logo
CanucksArmy has no direct affiliation to the Vancouver Canucks, Canucks Sports & Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA
Instant Reaction: Coquitlam’s Ben Kindel scores twice as Canucks fall 3-2 to Penguins
alt
Photo credit: © Bob Frid-Imagn Images
David Quadrelli
Jan 25, 2026, 20:37 ESTUpdated: Jan 25, 2026, 21:19 EST
Comments
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 game got started with a bang as the Penguins applied some early pressure on the Canucks. Kevin Lankinen had to be sharp right away, as Evgeni Malkin found himself on the doorstep with a grade-A scoring chance after a cross-crease pass.
There was a scary moment later in the first, as Zeev Buium took a shot off the face. He went down to the ice and headed to the Canucks’ locker room shortly after. In all the chaos, it was hard to notice that the puck had trickled over the Canucks’ goal line, though it did. The Canucks challenged that the play was offside, and won that challenge.  Still scoreless eight minutes into the game.
Jake DeBrusk had a great chance to score right in front of Stuart Skinner, but the Penguins’ netminder flashed his left pad out to make the save. DeBrusk had another great chance to score after Evander Kane worked to win the puck along the wall, and Elias Pettersson snapped a pass to the front of the net. Unfortunately, Skinner was there to make the save once again.
Conor Garland looked to have open the scoring with 55 seconds left in the first, but it was determined that Teddy Blueger interfered with Stuart Skinner. No goals after 20 minutes of play.
Some takeaways from the first:
-Loud cheer from the Rogers Arena faithful for the “Welcome back Arturs Silovs” message.
-Shoutout Liam Ohgren, who had the puck stolen from him by Sidney Crosby, but immediately stole the puck back from Crosby.
-It’s actually amazing that Sidney Crosby is still doing this at his age.

Second Period

Good to see Zeev Buium back out for the start of the second, sporting a fishbowl visor.
Anthony Mantha was called for elbowing less than two minutes into the second, giving the Canucks the game’s first power play.
While the first unit didn’t do much, the second unit looked very dangerous, and nearly scored after Zeev Buium dished a cross-crease feed to Filip Chytil, whose chance was denied by Skinner. Not a bad power play by any means.
The Penguins opened the scoring moments later after Zeev Buium pinched, which led to an odd-man rush the other way, and Jake DeBrusk couldn’t get back in time to break up the cross-ice feed.
1-0 Penguins.
Ben Kindel managed to accomplish every kid’s dream when he scored a goal in his hometown debut. The Coquitlam-born forward fought with Elias Junior Pettersson for position at the front of the net, and managed to deflect a hard pass from Ryan Shea past Kevin Lankinen to put the Penguins up by two.
2-0 Penguins.
It got LOUD in Rogers Arena again, as Ben Kindel blasted home a one-timer off the rush five-hole on Kevin Lankinen to put Pittsburgh up by three.
3-0. 
Some takeaways from the second:
-Ben Kindel is a great reminder of why it’s so important for this team to load up on (and use) draft picks.
-I think I like Zeev Buium on PP1 over Tom Willander.
-Teddy Blueger is sure making a lot happen since returning. If I’m an NHL GM, I’m giving up at least a second round pick for Blueger at the deadline, personally.
-Hey, how did the Penguins get Ben Kindel? Oh… oh no.

Third Period

The Canucks got on the board in the third. Elias Junior Pettersson stepped up and made a great play to Elias Pettersson senior, who made an even greater play to Evander Kane, who dropped his shoulder down and went to the net. Jake DeBrusk was ready to strike on the rebound chance, getting the puck past Stuart Skinner for the first time on the night.
3-1. 
The Canucks made things interesting when Filip Hronek blasted a one-timer that appeared to deflect off of Teddy Blueger and find the back of the net.
3-2 with six minutes to go.
With just under two minutes left, the Canucks pulled Kevin Lankinen. They did not score.
3-2 final.
I think Bryan Rust might be getting a call from Player Safety for that late hit on Brock Boeser.
What’s your instant reaction to tonight’s game? Let us know in the comments section below!
Sponsored by bet365

Editorials

Breaking News