Welcome back to Instant Reaction, the series here at CanucksArmy where we give you our instant reaction to tonight’s Vancouver Canucks game and ask our readers to do the same in the comments section below!
<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block" data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2111" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="329"></div>
&nbsp;
The Canucks picked up the game&#8217;s first power play after some decent pressure on Nashville, as Steven Stamkos was called for holding.
Perhaps lost in the shuffle is how good the Canucks&#8217; power play was in their 5-2 win over the St. Louis Blues on Monday night. They whipped the puck around with speed, moved around plenty, and got some quality looks off from the slot.
That continued tonight, as the Canucks got three shots off on their first power play chance of the night. Unfortunately, they couldn&#8217;t beat Juuse Saros.
The Canucks kept pressing though, and Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes teamed up to set up Nils Höglander, who made it 1-0 Canucks. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
🚨CANUCKS GOAL🚨
Nils Hoglander opens the scoring in Nashville with a beauty! 
🎥: Sportsnet | NHL<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Smashville?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Smashville</a> <a href="https://t.co/CbV9HzAVsf">pic.twitter.com/CbV9HzAVsf</a>
&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1884789148625625300?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
First, Pettersson blocked the shot to jumpstart the rush up the ice, slid the puck out to Hughes, and then Hughes fed Höglander. Beautiful. A goal off the rush? Are the Canucks allowed to do that? Also, shoutout to Linus Karlsson, who provided the screen.
On the next shift, Juuse Saros made a marvellous save, and at the other end, Tommy Novak tied this game up. 1-1. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Juuse Saros makes a big save. Moments later Tommy Novak scores just 90 seconds after the Canucks opened the scoring. 
🎥: Sportsnet | NHL<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Smashville?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Smashville</a> <a href="https://t.co/bqaSXOpR8H">pic.twitter.com/bqaSXOpR8H</a>
&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1884790033472692697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
DPetey was a healthy scratch tonight, and I took to social media to express my displeasure with the decision, especially since it meant Noah Juulsen got back into the lineup and would be playing next to Carson Soucy.
So, yes, I felt pretty validated early.
<blockquote class="bluesky-embed" data-bluesky-uri="at://did:plc:rq47zqtltqb4laovuwcctj7e/app.bsky.feed.post/3lgwgna2duk2z" data-bluesky-cid="bafyreie7mr4ojz334aeqgakpormthhpkpkz2elhw7tl3ynhbwetchwpboq">
Soucy-Juulsen get scored on. Who could’ve seen that coming???
&mdash; <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:rq47zqtltqb4laovuwcctj7e?ref_src=embed">David Quadrelli (@quadrelli.bsky.social)</a> <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:rq47zqtltqb4laovuwcctj7e/post/3lgwgna2duk2z?ref_src=embed">2025-01-30T02:26:13.296Z</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://embed.bsky.app/static/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
One thing I noticed early on for the Canucks was them making an effort to get into the middle of the ice and creating off the rush. The result was them outshooting the Predators early, and looking like the better team. Their energy was better, their chances were better, and it was nice to see them start like this against a Nashville team that&#8217;s scored more goals than any other team since January 1st.
After 20 minutes of entertaining hockey, the two teams were dead even in shots and goals.
Tyler Myers, who, if you haven&#8217;t heard yet, has turned back the clock to his Calder Trophy-winning season, picked up another point tonight as he helped the Canucks control in the offensive zone before finding Linus Karlsson for a cross-crease tap-in to make it 2-1. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
🚨CANUCKS GOAL🚨
Linus Karlsson scores his first NHL goal on a great feed from Tyler Myers! 
🎥: Sportsnet | NHL<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Smashville?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Smashville</a> <a href="https://t.co/nn9GCdBnaI">pic.twitter.com/nn9GCdBnaI</a>
&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1884801463102189791?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
That&#8217;s Karlsson&#8217;s first NHL goal and first NHL point.
The third period started with a long sequence in the Canucks&#8217; end that featured Filip Hronek getting a stick to the ribs (uncalled), then Derek Forbort getting high-sticked (uncalled) and Pius Suter taking a penalty.
The Preds&#8217; power play is a good one, but the Canucks managed to keep them at bay. Thank GOD Noah Juulsen was in the lineup.
The Canucks got the game&#8217;s next power play, which was good, because Nashville had their most sustained pressure of the night to open the third period. The sequence was nearly a disaster, as JT Miller made a bad giveaway at the Nashville line and then was outmuscled for the puck, leading to Thatcher Demko needing to make a clutch save to preserve the Canucks&#8217; lead.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Thatcher Demko makes a great save on the PK! He keeps this a one goal game. 
🎥: Sportsnet | NHL<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Smashville?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Smashville</a> <a href="https://t.co/d5IlJCuCZ4">pic.twitter.com/d5IlJCuCZ4</a>
&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1884816626916163608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The Canucks took a bench minor for too many men on the ice, and the Preds got a key power play chance. It was there that Thatcher Demko made his best stop of the night:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Thatcher Demko makes a great save on the PK! He keeps this a one goal game. 
🎥: Sportsnet | NHL<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Smashville?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Smashville</a> <a href="https://t.co/d5IlJCuCZ4">pic.twitter.com/d5IlJCuCZ4</a>
&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1884816626916163608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The Predators kept up the pressure, and hit a crossbar on the next shift. Quickly, the Canucks were bending but not breaking as Nashville continued to shoot on Demko. The Höglander-Pettersson-Karlsson trio had the Canucks&#8217; best offensive shift of the third, which was crucial in the Canucks keeping Nashville at bay.
Filip Forsberg was called for goaltender interference with 36 seconds left, and that was all she wrote as Pius Suter added an empty net goal after a clutch JT Miller faceoff win.
3-1 Canucks final.
Some more takeaways from tonight:
-We had a commenter on Canucks Conversation who has a theory that Elias Pettersson will come alive as soon as he gets away from Rick Tocchet, who the commenter believed is telling Pettersson to flip pucks in and not create offence. Tonight was a nice reminder that what Tocchet really wants is his players to hold onto pucks and get into the middle of the ice by moving their feet. 
-I liked Conor Garland off of PP1. 
-Free DPetey. 
-Another good game for Tyler Myers, who was dynamite on Monday, and picked up the assist for Linus Karlsson&#8217;s first career goal tonight. 
-Quinn Hughes with the 101st multi-point game of his career. Hart. 
-Hughes is going to break Alex Edler&#8217;s all-time points record this season. He is truly unbelievable. Norris. 
-He had some shots early, but thought it was another truly unremarkable night for Brock Boeser. 
-Three in a row is officially a streak, and some consecutive wins are exactly what the doctor ordered for this team. 
-Give Soucy a night off. 
-Not just saying this because he scored a goal, but I really liked Karlsson&#8217;s game tonight. And that&#8217;s something I didn&#8217;t think I&#8217;d say. 
-Hope this is a building block for Thatcher Demko. Thought he settled in nicely tonight and made some key saves to help give his team the win.
What&#8217;s your instant reaction to tonight&#8217;s game? Let us know in the comments section below!
And be sure to tune into Rink Wide Vancouver moments after the final horn! Come interact in the YouTube live chat!
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="RINK WIDE POST-GAME: Vancouver Canucks at Nashville Predators | Game 50 - Jan. 29, 2025" width="1333" height="1000" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u0A3LMbqmJU?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
Sponsored by bet365
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="329" data-promotion-id="19111" data-context="web-content-promocard"></div>
&nbsp;

Welcome back to Instant Reaction, the series here at CanucksArmy where we give you our instant reaction to tonight’s Vancouver Canucks game and ask our readers to do the same in the comments section below!
<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block" data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2111" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="329"></div>
&nbsp;

The Canucks picked up the game's first power play after some decent pressure on Nashville, as Steven Stamkos was called for holding.

Perhaps lost in the shuffle is how good the Canucks' power play was in their 5-2 win over the St. Louis Blues on Monday night. They whipped the puck around with speed, moved around plenty, and got some quality looks off from the slot.

That continued tonight, as the Canucks got three shots off on their first power play chance of the night. Unfortunately, they couldn't beat Juuse Saros.

The Canucks kept pressing though, and Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes teamed up to set up Nils Höglander, who made it 1-0 Canucks. 

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1884789148625625300

First, Pettersson blocked the shot to jumpstart the rush up the ice, slid the puck out to Hughes, and then Hughes fed Höglander. Beautiful. A goal off the rush? Are the Canucks allowed to do that? Also, shoutout to Linus Karlsson, who provided the screen.

On the next shift, Juuse Saros made a marvellous save, and at the other end, Tommy Novak tied this game up. 1-1. 

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1884790033472692697

DPetey was a healthy scratch tonight, and I took to social media to express my displeasure with the decision, especially since it meant Noah Juulsen got back into the lineup and would be playing next to Carson Soucy.

So, yes, I felt pretty validated early.

https://bsky.app/profile/quadrelli.bsky.social/post/3lgwgna2duk2z

One thing I noticed early on for the Canucks was them making an effort to get into the middle of the ice and creating off the rush. The result was them outshooting the Predators early, and looking like the better team. Their energy was better, their chances were better, and it was nice to see them start like this against a Nashville team that's scored more goals than any other team since January 1st.

After 20 minutes of entertaining hockey, the two teams were dead even in shots and goals.

Tyler Myers, who, if you haven't heard yet, has turned back the clock to his Calder Trophy-winning season, picked up another point tonight as he helped the Canucks control in the offensive zone before finding Linus Karlsson for a cross-crease tap-in to make it 2-1. 

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1884801463102189791

That's Karlsson's first NHL goal and first NHL point.

The third period started with a long sequence in the Canucks' end that featured Filip Hronek getting a stick to the ribs (uncalled), then Derek Forbort getting high-sticked (uncalled) and Pius Suter taking a penalty.

The Preds' power play is a good one, but the Canucks managed to keep them at bay. Thank GOD Noah Juulsen was in the lineup.

The Canucks got the game's next power play, which was good, because Nashville had their most sustained pressure of the night to open the third period. The sequence was nearly a disaster, as JT Miller made a bad giveaway at the Nashville line and then was outmuscled for the puck, leading to Thatcher Demko needing to make a clutch save to preserve the Canucks' lead.

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1884816626916163608

The Canucks took a bench minor for too many men on the ice, and the Preds got a key power play chance. It was there that Thatcher Demko made his best stop of the night:

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1884816626916163608

The Predators kept up the pressure, and hit a crossbar on the next shift. Quickly, the Canucks were bending but not breaking as Nashville continued to shoot on Demko. The Höglander-Pettersson-Karlsson trio had the Canucks' best offensive shift of the third, which was crucial in the Canucks keeping Nashville at bay.

Filip Forsberg was called for goaltender interference with 36 seconds left, and that was all she wrote as Pius Suter added an empty net goal after a clutch JT Miller faceoff win.

3-1 Canucks final.

Some more takeaways from tonight:

-We had a commenter on Canucks Conversation who has a theory that Elias Pettersson will come alive as soon as he gets away from Rick Tocchet, who the commenter believed is telling Pettersson to flip pucks in and not create offence. Tonight was a nice reminder that what Tocchet really wants is his players to hold onto pucks and get into the middle of the ice by moving their feet.
-I liked Conor Garland off of PP1.
-Free DPetey.
-Another good game for Tyler Myers, who was dynamite on Monday, and picked up the assist for Linus Karlsson's first career goal tonight.
-Quinn Hughes with the 101st multi-point game of his career. Hart.
-Hughes is going to break Alex Edler's all-time points record this season. He is truly unbelievable. Norris.
-He had some shots early, but thought it was another truly unremarkable night for Brock Boeser.
-Three in a row is officially a streak, and some consecutive wins are exactly what the doctor ordered for this team.
-Give Soucy a night off.
-Not just saying this because he scored a goal, but I really liked Karlsson's game tonight. And that's something I didn't think I'd say.
-Hope this is a building block for Thatcher Demko. Thought he settled in nicely tonight and made some key saves to help give his team the win.

What's your instant reaction to tonight's game? Let us know in the comments section below!

And be sure to tune into Rink Wide Vancouver moments after the final horn! Come interact in the YouTube live chat!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0A3LMbqmJU

Sponsored by bet365
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="329" data-promotion-id="19111" data-context="web-content-promocard"></div>
&nbsp;

Instant Reaction: Hughes tallies 101st multi-point game in Canucks’ 3-1 win over Predators

Recent articles from David Quadrelli

Breaking News