The <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/combinations">Vancouver Canucks</a> (37-29-14) play their penultimate game of the season when they welcome the San Jose Sharks (20-49-11) to Rogers Arena tonight.
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And with injuries mounting, the Canucks will have another patchwork lineup with seven minor league call-ups in uniform tonight including goalie Nikita Tolopilo and defenceman <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancouver-canucks-recall-d-kirill-kudryavtsev-ahl-abbotsford">Kirill Kudryavtsev</a> who will both be making their NHL debuts. 
<h1>What we know</h1>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Kirill Kudryavtsev stepping onto <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NHL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NHL</a> ice likely to make <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> debut tonight vs Sharks <a href="https://t.co/hL0QvZCswY">pic.twitter.com/hL0QvZCswY</a>
&mdash; Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) <a href="https://twitter.com/patersonjeff/status/1911834026438197373?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The Canucks held an optional skate this morning with Quinn Hughes and Filip Hronek among the veterans taking part. The Canucks didn’t run line drills so it’s unclear at this point how they’ll deploy the three youngsters in Kudryavstev, Elias Pettersson and Victor Mancini with the coach suggesting all three of them may see shifts with the captain at some point.
Tolopilo, who turned 25 last week, becomes the fourth goaltender used by the Canucks this season. The 6’6” Belarussian is 18-14-2 in AHL Abbotsford with a 2.68 GAA and .902 save percentage this season. Meanwhile, Kudryavtsev is a 21-year-old Russian who has five goals and 26 points in 63 games as an AHL rookie. These two making the jump will mean the Canucks have now had 16 different players suit up for both Vancouver and Abbotsford this season.
Up front, it will be the same 12 forwards the Canucks used in Saturday’s 3-2 overtime loss to Minnesota. That means <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancouver-canucks-call-up-ty-mueller-nikita-tolopilo-ahl-abbotsford">rookie Ty Mueller</a> will play for a second straight game, likely centring a line with Jake DeBrusk and Brock Boeser. 
Saturday was the team’s league-high 18th game decided in OT (6-12). Marcus Pettersson opened the scoring with his first goal in a Canucks uniform while Jake DeBrusk added his team-leading 27th goal on a second period power play. Kevin Lankinen made 30 saves in his 50th appearance of the season in goal.
The Canucks were held to just 14 shots on goal. That matches the team’s season low for shots in a game, which also occurred in Boston in late November.
Veteran defenceman Derek Forbort suffered a broken orbital bone in a third period fight with Yakov Trenin. Forbort joins a long list of players whose season is over – <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancouver-canucks-shut-down-elias-pettersson-filip-chytil-rest-season">Elias Pettersson, Filip Chytil</a>, Nils Aman, Max Sasson, Tyler Myers, Noah Juulsen and Thatcher Demko. 
History will be made tonight if Quinn Hughes picks up at least one point. He starts the night one back of Alex Edler’s 409 career points. One will tie and two will establish a new franchise record for points by a Canucks defenceman.
<h1>The opponent</h1>
The Sharks are here for their final road game of the season. They are on a nine-game losing streak and have just three victories in their past 17 games after a 5-2 loss in Calgary last night. Tyler Toffoli scored his team-leading 30th goal of the season, reaching the 30 mark for the third straight season and the fourth time in his career. Defenceman Jan Rutta had San Jose’s other goal. Georgi Romanov made 25 stops in goal, but fell to 0-6 in his NHL career.
With back-to-back games and no morning skate, expect Alexandar Georgiev to get the start in goal tonight. Georgiev delivered the team’s last victory – a 6-5 shootout win over Toronto – on March 27th.
North Vancouver’s Macklin Celebrini has had a phenomenal rookie NHL season with 24 goals and a team-high 62 points as an 18-year-old who won’t turn 19 until June 13th. He leads the Sharks with seven power play goals and 21 power play points.
Along with Celebrini, three of the Sharks&#8217; top four scorers are 22 or younger. William Eklund has 58 points, while Will Smith has 45. As the last-place team in the standings, the Sharks will have another top draft pick again this year.
Vincent Desharnais started the season in the Canucks opening night lineup before being dealt to Pittsburgh and then on to San Jose. He is out of the lineup with an injury and will not play tonight.
The Canucks are shooting for the season sweep of the Sharks after earlier wins by scores of 3-2, 4-3 and 2-1 OT. Drew O’Connor settled the last meeting with a penalty shot goal in overtime. 
Today’s referees: Trevor Hanson &amp; Frederick L’Ecuyer
Today&#8217;s broadcasters: John Shorthouse &amp; Ray Ferraro
<h1>What we heard</h1>
Rick Tocchet on adding another young defenceman to the mix tonight: “Kirill has had a really good year. He’s opened a lot of guys eyes. And he has a chance to play with Mysie (Tyler Myers) out. So it’s fun to see these guys in an NHL environment.”
Kirill Kudryavtsev on getting the opportunity to make his NHL debut: “It means a lot. Really excited. I know most of the guys here. I feel a little bit more comfortable and not so much pressure. I know it probably doesn’t mean much for the NHL team in the standings but it means a lot for me and Tolo.”
Make sure to join the Rink Wide Vancouver postgame live stream immediately following tonight’s game. Rink Wide will provide a full breakdown and comprehensive coverage of the Canucks game. When the final buzzer sounds, be sure to log onto Rink Wide and join the YouTube live chat to discuss the game with other Canucks fans. Subscribe to the Rink Wide YouTube channel and never miss an episode.
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Goaltender Nikita Tolopilo in the reverse VH during the Vancouver Canucks' 2-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers at the 2024 Young Stars Classic from Penticton, BC

The <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/combinations">Vancouver Canucks</a> (37-29-14) play their penultimate game of the season when they welcome the San Jose Sharks (20-49-11) to Rogers Arena tonight.
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And with injuries mounting, the Canucks will have another patchwork lineup with seven minor league call-ups in uniform tonight including goalie Nikita Tolopilo and defenceman <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancouver-canucks-recall-d-kirill-kudryavtsev-ahl-abbotsford">Kirill Kudryavtsev</a> who will both be making their NHL debuts. 
<h1>What we know</h1>
https://twitter.com/patersonjeff/status/1911834026438197373

The Canucks held an optional skate this morning with Quinn Hughes and Filip Hronek among the veterans taking part. The Canucks didn’t run line drills so it’s unclear at this point how they’ll deploy the three youngsters in Kudryavstev, Elias Pettersson and Victor Mancini with the coach suggesting all three of them may see shifts with the captain at some point.

Tolopilo, who turned 25 last week, becomes the fourth goaltender used by the Canucks this season. The 6’6” Belarussian is 18-14-2 in AHL Abbotsford with a 2.68 GAA and .902 save percentage this season. Meanwhile, Kudryavtsev is a 21-year-old Russian who has five goals and 26 points in 63 games as an AHL rookie. These two making the jump will mean the Canucks have now had 16 different players suit up for both Vancouver and Abbotsford this season.

Up front, it will be the same 12 forwards the Canucks used in Saturday’s 3-2 overtime loss to Minnesota. That means <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancouver-canucks-call-up-ty-mueller-nikita-tolopilo-ahl-abbotsford">rookie Ty Mueller</a> will play for a second straight game, likely centring a line with Jake DeBrusk and Brock Boeser. 

Saturday was the team’s league-high 18th game decided in OT (6-12). Marcus Pettersson opened the scoring with his first goal in a Canucks uniform while Jake DeBrusk added his team-leading 27th goal on a second period power play. Kevin Lankinen made 30 saves in his 50th appearance of the season in goal.

The Canucks were held to just 14 shots on goal. That matches the team’s season low for shots in a game, which also occurred in Boston in late November.

Veteran defenceman Derek Forbort suffered a broken orbital bone in a third period fight with Yakov Trenin. Forbort joins a long list of players whose season is over – <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancouver-canucks-shut-down-elias-pettersson-filip-chytil-rest-season">Elias Pettersson, Filip Chytil</a>, Nils Aman, Max Sasson, Tyler Myers, Noah Juulsen and Thatcher Demko. 

History will be made tonight if Quinn Hughes picks up at least one point. He starts the night one back of Alex Edler’s 409 career points. One will tie and two will establish a new franchise record for points by a Canucks defenceman.
<h1>The opponent</h1>
The Sharks are here for their final road game of the season. They are on a nine-game losing streak and have just three victories in their past 17 games after a 5-2 loss in Calgary last night. Tyler Toffoli scored his team-leading 30th goal of the season, reaching the 30 mark for the third straight season and the fourth time in his career. Defenceman Jan Rutta had San Jose’s other goal. Georgi Romanov made 25 stops in goal, but fell to 0-6 in his NHL career.

With back-to-back games and no morning skate, expect Alexandar Georgiev to get the start in goal tonight. Georgiev delivered the team’s last victory – a 6-5 shootout win over Toronto – on March 27th.

North Vancouver’s Macklin Celebrini has had a phenomenal rookie NHL season with 24 goals and a team-high 62 points as an 18-year-old who won’t turn 19 until June 13th. He leads the Sharks with seven power play goals and 21 power play points.

Along with Celebrini, three of the Sharks' top four scorers are 22 or younger. William Eklund has 58 points, while Will Smith has 45. As the last-place team in the standings, the Sharks will have another top draft pick again this year.

Vincent Desharnais started the season in the Canucks opening night lineup before being dealt to Pittsburgh and then on to San Jose. He is out of the lineup with an injury and will not play tonight.

The Canucks are shooting for the season sweep of the Sharks after earlier wins by scores of 3-2, 4-3 and 2-1 OT. Drew O’Connor settled the last meeting with a penalty shot goal in overtime. 

Today’s referees: Trevor Hanson &amp; Frederick L’Ecuyer

Today's broadcasters: John Shorthouse &amp; Ray Ferraro
<h1>What we heard</h1>
Rick Tocchet on adding another young defenceman to the mix tonight: “Kirill has had a really good year. He’s opened a lot of guys eyes. And he has a chance to play with Mysie (Tyler Myers) out. So it’s fun to see these guys in an NHL environment.”

Kirill Kudryavtsev on getting the opportunity to make his NHL debut: “It means a lot. Really excited. I know most of the guys here. I feel a little bit more comfortable and not so much pressure. I know it probably doesn’t mean much for the NHL team in the standings but it means a lot for me and Tolo.”

Make sure to join the Rink Wide Vancouver postgame live stream immediately following tonight’s game. Rink Wide will provide a full breakdown and comprehensive coverage of the Canucks game. When the final buzzer sounds, be sure to log onto Rink Wide and join the YouTube live chat to discuss the game with other Canucks fans. Subscribe to the Rink Wide YouTube channel and never miss an episode.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuqvcXDF9z0

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Scenes from morning skate: Kudryavtsev and Tolopilo set to make NHL debuts for Canucks vs. Sharks

Defenceman Kirill Kudryavtsev during the Vancouver Canucks' 2-0 win over the Edmonton Oilers at the 2024 Young Stars Classic from Penticton, BC

Canucks recall D Kirill Kudryavtsev from AHL Abbotsford

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