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Instant Reaction: Canucks start well but fall 6-3 to Tocchet’s Flyers
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Photo credit: © Bob Frid-Imagn Images
David Quadrelli
Dec 31, 2025, 00:36 ESTUpdated: Dec 31, 2025, 00:41 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

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Evander Kane fought!
To start things off, the Canucks were firing everything they could on net, and recorded eight shots on goal before the game was even four minutes old. And on that eighth shot, David Kampf buried the puck past Dan Vladar to make it 1-0 in a hurry.
Almost immediately after the goal, the Flyers took the game’s first minor penalty, giving the Canucks’ power play their first chance to work on the night. With Jake DeBrusk back in the lineup and back on PP1, the Canucks’ man-advantage unit looked solid. Despite that, they didn’t score.
That being said, they did continue to continue to rack up the shot totals on Vladar and the Flyers. Philadelphia didn’t come ready to play, and the Canucks, on the second leg of back-to-back games, certainly did. The Canucks put up 10 shots before the Flyers got their first registered shot on goal.
The Flyers would answer, however, as Noah Cates let fly on a wrist shot that was deflected by Liam Ohgren on its way to the net, which changed the angle enough to fool Thatcher Demko.
1-1. 
After a tremendous start to the period, the Canucks were pretty quiet for the final ten minutes of the opening frame.
Some takeaways from the first:
-Nice first period, and some good pace from both teams.
-Do NOT like Nils Höglander and Aatu Räty both being out of the lineup. This is a rebuild, isn’t it? Even if it’s a “ultra-cool retool with an extreme hybrid form 3000” or whatever they’re calling it these days, shouldn’t young guys be in the lineup? Nils Höglander has sat for four of the team’s last five games. Nope. Don’t like that.

Second Period

The Flyers kicked off the second period with some solid pressure, and Thatcher Demko made a great save off of Matvei Michkov, who found himself with an early breakaway chance.
The Canucks’ start to the second period was basically the polar opposite of their start to the first period. They were on their heels early, and eventually, that led to a goal against.
2-1.
Jake DeBrusk and Linus Karlsson nearly executed a perfect give-and-go play that would have given DeBrusk his second 5v5 goal of the season, a goal he desperately needs.
On the next shift, Liam Ohgren drew a tripping penalty, giving the Canucks their second power play chance of the night. This time, the power play didn’t look as dangerous, and once again didn’t score.
With under five minutes to go, the Canucks’ defensive zone struggles were put on full display, as Travis Konecny was left alone in front of the net and was able to get his own rebound and put the Flyers ahead by two.
3-1 Flyers. 
Some more takeaways from the second:
-Tom Willander’s abilities on puck retrievals have improved so much since the start of the season. Great to see. He’s starting to do more and more of the little things right.
-This game quickly lost its flow from the first period.
-I so badly wanted to see Jake DeBrusk score a goal on that give-and-go.

Third Period

The third got off to as good a start as anyone could have hoped for for the Canucks, as Drew O’Connor pulled them within one almost right away.
3-2!
Annnnddddd it’s gone. Just 20 seconds later, the Flyers jumped out in front by two again.
Trailing by two, the Canucks got a power play with just under five minutes remaining. They pulled Thatcher Demko to go to 6-on-4, and Owen Tippett added an empty netter to put the icing on the cake. Or so you thought! Tom Willander was Johnny on the spot and wristed home his second goal of the season to pull the Canucks back within two:
Once again, the Canucks pulled Demko, but it was too little, too late, as the Flyers added another empty-netter.
6-3 final. 
Just four wins for the Canucks on home ice heading into 2026.
Some takeaways from the third:
-Stick taps for John Shorthouse. It’s been a miserable season, and yet Shorty somehow manages to keep us all entertained.
-The Flyers let the Canucks in, but the way they put the hammer down and left little doubt in the end is the mark of a good team.
-Good night for David Kampf. Maybe he was the player who needed the reset just as much as DeBrusk! That’s sarcasm, for those who are new here.
What’s your instant reaction to tonight’s game? Let us know in the comments section below!
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