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Canucks Game Day: Hoping to catch Lightning in a bottle in early start in Tampa Bay
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Photo credit: © Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
Jeff Paterson
Nov 16, 2025, 13:00 ESTUpdated: Nov 16, 2025, 12:52 EST
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The Vancouver Canucks (8-9-2) play the middle contest of a three-game road trip when they visit the Tampa Bay Lightning (9-6-2) at Benchmark International Arena. The game is set for a 2pm Pacific face-off. It’s a battle of two teams that have been hit hard by the injury bug. Key pieces will be missing from both line-ups.

What we know

With no morning skate due to the early start, it will be closer to game time to know who is available to head coach Adam Foote. Quinn Hughes missed the road trip opener – a 4-3 overtime loss in Carolina – on Friday with an undisclosed injury. His status for today’s game is up in the air. Fellow blueliner Filip Hronek was pulled from the game in the final moments of the third period by the league’s concussion spotter. He missed the overtime period, but is expected to be ready to play tonight.
Max Sasson, Elias Pettersson and Conor Garland scored the Vancouver goals in Carolina. All four of Sasson’s goals have come on the road this season. Pettersson snapped an eight game drought with a short-handed effort. He has had multi-point efforts in back-to-back games (1+3) and has taken over the team lead with 15 points in 19 games. Garland’s goal came on a second period power play and was his first of the season with the man-advantage.
Marcus Pettersson logged a career-high 30:23 of ice time on Friday. That included 10:01 of the third period and 1:12 of overtime.
Newcomer David Kampf, signed yesterday to a one year contract, is expected to join the team on the road trip, however, he will not make his Canucks debut today. However, it could come as early as tomorrow against the Florida Panthers in Sunrise.
Kevin Lankinen stopped 34 of 38 shots on Friday and could get the call to start for the fifth time in six games. It’s also possible that with a game tomorrow against the two-time defending champions, the Canucks might opt to give Lankinen an extra day’s rest and turn to Jiri Patera who has not appeared in an NHL game since March of 2024 with Vegas.
The Canucks have managed to secure at least a point in six of their last 10 games (4-4-2), however they have dropped three straight games (0-1-2) and have just one regulation win in their last 13 outings. 

The Opponent

Tampa is in action for a second straight night following a 3-1 road victory over cross state rivals the Florida Panthers in Sunrise yesterday. Emil Lilleberg, Jack Finley and Zemgus Girgensons scored the Lightning goals while Andrei Vasilevskiy made 23 saves including all 13 he faced in the third period. Finley’s goal was his first in the NHL and served as the game winner. Tampa scored on two of its three third period shots on goal.
While he was held off the scoresheet, Jake Guentzel logged 25:05 to lead the team in ice time. Nikita Kucherov had an assist, six shots on 10 attempts and played 22:31 on the night. Guetzel and Kucherov share the team lead with seven goals. Guentzel leads Tampa in scoring with 16 points while Kucherov has 15.
The Lightning were without seven injured players yesterday: Victor Hedman, Ryan McDonough, Brandon Hagel, Anthony Cirelli, Nick Paul, Pontus Holmberg and Dominic James. There is no word on whether any of them will be able to play today.
With back to backs, it’s likely Jonas Johansson will get the start in goal. The Bolts back-up is 3-1 on the season with a 2.83 GAA and a .913 save percentage.
Tampa Bay is 4-4 on home ice this season. A 7-3 loss to the New York Rangers on Wednesday snapped a four-game home win streak. Overall, the Lightning is 8-2 in its last 10 outings.

News and notes

Today is Linus Karlsson’s 26th birthday.
The Canucks lost both games against Tampa Bay last season. They fell 4-1 in their first road game of the 2024-25 schedule and then dropped a 4-2 decision on home ice in early December. Brayden Point had six points (3+3) in those two games.
Today pits two teams at opposite ends of the penalty killing spectrum. The Canucks have allowed a league-high 20 power play goals against while Tampa Bay is tied for the second lowest total in the NHL with seven. The referees for tonight’s game are Jon McIsaac and Peter MacDougall.
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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