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
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No word yet whether or not Pionk is picking up Academy Award recognition for the performance on this one. On the ensuing power play, the Jets managed to get one past Demko to tie up this game at one.
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Gabe Vilardi squeezes a backhander under Demko&#39;s blocker short side, and the Jets tie things up at 1.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoJetsGo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoJetsGo</a> 📽️: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/9SgDUpHpfz">pic.twitter.com/9SgDUpHpfz</a>
&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1759068780037325231?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Just minutes after that, Adam Lowry hit Nils Aman into the boards, with Phil Di Giuseppe jumping in to defend his teammate.
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Adam Lowry throws a blindside hit on Nils Åman and Phil Di Giuseppe takes exception. PDG gets an instigator penalty on the play.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoJetsGo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoJetsGo</a> 📽️: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/PCtP9JdTsZ">pic.twitter.com/PCtP9JdTsZ</a>
&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1759071197353165287?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Despite Adam Lowry literally dropping his gloves before PDG does, Di Giuseppe was given an instigator penalty and a game misconduct. And on the ensuing power play &#8212; you guessed it &#8212; the Jets scored to take a 2-1 lead.
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Sean Monahan gives the Jets the lead on the power play. 2-1 WPG<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoJetsGo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoJetsGo</a> 📽️: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/MHrmI0FpEg">pic.twitter.com/MHrmI0FpEg</a>
&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1759071886859010320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The Canucks got a power play of their own after Brendan Dillon hit Elias Pettersson from behind, but the next Canucks goal didn&#8217;t come on the power play. No, it came on a Tyler Myers backhand after a toe drag:
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Tyler Myers holds the puck in the zone, channels his inner McDavid and absolutely dangles the Jets to tie the game!!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoJetsGo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoJetsGo</a> 📽️: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/H65x4l9P5L">pic.twitter.com/H65x4l9P5L</a>
&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1759074017099788429?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Now, the 21-15 shot total in favour of the Canucks at this point really didn&#8217;t tell the full story of just how well the Canucks were playing in this game. They were hounding the Jets on the forecheck, and looked like the better in a team in a game between two of the best teams in the league.
This was yet another game for the Canucks that had a playoff-like intensity, and we saw some of that playoff-like passion at the end of the second period:
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Now THIS feels like a playoff game. Bit of fireworks to end the second period.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoJetsGo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoJetsGo</a> 📽️: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/wDLxIIARZT">pic.twitter.com/wDLxIIARZT</a>
&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1759077092690739631?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Heading into the third with these two teams tied at two, we were bound to see a wild finish tonight. You had some big saves, adding to the Vezina showdown storyline:
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Huge blocker save by Thatcher Demko off Josh Morrissey to keep this game tied early in the third.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoJetsGo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoJetsGo</a> 📽️: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/orjToMLSME">pic.twitter.com/orjToMLSME</a>
&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1759082873322398117?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
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You had some good old-fashioned chaos with the Canucks on the power play:
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C H A O S<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoJetsGo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoJetsGo</a> 📽️: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/AroY5jkfgP">pic.twitter.com/AroY5jkfgP</a>
&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1759084658908868757?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
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And of course, we saw some intense physicality between these two teams. Noah Juulsen, never afraid to throw his body, did just that and unfortunately, this decision left some space through the middle for the Jets&#8217; top line to exploit:
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A Noah Juulsen hit along the boards frees up space for Kyle Connor, who feeds Gabe Vilardi off the rush for a 3-2 Jets lead.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoJetsGo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoJetsGo</a> 📽️: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/f2FUZ8U4K0">pic.twitter.com/f2FUZ8U4K0</a>
&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1759085326247567563?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The Jets&#8217; top line benefitted from another unfortunate bounce for the Canucks &#8212; this time with Elias Lindholm and Elias Pettersson colliding in the neutral zone &#8212; and put the Jets up by two, seemingly in the blink of an eye.
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A give-and-go play at the blue line between Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor pays off, and the Jets are suddenly up 4-2.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoJetsGo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoJetsGo</a> 📽️: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/JGCSuZR1BQ">pic.twitter.com/JGCSuZR1BQ</a>
&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1759086025102753797?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
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And that would be all she wrote.
Tonight, the Canucks&#8217; lacklustre power play, a couple of untimely mistakes, the NHL&#8217;s inconsistent officiating, and Connor Hellebuyck led the Jets to victory. The Canucks outplayed the Jets in just about every area of the ice, and I suppose the PDO machine sometimes works against you.
Tonight&#8217;s final score: 4-2 Jets.
What&#8217;s your instant reaction to tonight&#8217;s game? Let us know in the comments section below!

Welcome back to Instant Reaciton — the series here at CanucksArmy where we give you our instant reaction to the game and ask our readers to do the same in the comments section below! Wyatt Arndt is on Stanchies duty and Mike Liu will have The Statsies — CA’s analytics-based post game report — up tomorrow morning!

As I said in December, the Vezina Trophy is a two-horse race, and in the first period, both of those horses didn't disappoint in the first period.

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1759065101431406836

The first period was low-event and relatively quiet, but both goaltenders were up to the task when called upon. In other words, both coaches were going to be very happy after the opening 20 minutes of play.

So naturally, the second period was jam-packed with action. Bad officiating, a fight, more bad officiating, and the refs basically handing the Jets a lead despite the Canucks outplaying them quite handily. The second period played all the hits.

Let's break it down. First, Noah Juulsen opened the scoring with his first goal since 2018:

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1759067065544245389

Shortly after the Canucks opened the scoring, the penalty shenanigans started. First, it was Nils Höglander "high-sticking" Neal Pionk.

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1759068177508733248

No word yet whether or not Pionk is picking up Academy Award recognition for the performance on this one. On the ensuing power play, the Jets managed to get one past Demko to tie up this game at one.

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1759068780037325231

Just minutes after that, Adam Lowry hit Nils Aman into the boards, with Phil Di Giuseppe jumping in to defend his teammate.

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1759071197353165287

Despite Adam Lowry literally dropping his gloves before PDG does, Di Giuseppe was given an instigator penalty and a game misconduct. And on the ensuing power play -- you guessed it -- the Jets scored to take a 2-1 lead.

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1759071886859010320

The Canucks got a power play of their own after Brendan Dillon hit Elias Pettersson from behind, but the next Canucks goal didn't come on the power play. No, it came on a Tyler Myers backhand after a toe drag:

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1759074017099788429

Now, the 21-15 shot total in favour of the Canucks at this point really didn't tell the full story of just how well the Canucks were playing in this game. They were hounding the Jets on the forecheck, and looked like the better in a team in a game between two of the best teams in the league.

This was yet another game for the Canucks that had a playoff-like intensity, and we saw some of that playoff-like passion at the end of the second period:

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1759077092690739631

Heading into the third with these two teams tied at two, we were bound to see a wild finish tonight. You had some big saves, adding to the Vezina showdown storyline:

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1759082873322398117

You had some good old-fashioned chaos with the Canucks on the power play:

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1759084658908868757

And of course, we saw some intense physicality between these two teams. Noah Juulsen, never afraid to throw his body, did just that and unfortunately, this decision left some space through the middle for the Jets' top line to exploit:

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1759085326247567563

The Jets' top line benefitted from another unfortunate bounce for the Canucks -- this time with Elias Lindholm and Elias Pettersson colliding in the neutral zone -- and put the Jets up by two, seemingly in the blink of an eye.

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1759086025102753797

And that would be all she wrote.

Tonight, the Canucks' lacklustre power play, a couple of untimely mistakes, the NHL's inconsistent officiating, and Connor Hellebuyck led the Jets to victory. The Canucks outplayed the Jets in just about every area of the ice, and I suppose the PDO machine sometimes works against you.

Tonight's final score: 4-2 Jets.

What's your instant reaction to tonight's game? Let us know in the comments section below!

Instant Reaction: Canucks fall 4-2 to Jets in game filled with playoff-like emotion

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