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Instant Reaction: Canucks close out road trip with 5-2 loss to Tocchet’s Flyers
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Photo credit: © Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
David Quadrelli
Dec 22, 2025, 22:14 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

Early on, the Flyers’ top line was giving the Canucks all sorts of problems,
With just over nine minutes remaining in the period, the Canucks got their first power play of the game. They struggled to sustain any real zone time, and didn’t record a shot on goal. The Flyers got a power play chance of their own shortly after, and if it weren’t for Thatcher Demko, they likely would have opened the scoring.
The Flyers’ top unit generated multiple grade-A looks, and the Canucks’ All-Star netminder continued his phenomenal recent stretch of play early on:
Some takeaways from the first:
-I love the Prime Monday Night broadcasts. Life-size Lego builds on the intermission panel? Sign me up.
-Could watch Zeev Buium wheel the puck all day. The best Canucks prospect since… Quinn Hughes.

Second Period

The Flyers were once again pouring on the pressure to kick off the second period. The Canucks didn’t have any answers for Philly’s neutral zone pressure. When the Canucks did get the puck, there were icings, broken plays, and all-around bad outcomes for the road team.
Thankfully, they did have Thatcher Demko backstopping them, and he continued to be sharp. The Canucks finally seemed to have some momentum swing in their favour with about eight minutes to go in the first. Once again, it was the Canucks’ fourth line — who were so good in Boston — that provided the energy. Unfortunately, the Flyers’ counterattack resulted in their first goal of the night.
The Kane-Rossi-Garland trio that was put together in this game turned in a strong shift to close out the second. I’m not highlighting that for any reason other than it was one of very few strong shifts for a Canucks line through 40 minutes. Before the end of the period, Thatcher Demko stoned Owen Tippett on a breakaway chance.
Some takeaways from the second:
-Such a boring first 40 minutes of hockey. I blame Rick Tocchet.
-Someone do something.

Third Period

I can’t believe we’re already at the third period. I’m only at 360 words! What a snoozefest.
With the way this game has gone to this point, I’m pretty sure it’s now noteworthy if a Canuck line makes two successful passes in the offensive zone. I’ll keep you posted on who does that until the next goal.
Ohgren-Rossi-Garland.
Well, that didn’t take long. The Flyers once again ramped up the pressure on the Canucks, and after yet another phenomenal save from Thatcher Demko, he couldn’t get the next one.
2-0 Flyers. 
That’s certainly a learning moment for Zeev Buium. Thankfully, I didn’t see anyone flaming him on social media. He’s a 20-year-old kid learning how to defend at the NHL level, and he gets some slack because of that.
The Flyers kept coming, and Christian Dvorak batted a puck out of the air just moments after the second Philadelphia goal, quickly putting this game out of reach.
3-0 Flyers.
The Canucks didn’t get shut out tonight, as Max Sasson scored his eighth goal of the season with over six minutes remaining. Maybe this one wasn’t out of reach…?
3-1. 
Just kidding. The Canucks gave up multiple breakaways after the Sasson goal, and Owen Tippett scored a beauty to put the icing on the cake for the Flyers.
4-1. And an empty netter to make it 5-1.
One final Canucks rush (there weren’t many) from Zeev Buium resulted in Drew O’Connor scoring with 17 seconds left.
5-2 final.
All in all, a successful road trip for the Canucks, who now head into the Christmas break with five wins and five losses to their name in the month of December. And of course, four wins and just one loss (tonight) since trading captain Quinn Hughes. Merry Christmas indeed!
What’s your instant reaction to tonight’s game? Let us know in the comments section below!
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