Be sure to check out the latest <a class="text-accent" href="https://betway.com/en/sports/grp/ice-hockey/north-america/nhl" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NHL playoff odds</a> with online sportsbook Betway.
Welcome back to Instant Reaction — 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!
Tonight&#8217;s Vancouver Canucks vs. Los Angeles Kings game is yet another playoff primer for what could be a potential round-one matchup. The Kings sit in the bottom Wild Card spot, set to face the Dallas Stars, avoiding their previous first-round nemesis from the last two seasons, the Edmonton Oilers. 
Here are the Canucks lines for tonight&#8217;s game.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Projected <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> lines vs. <a href="https://twitter.com/LAKings?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LAKings</a> 
Höglander. Pettersson. Boeser. Joshua. Miller. Garland. Mikheyev. Blueger. Podkolzin. Suter. Åman. Lafferty.
Hughes. Hronek. Cole. Myers. Zadorov. Soucy.
🥅DeSmith🥅 
7pm on <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet650?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Sportsnet650</a> <a href="https://t.co/KAgpi3gWwj">https://t.co/KAgpi3gWwj</a> <a href="https://t.co/IJJCgfw3nG">pic.twitter.com/IJJCgfw3nG</a>
&mdash; Brendan Batchelor (@BatchHockey) <a href="https://twitter.com/BatchHockey/status/1776786971748421641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Let&#8217;s get into tonight&#8217;s matchup.
It didn&#8217;t take long for the Canucks to find the sin-bin. Teddy Blueger took a slashing penalty in his own end, leading to an Adrian Kempe powerplay goal just three minutes into the game.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Adrian Kempe makes the Canucks pay on the power play and LA opens the scoring early.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoKingsGo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoKingsGo</a> 🎥: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/CFyoKGyiBg">pic.twitter.com/CFyoKGyiBg</a>
&mdash; Lachlan Irvine (@LachInTheCrease) <a href="https://twitter.com/LachInTheCrease/status/1776797105212031002?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Dakota Joshua made his presence felt early in the game, using his body to help clear the zone on the penalty kill. He would later take an interference penalty, which led to the second Kings powerplay goal in under six minutes of the game.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Drew Doughty gets a wide open shot and gives the Kings another PPG, 2-0 LA.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoKingsGo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoKingsGo</a> 🎥: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/dPqYcveKdt">pic.twitter.com/dPqYcveKdt</a>
&mdash; Lachlan Irvine (@LachInTheCrease) <a href="https://twitter.com/LachInTheCrease/status/1776798522295337221?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
After, quite frankly, five minutes of straight dominance by the Kings, Brock Boeser takes an Elias Pettersson pass in the left face-off circle and dekes around Cam Talbot to get the Canucks on the board.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Brock Boeser drives to the net for his 39th of the season! Canucks cut the Kings&#39; lead in half, 2-1.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoKingsGo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoKingsGo</a> 🎥: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/6vZwPDSH3n">pic.twitter.com/6vZwPDSH3n</a>
&mdash; Lachlan Irvine (@LachInTheCrease) <a href="https://twitter.com/LachInTheCrease/status/1776800371027140717?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
After this, the Canucks brought their game. They dominated play as they out-shot the Kings 3-1 in the final nine minutes of the period while having seven total shot attempts in the period.
The only type of pressure the Kings got in the first period came off the helm of Teddy Blueger. He took the first penalty early in the game which led to the first goal, and gave up a costly turnover in his own end, leading to a scoring chance from the Kings.
I&#8217;m going a little rogue here by including my own clip, but this was impressive. Watch Nikita Zadorov&#8217;s skating to catch up to the speedy Kempe and completely cut off his scoring opportunity. 
<div style="width: 640px;" class="wp-video">
<video class="wp-video-shortcode" id="video-124328-1" width="640" height="360" preload="metadata" controls="controls"><source type="video/mp4" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExN2t2anNobTQ4ZWQ4N2tlM25sc3ZieWU4bjViMThrYTRoYmJnZm1taiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/i2K4U5lhQHLchj4nKx/giphy.mp4?_=1" /><a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExN2t2anNobTQ4ZWQ4N2tlM25sc3ZieWU4bjViMThrYTRoYmJnZm1taiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/i2K4U5lhQHLchj4nKx/giphy.mp4">https://media.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExN2t2anNobTQ4ZWQ4N2tlM25sc3ZieWU4bjViMThrYTRoYmJnZm1taiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/i2K4U5lhQHLchj4nKx/giphy.mp4</a></video></div>
Brock Boeser owns the Kings, with 26 points in just 19 games against the club. He continued this as he scored in the first period and read the ice very well defensively. For a guy who is often criticized in the defensive zone, he made some great reads to cut off passes that led to offence.
While Boeser&#8217;s defensive efforts were much appreciated, they were let down by Blueger and the fourth line. Their line was out on the ice, allowing Jordan Spence to fire a point shot, which Alex Laferierre tipped to give the Kings a two-goal lead.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Jordan Spence rips the puck through traffic and past Casey DeSmith to restore the Kings&#39; two goal lead early in 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/GoKingsGo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoKingsGo</a> 🎥: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/V3lH2UUpzI">pic.twitter.com/V3lH2UUpzI</a>
&mdash; Lachlan Irvine (@LachInTheCrease) <a href="https://twitter.com/LachInTheCrease/status/1776809971474419764?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Who would have thought that an Anze Kopitar&#8217;s defensive zone flip out of the zone would turn into Kevin Fiala&#8217;s goal? He outraced Carson Soucy to the loose puck, and after Casey DeSmith&#8217;s initial stop, Fiala buried his own rebound to push their lead to 4-1.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Kevin Fiala fends off Carson Soucy for a breakaway, DeSmith stops the initial chance but Fiala whacks the rebound in a suddenly open net. 4-1 Kings lead.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoKingsGo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoKingsGo</a> 🎥: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/GmZ8diqCwC">pic.twitter.com/GmZ8diqCwC</a>
&mdash; Lachlan Irvine (@LachInTheCrease) <a href="https://twitter.com/LachInTheCrease/status/1776813215344967722?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Quinn Hughes continued his typical antics, carrying the offensive pressure through the offensive zone in an attempt to right the ship.
Well, well, well, what do you know, another period without a penalty called in the Canucks favour.
As I typed the message above, the Canucks leader in penalty minutes drawn, Elias Pettersson, draws yet another tripping penalty on Kings forward Phillip Danault.
The initial powerplay didn&#8217;t look awful. They had Miller on his off-wall, with Garland in the bumper. While this powerplay was unsuccessful, there was a bright point that I remembered from the beginning of the season.
Do any of you remember when they did this at the beginning of the season?
The Canucks put Boeser in the bumper, which resembled the same connection they showed when Miller would pass to Bo Horvat in the slot the previous season – except now it&#8217;s on the opposite side. If they try this out again, it could revitalize what was one of the league&#8217;s top powerplays.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Brock Boeser looking for his second goal of the game. <a href="https://t.co/gxuXpAx3Hu">pic.twitter.com/gxuXpAx3Hu</a>
&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1729705344429887948?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
If I could continue to give my opinion on the powerplay, would you remember this play?
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Canucks Goal! 
J.T. Miller feathers a pass to Brock Boeser who puts the puck in the back of the net! 
3-2 Islanders <a href="https://t.co/ZFwPKTSyc8">pic.twitter.com/ZFwPKTSyc8</a>
&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1725011778558722385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Boeser was still in the bumper, and Miller was passing it to the same handedness, just on the proper side now. It looks like the Canucks are trying to recreate this magic.
The Canucks would dominate the second period as they outshot the Kings 20-12.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Elias Pettersson creating turnovers for the Kings and scoring chances for his own team.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoKingsGo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoKingsGo</a> 🎥: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/GfqNbPi58M">pic.twitter.com/GfqNbPi58M</a>
&mdash; Lachlan Irvine (@LachInTheCrease) <a href="https://twitter.com/LachInTheCrease/status/1776816822555464089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
One last note on the second period is the non-quit of Elias Pettersson. The back pressure Pettersson shows on this play to strip the Canadian Olympian, Drew Doughty, proves that no deficit is too big for defence.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
A picture perfect Canucks zone entry leads to a J.T. Miller shot and a Dakota Joshua rebound goal! Canucks down 4-2 with just over half a period to go.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoKingsGo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoKingsGo</a> 🎥: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/BLNtYxMlaB">pic.twitter.com/BLNtYxMlaB</a>
&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1776826440283210035?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The Canucks cut the lead to two with a nice goal by, who other than, Dakota Joshua. Garland and Joshua continue to prove their chemistry, as no matter who their centreman is, they still find a way to find the back of the net.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Trevor Moore and Phillip Danault link up for a tic-tac-toe goal, Kings back up by three.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoKingsGo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoKingsGo</a> 🎥: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/m60IdDr4lA">pic.twitter.com/m60IdDr4lA</a>
&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1776827602273227251?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The two-goal lead didn&#8217;t last long as Trevor Moore extends their lead back to three, three minutes after the Joshua goal.
Teddy Blueger would redeem himself after two rough periods, and 40 games, by finding the back of the net short-handed, to push the lead to two again.
The Canucks would kill off the late two man advantage and get their own poweplay with under five minutes to play. The powerplay looked threatening, with Boeser, Garland and Hughes all creating chances. This was all for naught as they would allow Kempe to score a breakaway short-handed goal to extend the King&#8217;s lead to three.
The Canucks would lose 6-3 while outshooting their opponents 42-29.
What were your instant reactions to tonight&#8217;s game, Canucks fans?

Be sure to check out the latest <a class="text-accent" href="https://betway.com/en/sports/grp/ice-hockey/north-america/nhl" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NHL playoff odds</a> with online sportsbook Betway.

Welcome back to Instant Reaction — 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!

Tonight's Vancouver Canucks vs. Los Angeles Kings game is yet another playoff primer for what could be a potential round-one matchup. The Kings sit in the bottom Wild Card spot, set to face the Dallas Stars, avoiding their previous first-round nemesis from the last two seasons, the Edmonton Oilers. 

Here are the Canucks lines for tonight's game.

[embed]https://twitter.com/BatchHockey/status/1776786971748421641[/embed]

Let's get into tonight's matchup.

It didn't take long for the Canucks to find the sin-bin. Teddy Blueger took a slashing penalty in his own end, leading to an Adrian Kempe powerplay goal just three minutes into the game.

https://twitter.com/LachInTheCrease/status/1776797105212031002

Dakota Joshua made his presence felt early in the game, using his body to help clear the zone on the penalty kill. He would later take an interference penalty, which led to the second Kings powerplay goal in under six minutes of the game.

https://twitter.com/LachInTheCrease/status/1776798522295337221

After, quite frankly, five minutes of straight dominance by the Kings, Brock Boeser takes an Elias Pettersson pass in the left face-off circle and dekes around Cam Talbot to get the Canucks on the board.

https://twitter.com/LachInTheCrease/status/1776800371027140717

After this, the Canucks brought their game. They dominated play as they out-shot the Kings 3-1 in the final nine minutes of the period while having seven total shot attempts in the period.

The only type of pressure the Kings got in the first period came off the helm of Teddy Blueger. He took the first penalty early in the game which led to the first goal, and gave up a costly turnover in his own end, leading to a scoring chance from the Kings.

I'm going a little rogue here by including my own clip, but this was impressive. Watch Nikita Zadorov's skating to catch up to the speedy Kempe and completely cut off his scoring opportunity. 

[embed]https://media.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExN2t2anNobTQ4ZWQ4N2tlM25sc3ZieWU4bjViMThrYTRoYmJnZm1taiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/i2K4U5lhQHLchj4nKx/giphy.mp4[/embed]

Brock Boeser owns the Kings, with 26 points in just 19 games against the club. He continued this as he scored in the first period and read the ice very well defensively. For a guy who is often criticized in the defensive zone, he made some great reads to cut off passes that led to offence.

While Boeser's defensive efforts were much appreciated, they were let down by Blueger and the fourth line. Their line was out on the ice, allowing Jordan Spence to fire a point shot, which Alex Laferierre tipped to give the Kings a two-goal lead.

https://twitter.com/LachInTheCrease/status/1776809971474419764

Who would have thought that an Anze Kopitar's defensive zone flip out of the zone would turn into Kevin Fiala's goal? He outraced Carson Soucy to the loose puck, and after Casey DeSmith's initial stop, Fiala buried his own rebound to push their lead to 4-1.

https://twitter.com/LachInTheCrease/status/1776813215344967722

Quinn Hughes continued his typical antics, carrying the offensive pressure through the offensive zone in an attempt to right the ship.

Well, well, well, what do you know, another period without a penalty called in the Canucks favour.

As I typed the message above, the Canucks leader in penalty minutes drawn, Elias Pettersson, draws yet another tripping penalty on Kings forward Phillip Danault.

The initial powerplay didn't look awful. They had Miller on his off-wall, with Garland in the bumper. While this powerplay was unsuccessful, there was a bright point that I remembered from the beginning of the season.

Do any of you remember when they did this at the beginning of the season?

The Canucks put Boeser in the bumper, which resembled the same connection they showed when Miller would pass to Bo Horvat in the slot the previous season – except now it's on the opposite side. If they try this out again, it could revitalize what was one of the league's top powerplays.

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1729705344429887948?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1729705344429887948%7Ctwgr%5E5e7a70d9326d55ae061f970556c9e87ea7451128%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcanucksarmy.com%2Fnews%2Fcanucks-dissecting-rick-tocchet-comments-brock-boeser-positioning

If I could continue to give my opinion on the powerplay, would you remember this play?

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1725011778558722385

Boeser was still in the bumper, and Miller was passing it to the same handedness, just on the proper side now. It looks like the Canucks are trying to recreate this magic.

The Canucks would dominate the second period as they outshot the Kings 20-12.

https://twitter.com/LachInTheCrease/status/1776816822555464089

One last note on the second period is the non-quit of Elias Pettersson. The back pressure Pettersson shows on this play to strip the Canadian Olympian, Drew Doughty, proves that no deficit is too big for defence.

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1776826440283210035

The Canucks cut the lead to two with a nice goal by, who other than, Dakota Joshua. Garland and Joshua continue to prove their chemistry, as no matter who their centreman is, they still find a way to find the back of the net.

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1776827602273227251

The two-goal lead didn't last long as Trevor Moore extends their lead back to three, three minutes after the Joshua goal.

Teddy Blueger would redeem himself after two rough periods, and 40 games, by finding the back of the net short-handed, to push the lead to two again.

The Canucks would kill off the late two man advantage and get their own poweplay with under five minutes to play. The powerplay looked threatening, with Boeser, Garland and Hughes all creating chances. This was all for naught as they would allow Kempe to score a breakaway short-handed goal to extend the King's lead to three.

The Canucks would lose 6-3 while outshooting their opponents 42-29.

What were your instant reactions to tonight's game, Canucks fans?

Instant Reaction: Early penalties lead to the Canucks’ demise against the Kings

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