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Canucks Game Day: Closing out 2025 with a visit from Rick Tocchet and the Flyers
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Photo credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Jeff Paterson
Dec 30, 2025, 14:31 ESTUpdated: Dec 30, 2025, 16:00 EST
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The Vancouver Canucks (16-19-3) open a three-game homestand when they host the Philadelphia Flyers (19-11-7) at Rogers Arena. Face-off is set for 7pm. It’s the second meeting between the teams in just over a week, after the Flyers defeated the Canucks 5-2 on December 22nd in Philadelphia.

What we know

After a 3-2 shootout win in Seattle last night, the Canucks did not hold a morning skate. On Sunday, head coach Adam Foote declared Thatcher Demko his starter for this one. Beyond that, it will be closer to game time before any other line-up changes are revealed. Foote will meet with the media around 4:30pm. At that point, we’ll learn if Jake DeBrusk is returning to game action after being a healthy scratch last night and who he’ll replace.
Linus Karlsson and Elias Pettersson had the Vancouver goals last night. Karlsson has scored in back to back games and has four goals in his last four games. Liam Öhgren had an assist on the Karlsson goal and he also scored the lone goal in the shootout. In seven games since joining the club, Öhgren has two goals, two assists and a pair of shootout winners. 
Kevin Lankinen stopped 37 of 39 shots including all 16 shots he faced in the third period and all three Seattle shootout attempts. Lankinen is now 4-0 in shootouts stopping all 17 attempts he has faced this season. Last night marked the first time all season, the Finn has won consecutive starts after also posting a victory in Boston on December 20th.
Filip Hronek logged a career-high 29:20 of ice time last night including 5:42 of shorthanded time and 3:28 of overtime.
To a man, the Canucks credited Conor Garland’s first period fight with Jared McCann for providing a spark. The Canucks scored just three seconds after the tilt to tie the game 1-1. As a team, the Canucks have had four scraps this season. Garland has been involved in the last two and is the only forward on the club to drop the gloves this season.
Over their last four games, the Canucks have surrendered 158 shots or an average of 39.5 per game. They gave up 43 in Boston, 39 in Philadelphia, 37 against San Jose and 39 again last night in Seattle.
Canucks are 4-1-2 in the second game of back to backs this season. They beat Boston 5-4 in a shootout in their last one. They also have wins in Chicago and at home against Edmonton and Minnesota. 
Tonight marks the Canucks final game of 2025. The team is 37-38-9 (83 points in 84) in this calendar year. The club is 14-20-3 in 37 home games over the past 12 months and just 1-7-1 in its last nine on home ice.

The Opponent

The Flyers are here following a 4-1 loss in Seattle on Sunday night in the team’s first game out of the holiday break. Carl Grundstrom scored their lone goal late in the third period. Dan Vladar stopped 16 of the 18 shots he faced in net. 
Tonight marks the return of Rick Tocchet to Rogers Arena. Tocchet left Vancouver last summer to take the Flyers job after two and a half seasons behind the Canucks bench.
Trevor Zegras leads the Flyers in scoring with 15 goals and 37 points. He was held off the scoresheet in Seattle which put an end to a nine-game scoring streak during which he registered five goals and 11 points. Travis Konecny and Owen Tippett share second on the team with 11 goals apiece. Carl Grundstrom’s goal against the Kraken pushes his goal-scoring streak to three straight games. 
Sunday marked the first time this season the Flyers did not take a penalty in a game. If anything indicates these are not the Broad Street Bullies, Matvei Michkov leads Philadelphia in penalty minutes and is seventh in the league with 17 minors taken this season.
The Flyers are in the midst of a four-game Western road trip and will play again tomorrow in Calgary before facing Edmonton on Saturday afternoon.

News and notes

Former Canuck Noah Juulsen has been a healthy scratch for six straight games and is not expected to dress tonight in his return to Vancouver.
The referees for tonight’s game are Trevor Hansen and Gord Dwyer. Dwyer also worked last night’s game in Seattle where the power plays were 6-2 in the Kraken’s favour.
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. Join the live YouTube chat with your thoughts on the hockey game.
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