Canucks Army
CanucksArmy has no direct affiliation to the Vancouver Canucks, Canucks Sports & Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA

Instant Reaction: Canucks battle back late but lose 5-4 to Devils

Instant Reaction: Canucks battle back late but lose 5-4 to Devils
Photo credit: © Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Lachlan Irvine
Jan 24, 2026, 00:54 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

Filip Chytil makes his return to the Canucks lineup tonight with a new tinted visor. Chytil’s been out for 44 games since October 19 against the Capitals.

First Period

It didn’t take all that long for the Devils to carry on the tradititon of other Canucks opponents this season and score the first goal of the hockey game.
All they needed was a minute and 41 seconds, when rookie Lenni Hämeenaho perfectly read a deflection off the boards behind Kevin Lankinen’s net and knocked it in for his first NHL goal.
1-0 Devils.
Some takeaways from the first:
  • Filip Chytil nearly scored on his first shot! The opportunity was there, he just couldn’t get the finish on it. But he was buzzing all period.
  • Drew O’Connor has been playing his best hockey of late, even if it’s not always translating in the points department. He seems to be scanning the ice better and creating more opportunities.
  • The defense and penalty kill remain pretty suspect. Way too much standing around and missed assignments, but you already knew that.

Second Period

The Devils got off to another quick start in the second period, thanks to a penalty on Tom Willander for tripping Arseny Gritsyuk (incredible name, by the way). The Devils’ power play got set up, and Jack Hughes found Nico Hischier in the slot top double the Devils lead.
2-0 Devils.
After that, it only took forty seconds from Hischier’s goal for the Devils to reenter the Canucks’ zone, work the puck to Hämeenaho at the blue line, and have him take a shot that Cody Glass deflected and screened Lankinen on.
3-0 Devils.
But just when you thought they were down and out, back come the Canucks. It starts with Nils Höglander taking a shot from distance that handcuffs Jacob Markstrom, and Linus Karlsson does a great job following up the rebound.
3-1 Devils.
A couple minutes later, with Conor Garland in the penalty box serving a high-sticking double minor, the Canucks got a shorthanded chance created by Drew O’Connor and finished by Teddy Blueger. On Wednesday Blueger was everywhere trying to create offence. Tonight he gets on the board with his second goal of the season.
3-2 Devils.
Not to be outdone, the Devils took advantage of the final half of Garland’s penalty by once again victimizing the Canucks’ bad netfront coverage. This time Connor Brown was the lucky recipient to put the Devils back in front by two.
4-2 Devils.
But before the period was out the Canucks got back within one, thanks to Zeev Buium’s efforts to cut towards the net and get a shot through traffic that Markstrom stopped. But Buium followed up his rebound and snapped it over the fallen former Canucks goalie.
4-3 Devils.
Some takeaways from the second:
  • Brock Boeser hit the post from distance on a shot. As did Evander Kane late in the third. The posts must really want Gavin McKenna.
  • For a team with a lot of name brand players, the Devils are a very underwhelming roster. There’s not much about them that screams genuine playoff contender.

3rd Period

The third period seemed to breeze by, as the Canucks mounted a good challenge with eight shots to the Devils’ three. But it was New Jersey who found the net again next.
Timo Meier pounced on a loose puck in the Canucks’ zone with the defense backing up, and poked it to a streaking Cody Glass for a mini breakway. All glass had to do was chip the rolling puck past Lankinen.
5-3 Devils.
With time running out and the goalie pulled, the Canucks still got an incredibly key save by Elias Pettersson, who shut down Jesper Bratt with a toe save!
That led directly to the Canucks storming down the ice, a Linus Karlsson shot that Markstrom kicked out, and Brock Boeser perfectly positioned at the far side to smash in the rebound. Give EP40 the assist!
The Canucks tried to capture lighting in a bottle twice by pull Lankinen again, but couldn’t find the net again before the buzzer sounded.
FINAL: 5-4 Devils.
Some final thoughts:
  • This was exactly the kind of effort that you want from a tanking team. They might not have won, but the intensity was there the entire night, the young guys stepped up, and they gave the Devils a legit challenge. That’s the best you can ask for.
  • Teddy Blueger came the closest to tying the game in the dying moments but just couldn’t get the puck on net. Either way, he’s been playing less like a player who’s been out with an injury and more like a player who’s almost 40 games fresher than his teammates.
What’s your instant reaction to this game? Let us know in the comments section below!
Sponsored by bet365
Daily FaceoffPuckPedia
Editorials
MORE NEWS. IN YOUR INBOX.
CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Breaking News

vancouver-canucks
Vancouver CanucksTeam Cap Summary
PuckPedia

Cap Summary

2026-27
2027-28
Projected Cap Hit
$87,846,504
$70,329,167
Projected Cap Space
$16,153,496
$43,170,833
Current Cap Space
$20,891,855
$43,170,833
Active Players
23/23
12/23

Draft Picks

Round
'27
'28
1
1
1
2
2
2
3
1
1