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Canucks Game Day: Something has to give as two struggling teams meet in Ottawa
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Photo credit: © Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images
Jeff Paterson
Jan 13, 2026, 14:00 ESTUpdated: Jan 13, 2026, 13:20 EST
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The Vancouver Canucks (16-24-5) play for the second night in a row when they face the Ottawa Senators (25-14-6) at Canadian Tire Centre. Tonight’s game has a 4 pm PT faceoff.
This is a matchup of two struggling teams, as the Canucks are winless in seven (0-5-2), while the Sens have dropped four straight and have just two victories in their last nine (2-6-1).

What we know

After a 6-3 loss in Montreal last night, the Canucks will make the nation’s capital the fifth stop on their six-game road trip. The team has dropped the first four games, all in regulation, and has allowed at least five goals in each of the games.
With no morning skate, it will be closer to game time before Adam Foote reveals his lineup plans. Zeev Buium was a healthy scratch last night and is quite likely to return to the lineup in Ottawa.
Last night, Elias Pettersson scored for the fourth time in his last eight games. Evander Kane and Max Sasson had the other Vancouver goals. Pettersson and Kane staked the Canucks to their first two leads of January at 1-0 and again at 2-1. 
Pettersson’s goal was also the 197th of his NHL career, which ties him with Thomas Gradin for 10th all-time in Canucks goal scoring. That leaves him four behind Bo Horvat for ninth spot on the franchise’s list.
Conor Garland returned to the lineup after missing six games due to injury. The winger logged 18:33 of ice time, but did not factor in the scoring. Garland skated on a line with David Kämpf and Brock Boeser. Boeser’s goal drought has now reached 20 games. He has 36 shots on goal over those 20 outings.
After backing up Nikita Tolopilo, Kevin Lankinen will return to the crease tonight. Lankinen stopped 16 of 18 shots over the final 40 minutes against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. He was forced into action due to an injury to starter Thatcher Demko. Lankinen’s last start came last Thursday in a 5-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings.

The Opponent

Travis Green’s team returns to action for the first time since a 3-2 home ice loss to the Florida Panthers on Saturday night. Drake Batherson and Fabian Zetterlund scored the Ottawa goals while Claude Giroux, who celebrated his 38th birthday yesterday, collected a pair of assists. 
Goaltending – or a lack thereof – has been the story of the Senators’ season. With starter Linus Ullmark on personal leave, the club with the worst team save percentage (.868) in the league has turned to 37-year-old James Reimer, signing the veteran to a one-year contract for the remainder of the season yesterday. Reimer played for Canada at the Spengler Cup in Switzerland over the holiday break. The veteran, who has been skating with BCHL teams in the Okanagan while waiting for his phone to ring, will not play tonight. Leevi Merilainen gets the call. He is 6-10 on the season with a 3.48 GAA and an .866 save percentage. He’s dropped his last three starts.
The Sens have had goaltending issues despite ranking third in the league in limiting opponents to 25.4 shots against per game. They have held opponents under 30 shots in 13 of their last 15 outings.
Tim Stutzle leads Ottawa with 19 goals and 45 points this season. Drake Batherson has 17 goals and 40 points. While defenceman Jake Sanderson is third in team scoring with 33 points and rides a seven-game point streak into action tonight (1+6). 
The Senators and Canucks are tied for 30th on the penalty kill at 72.7% ahead of only the Seattle Kraken. The Sens are interesting, though, because their home ice PK is 12th in the NHL at 81.0%, while their road rate is a league-low 65.2%. They have given up twice as many road power play goals (24) as at home (12).

News and notes

This is the first meeting of the season between these teams. The Sens will be in Vancouver on Monday, March 9th. The Canucks have picked up at least a point in five straight games against Ottawa (4-0-1). 
The referees for tonight’s game are once again Dan O’Rourke and Pierre Lambert. They worked last night’s Canucks game in Montreal. 
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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