The Vancouver Canucks (16-20-3) play their first game of 2026 tonight when they host the Seattle Kraken (17-14-7) at Rogers Arena. Due to broadcast rights around the league’s Winter Classic in Miami, tonight’s game begins at 7:30 pm.

The Canucks are the only team to have defeated the Kraken since December 20, with a 3-2 shootout win in Seattle on Monday night.

What we saw

Jeff Paterson

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6:32 PM · Jan 2, 2026

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What was initially designated as an optional session turned into a full morning skate with every player and the full coaching staff on the ice. That included Arshdeep Bains, who was recalled earlier Friday morning from AHL Abbotsford. Filip Chytil also took part in a red non-contact jersey, and Adam Foote said Chytil will accompany the team on its upcoming five-game road trip.

With Conor Garland and Marco Rossi both out with injuries, the Canucks will skate as they did at practice Thursday and again Friday morning. Linus Karlsson gets an opportunity to play on a line with Elias Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk, while Max Sasson is promoted to second line centre between Brock Boeser and Evander Kane.

Both Nils Höglander and Aatu Räty, who have been in and out of the lineup as healthy scratches recently, will get an opportunity with Rossi and Garland on the shelf. The Canucks will use the same six defencemen who dressed in Tuesday’s 6-3 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. That means P-O Joseph stays in the lineup and Elias Pettersson sits out for a second straight game.

While Kevin Lankinen was sharp, making 37 saves in the win in Seattle on Monday, Thatcher Demko gets the start in goal tonight. Demko has lost three straight in regulation after allowing four goals on 31 shots against the Flyers on Monday. His last victory came on Long Island on December 17. Lankinen, meanwhile, wore his black skate gear at this morning’s skate. The Canucks will wear their black jerseys at home against the Boston Bruins tomorrow, and Lankinen will get the start in goal.

The Canucks have dropped four straight on home ice, all in regulation. To make matters worse, they are 1-8-1 in their last 10 home games, getting outscored 44-24 in the process.

Tonight will be Nils Höglander’s 300th NHL game. The 25-year-old has 58 goals and 57 assists since making his debut when he scored in his first NHL game on January 13, 2021, in Edmonton. Höglander is still looking for his first point of this season. He’s played six games since returning from ankle surgery.

The Opponent

With their fifth win in six outings (5-0-1), the Kraken moved above the playoff bar in the West with a 4-1 home ice win over Nashville last night. Matty Beniers scored twice while Jamie Oleksiak and Jared McCann also found the back of the net. Oleksiak and Benier’s second of the night came 10 seconds apart midway through the first period. That matched the franchise record for fastest goals accomplished on two other occasions.

Philipp Grubauer made 24 saves for his third straight win. With the quick turnaround, Joey Daccord is expected to get the nod in net tonight. Daccord is 10-9-5 on the season with a 2.77 GAA and a .904 save percentage.

Jordan Eberle leads the team in goals with 14 and scoring with 26 points, followed by Eeli Tolvanen with 25, Chandler Stephenson with 24, and Beniers now has 23. Eberle was on the ice for all four Seattle goals last night, had an assist and carries a five-game point streak into action tonight (4+2=6). The Kraken captain will be playing his 1099th career NHL game tonight, with his 1,100th scheduled for Monday against the Calgary Flames.

The lone goal Seattle surrendered last night was on a Nashville power play. The Kraken’s penalty kill is dead last in the NHL at 71.3% and is 31st in the league at 67.9% on the road this season.

In contrast, the Kraken boast the second-best 5-on-5 save percentage in the NHL (93.0%) behind only the Minnesota Wild. The team has allowed just nine goals in its last six games. The 5-on-5 save percentage is an astounding 95.6% over that span.

News and notes

This is the second time this week the Canucks are catching the Kraken on the second night of a back-to-back set. These teams will meet twice more after tonight: February 28 in Seattle and March 14 in Vancouver.

The referees for tonight’s game are Justin Kea and Brian Pochmara.

The Boston Bruins will be the visitors tomorrow night. With Rogers Arena busy with tonight’s game, the B’s skated at UBC on Friday morning.

What we heard

Adam Foote on trying to generate offence against stingy Kraken: “Just keep going. When we’re playing fast, short shifts, managing the pucks at the blue line, not extending, when you get caught defending too long you lose some of the gas. We want to make sure we’re playing fast, getting below their goal line, play a smart game and be patient.”

Adam Foote on more injuries just as the team looked like it was getting healthier: “It seems like it’s been like that all year. We just keep focussing on what we have to do. We have to get better and get more consistent. We need to get the road mentality at home as far as shift lengths.”