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!
This game started with a bang, as Thatcher Demko needed to make his first stop of the night a great one as he robbed Bo Horvat with a right pad save.
The first period featured two teams on the outskirts of the playoff picture playing to not make a mistake and certainly to not get scored on. Yes, it was a bit of a boring first as both teams tried to lock it down and suffocate the other’s offence.
The Canucks were the worse team at that, but thankfully they had Demko there to bail them out. After Elias Pettersson, the defenceman, got caught deep, Demko robbed Horvat once again after another Islanders 2-on-1 chance.
Shortly after, Demko made a tough save look far too easy when he calmly swallowed up a grade-A chance from Anthony Duclair.
The opening 20 ended in a scoreless tie.
Kiefer Sherwood came out with a vengeance to kick off the second period, opening the scoring in this one quickly.
1-0 Canucks.
Shortly after, the Canucks got the game’s first power play as Bo Horvat was called for hauling down Derek Forbort. That didn’t go very well.
Quinn Hughes and Jonathan Lekkerimäki had a bit of a miscommunication at the Islanders’ blueline and the result was an off man rush the other way and a shorthanded goal for the home side.
1-1. 
Shortly after, the Islanders took their first lead of the evening. This time, it was a rare bad rebound from Demko that found its way to Tony DeAngelo, who buried a shot past Demko to make it 2-1 Islanders. 
That also didn’t last long, as Aatu Räty was rewarded for some excellent work on the forecheck and in front of the net when he deflected a Marcus Pettersson point shot to tie this one up.
2-2. 
Gotta feel good for the kid there. Just look at the pure elation on his face.
And just as the period was coming to an end, *checks notes* Derek Forbort moved in off the rush and fired one glove side on Sorokin to give the Canucks a lead late in the second.
3-2 Canucks.
Teddy Blueger turned that into a two goal lead very early into the third, after a nice feed from Conor Garland in the offensive zone.
Sorokin sure was having trouble with the low glove side shots tonight. 4-2 Canucks. 
That was it for Sorokin.
With over four minutes remaining, Patrick Roy pulled his goaltender to give the Isles a 6-on-4 advantage while trailing by two goals.
Kiefer Sherwood picked up his third point of the night when he buried the empty netter to put a bow on this one and make it 5-2 Canucks.
Some more takeaways from tonight:
-Aatu Räty had some great jump in his game tonight. Going to be interesting to see if he can finish this season strong and prove to be a solid bottom six centre for this team. He’s waiver eligible next season, so it’s time.
-Anyone else at least think about a Bo Horvat reunion?
-Who else is excited for MLB Opening Day? Do we have any baseball fans on this site? Mariners fans?
-Derek Forbort has been so steady for the Canucks this season, and is likely my pick for unsung hero.
-To do this without Elias Pettersson (the forward) and Nils Höglander is downright impressive, and these players deserve praise for the commitment they’re showing right now.
-Nice to get some goals from unexpected sources.
-Another great start for Thatcher Demko.
-Not. Dead. Yet. This team doesn’t have many losses left to give if they want to make the playoffs, and with the competition around them continuing to win, all the Canucks can do is keep on winning. The rest is out of their control.
What’s your instant reaction to tonight’s game? Let us know in the comments section below! And be sure to tune into Rink Wide Vancouver moments after the final horn!
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