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Scenes from morning skate: Signs point to Öhgren as a possible scratch for Canucks vs. Red Wings

Photo credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

By Jeff Paterson

Oct 22, 2026, 15:00 EDTUpdated: Oct 22, 2026, 14:57 EDT

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The Vancouver Canucks (2-8-1) host the Detroit Red Wings (3-3-3) at Rogers Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 pm PT.

The Canucks are out to snap an eight-game losing skid in the middle game of a three-game homestand.

What we saw

Jeff Paterson

@patersonjeff

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15 skaters (8F/7D) and Meriläinen on the ice for #Canucks optional skate

5:28 PM · Oct 22, 2026

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The Canucks held a well-attended optional skate this morning. All defencemen except Filip Hronek took to the ice while an array of forwards opted into the skate. Based on the fact that he stayed out well after the rest of the group, Liam Öhgren may be a healthy scratch for tonight’s game. While he has two goals and three assists through 11 games, the 22-year-old has just one point in his last eight outings. Manny Malhotra does not confirm his lineup decisions, but Öhgren stayed out late with Guillaume Brisebois and Victor Mancini this morning. The two defencemen are expected to be healthy extras for tonight’s game.

Leevi Meriläinen was the only goalie to take to the ice this morning. He, too, remained out longer than usual, which may indicate tonight will be a Kevin Lankinen start. However, Lankinen was among the veterans who opted out of taking any ice this morning. That is not his usual game-day routine.

Marco Rossi will return to the Canucks lineup after missing two games due to illness. Rossi started hot with three goals and four points in the first two games of the season, but has not found the scoresheet in his last seven outings. Based on practice Wednesday, Rossi will centre a line with Paul Cotter and Brock Boeser. Drew O’Connor is expected to move from centre to the wing with Elias Pettersson and Linus Karlsson. Filip Chytil will have Jake DeBrusk and Jonathan Lekkerimäki on his wings, while Max Sassson centres a line with Arshdeep Bains and Brendan Gallagher.

The Canucks fell 6-3 to the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday as the team dropped its eighth straight decision (0-7-1). Karlsson, Lekkerimäki, and Bains scored the Vancouver goals. Karlsson has goals in back-to-back games and is off to a strong start with eight points in 11 games this season. The Bains goal was initially credited to Max Sasson, but was reviewed by the league and was revised on Wednesday. Lekkerimäki notched his first power play goal of his NHL career.

Brock Boeser picked up a first period assist on the Lekkerimäki goal, and the veteran winger carries a four-game point streak into action tonight. He has a goal and three assists over that span.

The Canucks have been held to just 49 shots over their past three games (18 at Florida, 14 at Tampa Bay and 17 vs. Carolina). They also surrendered a season-high 42 shots on goal against the Hurricanes on Tuesday.

The Opponent

The Red Wings are coming off a 4-3 shootout loss in Seattle on Tuesday. Detroit trailed 3-0 in the third period before goals from Viktor Arvidsson, Lucas Raymond, and Alex DeBrincat tied the game. Daniil Tarasov made 24 saves in goal.

The Wings have gone to overtime in back-to-back games and four of their last five. They have been involved in five straight games decided by a single goal.

This is the way the team skated at practice in Vancouver on Wednesday.

Max Bultman

@m_bultman

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Looked to me like lines are as they were in the third period last night DeBrincat Finnie Arvidsson MBN Larkin Raymond Rasmussen Copp Mazur Dries Compher Kolesar

8:21 PM · Oct 21, 2026

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DeBrincat leads the club with six goals and 11 points. No one else on the team has more than six points this season.

Expect John Gibson to get the start in goal after backing up in Seattle. The veteran netminder is 2-3-1 on the season with a 3.58 GAA and .873 save percentage. But he did post a shutout against the Canucks at Rogers Arena last December, and lifetime is 15-5-2 against the Canucks with a 2.04 GAA, .933 save percentage and four shutouts. The Wings have recalled goalie Michael Postava from Grand Rapids in the AHL after Daniil Tarasov tweaked something in practice yesterday.

Tonight is just the third road game of the season for the Red Wings. They’ve dropped both of their road contests in – in Montreal and Seattle – in shootouts.

Detroit leads the NHL in scoring by rookies with four goals and 12 points coming from first-year players led by Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, who has two goals and six points. He also has the team lead and tops all NHL rookies with 38 hits so far this season.

News and notes

Detroit took both ends of the season series last season, blanking the Canucks 4-0 at Rogers Arena and posting a 5-1 win at Little Caesar’s Arena. Overall, the Wings have won the past three head-to-head matchups and are 8-1-1 in their last 10 against the Canucks.

Brandon Schraeder and Gord Dwyer are the referees for tonight’s contest.

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.

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