That’s right, we’re busting out the Instant Reaction machine for today’s scrimmage to help put a bow on Canucks training camp 2025. We’re trying a slightly different format today, and if you like it, we might just keep it for this season!

Today’s scrimmage consisted of two 25 minute halves, rather than three periods. Let’s dive in!

Team White:
DeBrusk-Pettersson-Boeser
Bains-Cootes-Sherwood
Kravtsov-Räty-Karlsson
Alriksson-Patterson-Ravinskis
M. Pettersson-Myers
Forbort-Willander
Joseph-Kudryavtsev
Demko (First half)
Tolopilo (Second half)

Team Blue:
Kane-Chytil-Lekkerimäki
Höglander-Blueger-Garland
O’Connor-Sasson-Klimovich
LaBate-Aman-Stillman
Hughes-Hronek
E. Pettersson-Mancini
Knyzhov-Alcos
Lankinen (First Half)
Young (Second Half)

The game began with some decent pace, as the Team Blue line of Nils Höglander, Teddy Blueger, and Conor Garland got a decent attempt off at Thatcher Demko. Early on, that trio was the only line from either side that was able to sustain any real zone pressure.

The first goal of the game came courtesy of Kiefer Sherwood, thanks to a great defensive play from Braeden Cootes, then a sharp cross-ice pass from Kirill Kudryavtsev, followed by a nifty play from Arhsdeep Bains at the line:

The next best chance of the period came when Kiefer Sherwood sprung into the zone with control and found a trailing Kirill Kudryavtsev, who ripped a wrist shot past Kevin Lankinen and off the crossbar.

This game headed to the second half with Team White leading 1-0.

Some takeaways from the first half:

-The line of Linus Karlsson-Aatu Räty-Vitali Kravtsov turned in some strong shifts today. Karlsson’s wall work is undeniable, and it was a continuation of what’s been a strong camp for him so far. Räty and Karlsson showed some solid chemistry with one another, and that’s certainly a duo to watch during this preseason.
-I think Quinn Hughes might be the best player the Canucks have.
-It wasn’t necessarily a phenomenal training camp for Arshdeep Bains to this point, but he sure did some good things in this first half. Aside from the goal he created, he did a good job of keeping his head up and creating space for his linemates.

Right off the bat, Ty Young asserted himself in this game with a nice save off of Jake DeBrusk:

Marcus Pettersson was called for boarding five minutes into the frame, but because it’s a scrimmage, Danila Klimovich was awarded a penalty shot with Team White players pursuing him as he touched the puck to begin his attempt. Klimovich got a decent look off, but Nikita Tolopilo was up to the task.

After some more big stops from Tolopilo, Team White went the other way and extended their lead to two. Once again, it was Sherwood and Bains combining. First, they tag-teamed to pickpocket Quinn Hughes and then went up the other way before Bains ripped a cross-ice pass home.

That lead was pushed to three after an Evander Kane giveaway found its way to Vilmer Alriksson, who ripped a shot past Ty Young.

The goals kept coming, as Team Blue got on the board thanks to a goal in close from Teddy Blueger.

Down by a couple, Team Blue pulled their goalie, which left the door open for Brock Boeser to put home an empty netter to bring this one to 4-1.

Some takeaways from the second half:

-Nikita Tolopilo and Ty Young both turned in strong showings during their second-half appearances in this scrimmage.
-Evander Kane certainly looked like an NHL veteran today. He’s one of those players it’s hard to judge in an environment like today’s.

Side note for regular readers of Instant Reaction: Would you like to see us change the format of Instant Reaction to have takeaways after each period (like we did today), or do you want us to stick to our format of all takeaways going at the end of the article? Let me know!

And as always… What’s your instant reaction to today’s game? Let us know in the comments section below!