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Scenes from practice: Canucks’ win over Ducks lightens the mood around Rogers Arena
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Photo credit: Jeff Paterson
Jeff Paterson
Jan 30, 2026, 16:38 ESTUpdated: Jan 30, 2026, 16:40 EST
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Hours after their 2-0 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night, the Vancouver Canucks returned to the practice ice at Rogers Arena on Friday morning. With an early 4pm start against Toronto on Saturday, the club will not hold a morning skate. So this was the final preparation for the Leafs game and the conclusion of the team’s eight-game homestand.

What we saw

Filip Hronek, Teddy Blueger, and Nils Höglander were all excused from practice, although all three are expected to be available for Saturday’s game. Hronek was a little under the weather, while Blueger and Höglander were granted maintenance days. 
For the most part, the Canucks skated in the same formations they used to defeat Anaheim. Max Sasson slotted in Blueger’s spot on a line with Liam Ohgren and Jonathan Lekkerimaki. While Victor Mancini stepped in for Hronek and took a regular turn on a defence pair with Elias Pettersson.
Nikita Tolopilo was the first goaltender off the ice, while Kevin Lankinen stayed out and worked with a handful of players who put in additional work. On a game day, the early exit from a goaltender would indicate he was getting the start. Adam Foote did not tip his hand about his netminding decision for Saturday, but Tolopilo has certainly earned consideration for a second straight start and third consecutive appearance with his performances against San Jose and Anaheim this week. He has stopped 57 of the 59 shots he faced against the two California opponents.
After Saturday, the Canucks head out on the road for their final two games before the Olympic break. The team is hosting a Mother’s Trip with the players’ moms accompanying the team to Utah and Vegas. Foote said that while Brock Boeser (concussion protocol) will travel with the club and is eligible to come off injured reserve on Monday,  he is considered a long shot to see game action until after the Olympics. Foote noted that Boeser is feeling good and progressing in his daily protocol testing.
There was a moment of levity in the locker room following practice when Liam Öhgren tested the patience of defenceman Elias Pettersson during a media scrum. Using an inverted goalie stick as a makeshift microphone, the Canucks forward pushed the butt end of the stick closer and closer to Pettersson’s face until he could no longer ignore it and had to stop his scrum with a laugh. Moments like these have been few and far between in the Canucks’ locker room this season.

What we heard

Adam Foote on the team mood at practice after Thursday’s shutout win: “It was good. It was a big win for us. Guys were upbeat for sure. I thought we had a good practice going over some details, so it was nice.”
Filip Chtyil on coming away unscathed after a hard hit along the boards from Ducks defenceman Ian Moore late in the second period on Thursday: “Feel good. This is part of the game. Of course, I saw him coming. It was a pretty hard hit. It’s part of the game and it’s going to happen. I don’t want to be in this situation too much. Nobody wants to be. But I was there and it’s feeling good. So it’s okay.”
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