And we’re off to the races. After a disappointing start to the season, the Canucks got their first win against the short-handed Panthers Thursday night, logging a 3-2 OT victory. It was a much better effort from the team as they look to build some confidence back into their early troubles. After last night the boys can loosen the grips on their sticks a little bit more. To note, the Canucks last year also started off with 4 points in their first 4 games, so don’t panic too much.

The Canucks’ top players upped their game, and they got great goaltending from Lankinen as the team looked much closer to last year’s team than the team that stumbled out of the gates. The Canucks outhit the Panthers 41-35 and held an 11-8 advantage on high-danger scoring chances.

Individually, Hughes crushed the game, holding a 20-9 shot advantage with him on the ice and accounting for 13 attempts and 8 shots on goal himself – including the first of his season. New addition Kiefer Sherwood also crushed the game, but more literally, as he racked up 10 hits in this game alone. He’s up to 23 hits in his first four games, which puts him second in the NHL. Lankinen stopped 26 of 28 – with a few magnificent saves throughout – as he seems to be taking over the 1A role on the team with that performance. Also, JT Miller did Miller things, potting the winner in OT as he moved into sole possession of OT winners in Canucks history with 10, only 6 behind Daniel Sedin.

Overall, Tocchet was more pleased with the team, but knows they have more to give.

“We've got some work to do, but thought there was some good stuff in there,” Canuck coach Rick Tocchet told reporters in Florida. “There were times. . . we had good possession time, had some (scoring) chances. That's a championship team there, and they're missing some key guys. Winning one in overtime was nice.

“We've still got to clean some things up. When the other team makes a push, I think we've got to play a little more simple. But for the most part, you know, a hell of a goal for Millsy in overtime, so it's a big win for us.”

The Canucks’ record could look a lot different if they didn’t stumble out of the gates, but hopefully as they correct that more wins will come. And the adversity serves them well in the long run.

“Just being able to find a way (to win), I think that's kind of what we've been missing to start the year,” Blueger said. “Obviously, a couple close games early on. You know, the margin of victory is very, very small, the difference between winning and losing. So I think it's good for our team, good for character and morale, to just kind of find a way to get it done.”

While Pettersson didn’t hit the scoresheet, he had his best game of the young season to date. He was credited with one shot (crossbar?), 4 attempts, 3 hits, and 4 blocked shots. The more he gets engaged, the more impact he’ll have – and the points will come with that.

The Canucks play the Flyers on Saturday next. A little rest and then right back at it.

Until then, try and keep it to hockey or hockey-adjacent comments:




Quotes from the Province and Sportsnet.

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