logo
CanucksArmy has no direct affiliation to the Vancouver Canucks, Canucks Sports & Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA
Instant Reaction: Canucks lose 5-4 in OT vs. Avalanche after gutsy comeback effort
alt
Photo credit: © Bob Frid-Imagn Images
David Quadrelli
Nov 10, 2025, 00:43 ESTUpdated: Nov 10, 2025, 01:00 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

First Period

The Colorado Avalanche are a very good team, particularly at creating chances off the rush. Unfortunately for the Canucks, that was quickly made apparent. Cale Makar (drafted after the Avs finished with the NHL’s worst record in 2016-17) burst up the ice and Nathan MacKinnon (who the Avalanche drafted immediately after posting the NHL’s second-worst record in 2012-13) opened the scoring in this one.
1-0 Avalanche. 
Before I even had time to write that friendly reminder that real short-term pain often leads to long-term gain, the Avs got the first power play of the game. And you can guess how well that went.
2-0 Avalanche. 
The Canucks got a power play chance of their own. Elias Pettersson ripped a wrist shot off the post, and that was the Canucks’ first unit’s best chance. The second unit did some good work, with Linus Karlsson creating a good chance for himself. After the penalty expired, Quinn Hughes stayed out and danced all over the offensive zone. Truly, Hughes was remarkable, just like he was in the third period last night. So naturally, he didn’t get a point on this between-the-legs goal from Linus Karlsson:
2-1. Quite the move from Karlsson!
Cale Makar gave the Canucks their second power play of the game when he tackled Conor Garland after a whistle. Brock Boeser ripped a shot that didn’t stick to Mackenzie Blackwood — which was quickly becoming a theme in the first period — and Elias Pettersson nearly buried the rebound. That was the Canucks’ best chance of the two-minute sequence as they trailed heading into the second.
Some more takeaways from the first:
-It’s been a slow start for Hughes (by his standards, of course), but he’s begun to show signs of dramatically tilting the ice in the Canucks’ favour once again. A great first period from him.
-I loved the Canucks’ strategy of getting plenty of shots onto Mackenzie Blackwood, who is still just getting his feet wet this season.

Second Period

In the second period, the Kiefer Sherwood show continued. After falling over while battling for a puck on the forecheck, Sherwood benefited from a fortunate bounce that left the puck loose in front, and he made no mistake in sliding home his 10th goal of the season.
2-2. 
If there’s one thing it’s been hard to question this season: It’s the effort level of these Canucks players. Pettersson received his flowers for his fearless shot blocks last night, and this team’s shortcomings so far this season don’t stem from their players taking nights off.
With the game tied and the Canucks continuing to lead on the shot clock, the Canucks got another power play to work with. The Canucks created some good chances and generated some serious momentum, but ultimately couldn’t score once again. They didn’t have to wait long for their next chance though, as Conor Garland drew another penalty. Again, the Canucks’ power play looked dangerous, and again, they couldn’t score.
This one was tied heading into the third.
Some takeaways from the second:
-Nice to see Elias Pettersson shooting the puck.
-Filip Hronek deserves a lot more love for how good he’s been this season.
-Conor Garland. Great player.

Third Period

28 seconds into the third, Brent Burns found Arturri Lehkonen in the slot, who deflected the hard pass from Burns up and over Lankinen.
3-2 Avs.
Kevin Lankinen made some great saves shortly after this goal to keep the Canucks within one. The Canucks built some serious momentum on the next couple of shifts, as Filip Hronek and Quinn Hughes worked with multiple forward lines to tilt the ice in the Canucks’ favour. The Abby line, in particular, turned in a great shift in which they came close to tying this one up. That momentum was quickly killed when Evander Kane took an offensive zone tripping penalty.
Despite that though, the Canucks scored the game’s next game, as Drew O’Connor moved in on the rush and sniped a shot past Mackenzie Blackwood for his fourth goal of the season.
3-3. 
Tom Willander was called for holding shortly after the Kane penalty expired, putting the Avs right back on the power play. You can only play with fire for so long.
4-3 Avalanche. 
The Canucks worked hard to even this game up again, and it was a thoroughly entertaining finish to what had already been a very entertaining game. To make things more interesting, Gabriel Landeskog took an uncharacteristic cross-checking penalty to put the Canucks on the power play again. And this time, the Canucks broke through.
4-4.
Huge shoutout to Elias Pettersson’s work in the faceoff dot tonight. That was a major weak spot for him and the team as a whole, and he had some very timely faceoff wins tonight. Perhaps none more timely than that one.
This one needed overtime.

Overtime

That… is a tough break for Kevin Lankinen, who played well despite playing on back-to-back nights.
That is a strong effort from the Canucks. It was entertaining, and was probably the best both Hughes and Pettersson have looked offensively all season long.
What’s your instant reaction to tonight’s game? Let us know in the comments section below!

Editorials

Breaking News