logo
CanucksArmy has no direct affiliation to the Vancouver Canucks, Canucks Sports & Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA
JPat: 21 stats that tell the story of the Canucks’ first 21 games
alt
Photo credit: © Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Jeff Paterson
Nov 18, 2025, 13:45 ESTUpdated: Nov 18, 2025, 16:25 EST
Comments
It’s been an eventful first quarter of the 2025-26 National Hockey League season for the Vancouver Canucks. It’s a stretch that has been defined by a lengthy list of injuries, more goals than expected, and far too many goals surrendered—both on the penalty kill and overall. There have been positive news stories like Kiefer Sherwood and Drew O’Connor’s goal production, and the emergence of Tom Willander. There are signs of offensive life from Elias Pettersson. And Captain Quinn Hughes has taken the offensive side of his game to new heights over the past week.
However, 21 games into the new NHL season, the Canucks find themselves below the playoff bar and 26th in the overall standings by points percentage. It’s been a mixed bag, to say the least. There have been a handful of fun nights of hockey and more than a few forgettable ones as well. Here are 21 statistics that paint a picture of what we’ve seen from the Canucks through the first six weeks of their schedule.
1) In the month of November, the Canucks lead the NHL in both goals scored (34) and goals allowed (41). That makes for eventful nights, but it doesn’t lead to overall success. The club is just 3-4-2 in its nine games so far this month. Only two of the wins were in regulation. And five times in those nine games, the Canucks have coughed up five goals or more to their opponents.
2) Monday in Florida was just the second time in 21 games that the Canucks held a 2-0 lead in the first period (edit). The only other time was in Washington on October 19th, when they built a 4-0 lead before holding on for a 4-3 victory. The Canucks have given up the opening goal in 13 of the 21 games they’ve played.
3) Somewhat surprisingly, Pettersson, Hughes, and Brock Boeser each have just one power play goal this season, yet the team is tied for fourth in the NHL with 16 power play goals overall. Jake DeBrusk leads the way with seven, while Sherwood has scored three.
4) Speaking of, DeBrusk is tied for second in the league with his seven power play goals. He is one behind Dallas’ Wyatt Johnston and sits level with Pavel Dorofeyev of Vegas. All but one of DeBrusk’s goals have come on the man-advantage, and 21 of the 36 total goals he has scored across his two seasons in Vancouver have come on the power play.
5) Meanwhile, DeBrusk has gone 19 games without an assist. He had one in each of the team’s first two games of the season, but has not set up a goal since Brock Boeser scored in Edmonton on October 11th. That’s quite remarkable, given the winger has held down primarily top-six roles and been a fixture on the team’s top power play unit.
6) Sherwood is in familiar territory, leading the NHL in hits with 93 to go along with his team-high 12 goals. Sherwood is on pace for 363 hits this season, which would be 99 off the record he set last season with 462.
7) In all situations, no one has been on the ice for more goals against this National Hockey League season than Tyler Myers (36). When it comes to power play goals against, Marcus Pettersson holds the dubious distinction of leading the league at 15 against, with teammates Myers and Filip Hronek next at 13.
8) Despite sitting third in the league among forwards in 5-on-5 ice time, Evander Kane has not scored a 5-on-5 goal yet this season. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are the only forwards who average more 5-on-5 ice time. They have each scored five times. The league’s 5-on-5 goal-scoring leader is Brad Marchand with 10.
9) Pettersson leads the NHL in face-offs taken with 463. That is 27 more than Minnesota’s Joel Eriksson-Ek. Pettersson is third in total face-offs won at 218, behind Eriksson-Ek and Detroit’s Dylan Larkin.
10) The Canucks surrendered season highs for both goals against (8) and shots against (41) in their Monday loss to Florida. Two of their three highest shots-against totals came on this past road trip in Florida (41) and Carolina (38). That is not the definition of “trending in the right direction.“
11) Officially, the Canucks have scored just one empty net goal this season: Marcus Pettersson in Tampa Bay on Sunday. Hughes’ lone goal so far was fired into an unguarded Dallas net. However, because goalie Casey DeSmith had not fully reached the bench for an extra attacker, the goal was not considered an empty net goal by the league. It was the rare pseudo-empty net/power play goal.
12) The earliest goal scored by a Canuck this season belongs to Pettersson, who scored in the first 59 seconds of their game in Washington. Dylan Holloway of St. Louis has scored the earliest goal against the Canucks, 3:23 after the opening face-off. The Canucks have scored the game opener in the first five minutes four times while surrendering it on three occasions.
13) All 16 of the Canucks power play goals have come 5-on-4. They have not yet scored a 5-on-3 goal despite two occasions totalling 2:25 of time spent on a two-man advantage.
14) The Canucks and Los Angeles Kings share the league lead in 6-on-5 goals. Evander Kane has two of them.
15) Kane and Marcus Pettersson are both in the top ten in minor penalties taken so far this season. With 12, Kane is tied for fifth spot, while Marcus Pettersson is tied for eighth with 10. Kane is also third in the league, having drawn 10 penalties on the season.
16) The Canucks are on pace to surrender 90 power play goals this season. The franchise record is 97 in 84 games back in 1992-93. San Jose led the league last season with 66; however, Anaheim allowed 91 just two years ago.
17) Only four players in the NHL this season have logged over 30 minutes in a game. The Canucks account for two of those players. Marcus Pettersson played a career-high 30:23 in Carolina last, while Hughes skated for 30:08 in Chicago on October 17th. Erik Karlsson (31:42) and Zach Werenski (31:13) are the others.
18) As a team at 5-on-5, Canucks rank 30th in Corsi For (44.7%), 31st in shot share (44.0%), 30th in expected goal percentage (44.4%), 30th in scoring chance percentage (44.5%) and 30th in high danger percentage (42.0%).
19) At 5-on-5, Canucks have been outshot by 109 (400-509), yet they have been outscored by just three (39-42).
20) Per NHL Edge, the Canucks have skated 1524.81 kilometres already this season. That is second only to Edmonton’s team total. Their single-game high was 77.83 km last Friday in Carolina.
21) With 20 points in 21 games, the Canucks are on pace for 78 points this season. To get to 95 points (a proxy for a playoff spot), they would need to go 35-21-5 (75 points) or, in other words, play at a .615 clip or 101-point pace the rest of the way.
Which stat stands out to you?

Editorials

Breaking News