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Instant Reaction: Macklin Celebrini tallies four points in Canucks’ 5-2 loss to Sharks
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Photo credit: © Bob Frid-Imagn Images
David Quadrelli
Jan 28, 2026, 00:37 EST
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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

This game started great for the Canucks! With the two sides playing at 4-on-4 within the first minute of the game (thanks Conor Garland), Elias Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk played catch in the offensive zone before feeding young Tom Willander, who wired home his third goal of the season.
1-0 Canucks. 
Then, Macklin Celebrini made some things happen. First, Celebrini dangled Filip Chytil at the Canucks’ line to gain the zone and get a good chance off on Kevin Lankinen, but the Canucks’ netminder was sharp and made the save. Unfortunately, just seconds later, Celebrini found a soft spot on the ice and blasted home a one-timer to tie this one up in a hurry, as the Canucks lead lasted just 36 seconds.
1-1.
Later, Filip Hronek made a breakout pass to the blue line, but all the Canucks forwards had vacated the zone. Celebrini (who else?) picked off the pass, and before you knew it, the puck was in the back of the Canucks’ net, as former Canuck Adam Gaudette blasted home a one-timer.
2-1. 
Speaking of former Canucks…
As he so often does when he plays the team that bizarrely decided not to sign him after giving up a bunch of assets for him at the 2020 trade deadline, Tyler Toffoli got in on the fun.
3-1 Sharks. That would be all for Kevin Lankinen, who left the game after giving up three goals on six shots. In came Nikita Tolopilo in relief.
The Canucks were down bad after 20 minutes of play.
Some takeaways from the first:
-DPetey’s struggles seem strange to me. I’m sure Adam Foote’s defensive system isn’t helping matters, but it’s hard to believe that’s all it is after what we saw from DPetey last year.
-Jonathan Lekkerimäki turned in some strong shifts early in the first, and even got to show off his shot. Earlier today, Dave Hall did a great job of breaking down what Lekkerimäki will need to do to stick around in the NHL this time around
-Took less than five minutes for Macklin Celebrini to have a goal and an assist in this game. Remember when he, at 16 years of age, wanted the Canucks to rebuild? No? Check out today’s editorial from yours truly.
-So. Much. East. West. Traffic. For. The. Sharks. SOMEBODY clog the middle. Please.
-Isn’t it crazy that the Sharks already have Celebrini, Will Smith, and then you just remember that Michael Misa is also part of that team? Not to mention all the pieces they have who still haven’t turned pro. You need an army.

Second Period

The Canucks began the second period with a power play, and with Jonathan Lekkerimäki as a one-time option on the left side, they nearly scored. Lekkerimäki blasted a one-timer onto Askarov, who got a piece of the shot and managed to keep it out. That was Lekkerimäki’s third shot of the game already. No other Canuck had more than one at this point in the game.
Back at 5v5, the Canucks cranked up the pressure on the Sharks. Filip Chytil had a great chance to score, but Askarov was sharp and helped his team withstand the burst of Canucks pressure.
The Sharks got a power play chance right before the halfway point of the period, and it didn’t take long for them to make good on it, as Will Smith sniped one short side on Tolopilo.
4-1. 
The Canucks had a great chance to come back in this one as Tyler Toffoli was called for slashing, and just four seconds into the Canucks’ power play, Barclay Goodrow was called for the same thing. That meant almost two full minutes of 5-on-3 time. The Canucks tried hard to find Lekkerimäki for the one-timer, and the power play went about as well as it possibly could have, except for the fact that the Canucks didn’t score. Yaroslav Askarov stood tall and stopped some absolutely beautiful chances.
Then Evander Kane jumped Timothy Liljegren, and was called for roughing. Seven seconds into that power play, Marcus Pettersson high-sticked Tyler Toffoli and gave the Canucks a lengthy 5-on-3 of their own. Thankfully, the period ended, interrupting San Jose’s power play opportunity.
Some takeaways from the second:
-Good period for Nikita Tolopilo!
-Rough game for Victor Mancini. Missed outlet passes that turned into icings, the giveaway on the 3-1 goal, and a Corsi percentage under 12% through 40 minutes.
-Vinny Desharnais with a good game. Hell yeah Vinny.

Third Period

The Sharks quickly extended their lead with the power play time they had remaining, as Macklin Celebrini picked up his fourth point of the night.
5-1.
The Canucks got another power play opportunity with just over 10 minutes remaining. Again, they looked good in their process and got some quality chances off. Only this time, they actually scored! Elias Pettersson found Filip Hronek with a pass, and Hronek’s one-timer soared past Askarov.
5-2.
Let’s just put a bow on this one. Tonight was a reminder of a few things. First, you need a ton of patience and a ton of pieces in a rebuild. Second, you almost always need a can’t-miss superstar, and typically, those are only available at the top of the draft. As we watch Celebrini, Connor Bedard and Matthew Schaeffer soar in their young careers, all we can do on a night like tonight is hope that the Canucks have the patience to do this thing right, and that whoever they take in this year’s draft can turn into a real difference maker for this franchise for years to come.
What’s your instant reaction to tonight’s game? Let us know in the comments section below!
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