logo
CanucksArmy has no direct affiliation to the Vancouver Canucks, Canucks Sports & Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA
Scenes from morning skate: Lankinen starts as Canucks close out home schedule vs. Kings
alt
Photo credit: © Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Jeff Paterson
Apr 14, 2026, 15:09 EDT
Comments
The Vancouver Canucks (24-48-8) play their final home game of the 2025-26 National Hockey League season when they host the surging Los Angeles Kings (35-26-19) at Rogers Arena. Game time is 7 pm PT.
The team will announce its year-end award winners as the game unfolds.

What we saw

The Canucks held a full morning skate, which included an appearance by injured forward Filip Chytil. 
Kevin Lankinen gets the start in goal. That will be the only change to the lineup that defeated the Anaheim Ducks 4-3 in overtime on Sunday. Max Sasson, P-O Joseph and Victor Mancini will all be healthy scratches, while Evander Kane will sit out due to injury. Adam Foote confirmed this morning that Kane is unlikely to play either of the two remaining games on the schedule.
Jake DeBrusk and Marco Rossi have scored in back-to-back games. DeBrusk has seven goals in his last 11 outings – all on the power play – while Rossi has six goals and 16 points in his last 16 games. 
The Canucks power play went four for seven in weekend victories over the Sharks and Ducks and has converted twice in three of the past five games. In 14 games since March 17th, the Canucks are 15 for 36 with the man-advantage and lead the league with a 41.7% conversion rate.
While the team has won back-to-back games for the first time since mid-December, the Canucks have dropped six straight on home ice. The Canucks are 8-27-5 on home ice this season.

The Opponent

The Kings clinched a playoff spot with their fifth straight win last night, beating the Seattle Kraken 5-3 at Climate Pledge Arena. Quinton Byfield scored twice while Adrian Kempe, Trevor Moore and Alex Laferriere had the others. Anton Forsberg stopped 28 of the 31 shots he faced in net. He’s been on a roll, posting wins in four straight starts. But with back-to-back games, Darcy Kuemper is likely to get the call in goal tonight.
The Kings, who are 6-0-1 in their last seven games, are charging hard to the finish line and enter the night in the second Wild Card position in the West. More than that, however, they are just a point behind third-place Ducks and two points back of the Edmonton Oilers in the race for second spot in the Pacific Division. Tonight is LA’s game in hand on the Oilers. 
This will be the final time Anze Kopitar plays against the Canucks. Through the years, the 38-year-old Kings captain has faced Vancouver 73 times, scoring 18 times and adding 44 assists. Kopitar, who is playing his 1,520th career NHL game tonight, is retiring after this season. 
Los Angeles is playoff-bound with just 22 regulation victories on the season. Only the Canucks and Chicago Blackhawks have fewer. The Kings have been boosted by 19 points collected in overtime and shootout losses.
With no morning skate, the Kings’ lineup for tonight is not set in stone at this point. Word around the rink this morning is that Los Angeles is expected to play all of its top players as the Kings push to avoid a first-round match-up with league-leading Colorado. This is how the team lined up last night in Seattle.

News and notes

The Kings are shooting for the season sweep of the Canucks after previous wins of 2-1 OT, 4-0 and 4-1. Evander Kane and Marcus Pettersson have the Canucks two goals in the season series.
The referees for tonight’s game are Francis Charron and Chris Schlenker.
Don’t forget to join Rink Wide Vancouver for full postgame coverage after this game – and every game. The livestream starts moments after the final buzzer. Rink Wide is the place for full postgame analysis and discussion. Contribute to the live YouTube conversation with your thoughts on the game and support our charity partner – the BC Mental Health Foundation – with a Superchat.
Sponsored by bet365

Editorials

Breaking News