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The Stanchies: Patrick Kane and Axel Sandin-Pellikka haunt Canucks in 5-1 drubbing by Red Wings
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Photo credit: © Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Lachlan Irvine
Jan 9, 2026, 05:12 EST
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“We were right there.”
Those four words have become the de facto mantra for Adam Foote as he’s coached the Vancouver Canucks to one of their worst seasons in franchise history. And it’s a phrase he uttered again after the Detroit Red Wings pummelled the Canucks 5-1, handing Foote’s team their fifth straight loss.
At some point, no matter how good the work ethic, those words start to sound like a coping mechanism more than an actual analysis.
It’s becoming clearer and clearer that the Canucks won’t have the bounce-back the front office is hoping for. They’re not only losing games now, but getting resoundingly thumped by teams once in their stratosphere (or far behind them, in Buffalo’s case).
The Red Wings opened the night in a tie for second place in the Atlantic Division with the Montreal Canadiens, and finished it in a tie with the Habs for first. The Canucks are holding form in the NHL’s second-to-last, thanks to the shocking collapse of the Winnipeg Jets. And the talent gap between the two sides was very evident.
On paper, the Canucks were in the game, but that had a lot more to do with the Red Wings not pulling away until late, as opposed to the Canucks genuinely going toe-to-toe. The eye test certainly wasn’t kind to the Canucks; not once did it feel like they were going to steal this game from Detroit.
Next to no Canucks made any significant impact on this game after the first period. Sure, Jake DeBrusk had a goal, while Nils Höglander and Drew O’Connor had a few good shifts here and there, but that was about it. They certainly didn’t throw the game away either, but this was more of a net-zero night overall.
When Foote pulled Lankinen for the extra attacker late, it only served to give an open net for Patrick Kane to haunt the Canucks one more time in his career with his 500th NHL goal. A franchise with a better grip on its history and lore would never have given that player such an easy look, but these Canucks aren’t the same franchise as the one from the late 2000s/early 2010s.
But we all knew that a long, long time ago.
Let’s not waste any more time; we have to send this game tape to the incinerator by Saturday.
Best viewing experience
Maybe if we hide behind a wall like Joel Hofer here, the Canucks won’t play as scary a game anymore.
Best ‘maybe tonight will be different’
Compared to their sluggish start in Buffalo against the Sabres, the Canucks did start this game with a lot more gusto than other recent games. No mom’s spaghetti on their sweaters today.
Nils Höglander created a lot of the Canucks’ initial opportunities on his opening shifts. His first nine games since returning from a preseason injury had produced donuts on the scoresheet, and — spoiler alert — that trend will continue today. But he looked a lot more like Classic Höggy to open Thursday.
First, Höglander broke JT Compher’s ankles near the boards before backhanding the puck around the boards to Drew O’Connor.
A few seconds later, he got the puck back along and fed Run-DOC again, this time creating a shot on goal.
After Höglander got the chances going, Zeev Buium found a lane for a shot that juuuuust went over the top of the net.
In my Stanchies Pregame video — between bites of Detroit-style pizza — I talked about the Canucks averaging more ice time in both ends of the ice than the Wings. It sure seemed like that logic was going to ring true in this game.
Best leading by example?
Remember how excited Marcus Pettersson was to join the Canucks a year ago? I think that honeymoon is safely over now.
His inability to stay out of the box has really caused headaches this season, and that continued today when he tripped up Dylan Larkin.
It’s going to end up being a rough night for Marcus.
Best Eventuality
As soon as David Kämpf tripped Alex DeBrincat nine seconds after Zeev Buium had been thrown in the box for high-sticking Emmitt Finnie, it was only a matter of time before the Red Wings got on the board.
To the Canucks credit, they almost escaped. Kevin Lankinen made a few different five-alarm saves in close that all could’ve opened the scoring sooner. Still, it was some missed Marcus Pettersson clearing attempts that finally started the domino effect.
This was one of those goals that any goalie watching probably saw coming as soon as Patrick Kane stepped out towards the boards from behind Tyler Myers, and Lankinen didn’t adjust to his new positioning. As soon as Lanks didn’t seal off the post right away, he was dead to rights.
You leave a prolific scorer like Kane that kind of space, you’re going to get burned.
Best What If?
The Canucks had a few too many passengers on the Red Wings’ second goal, as naturally, a player who could’ve been a Canuck in a different universe was the one to make them pay.
Evander Kane just hovers into no man’s land, Tom Willander makes an ill-advised pinch, and James van Riemsdyk (who’s still around, by the way!) feeds Axel Sandin-Pellikka the puck in the slot. Not much for Lankinen to do other than fish the puck out of the net.
It’s ironic that both 2023 defenders were on the ice at the same time, and one is adjusting to the NHL a bit better than the other.
Zach Benson also has five more points than Willander, but that’s not as fair a comparison.
…in fewer games, too. Sorry, sorry.
Best Signs of Life
Jake DeBrusk went from being a healthy scratch to being the Canucks’ sole source of energy in the blink of an eye. Not that it’s entirely surprising, as one of the most even-keeled and positive players the organization has, even in the face of adversity.
Tonight, he helped the Canucks continue their stretch of decent power play success with Mason Appleton in the box, when Kiefer Sherwood found him with a perfect backhand pass behind the goal line. DeBrusk wasted no time getting his shot through past John Gibson.
You see? They were right there.
Best please send help
This is where the wheels really started to fall off the wagon.
JT Compher was parked right in front of Lankinen without so much as an ‘excuse me’ from the Canucks defenders. He’s just standing there… menacingly!
By the time the Canucks figure out how open he is they’re far too late. Sandin-Pellikka fed the puck down low to JvR, who found Compher for the easy shot in front.
Yes, Zeev Buium was caught out on the ice a touch too long — over two minutes. But at least he was actually sealing off a passing lane! The other four guys on the ice might as well have replaced themselves with cardboard cutouts.
Best learning on the job
tatiana🏒
tatiana🏒
@tatituzzi
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more proof that im always right

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Izzy 🪿
Izzy 🪿
@izzycheung37

#Canucks trio of Pettersson, Kane, and Boeser put up 33.33 CF% and 30.73 xGF% in their 3:36 5-on-5 minutes together tonight. Höglander took Kane's spot for a few shifts and brought that line up to 66.67 CF%, 75.82 xGF% and 5 scoring chances in 1:30 min together.

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If someone offers Patrik Allvin a half-eaten ham sandwich for Kane before the trade deadline, everybody has to promise not to call it a Canucks masterclass online until after it passes through Central Registry.
Maybe they can bump the price up to garlic aioli on the sandwich instead of mayo.
Best No Fun
Being a Canuck takes a lot out of you.
Kiefer Sherwood always wears his emotions on his sleeves, but rarely does he genuinely blow up like this.
Best Sarcastic Clap
Seven players have scored their 500th career goal against the Canucks, but this one arguably stings the most.
Look. I know that a two-goal lead isn’t technically insurmountable, but considering where the Canucks are at, I’d say not letting one of the bigger villains in franchise history get a freebie for goal #500 would’ve been a victory in itself.
But nooooooo, they just had to hand it to 88.
The Canucks should’ve made the Final in 2009, darn it. And I’ll never get over it!
Best Pouring Salt in the Wound
There are few things in sports more humiliating than being scored on with the net empty, then giving up another goal after the goalie returns. That unfortunately happened today in an incredibly tragic way.
Kiefer Sherwood, already frustrated with the way his night had been going, tried to regroup in his own end, only for his feet to go the opposite direction. The puck dribbled out to an unsuspecting Lucas Raymond, who immediately buried it between the legs of a shocked Lankinen.
It’s nice to know there are only 39 more games of this.
I guess it could be worse. We could be watching the Winnipeg Jets or whatever trainwreck the Ottawa Senators have become over the last couple of days.
The grass isn’t always greener. Sometimes it’s just a slightly more sickly shade of yellow.
Best This is the Way
Even the algorithms are on board for something other than a hybrid retool.
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