It is always a treat when you get to watch your favourite team play one of the game's greats, and on Wednesday night, we got to watch the Vancouver Canucks play Sidney Crosby and the d̶r̶e̶a̶d̶e̶d̶ dreadful Pittsburgh Penguins.
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It was not so long ago that, watching the Canucks play back-to-back games in Boston and Pittsburgh, you'd simply hope to squeeze a point or two out of the games, but now, both these former juggernauts are just that, former juggernauts. It is not outrageous to hope to take three or even all four points from these two games.

Regardless of their opponent's fall from grace, playing back-to-back is always hard for a team. Especially when Sidney Crosby is on that team, still playing at an extremely high level. That is not to mention Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Erik Karlsson, who could break a game open at any point.

*Narrator, and that is just what happened*

Karlsson, Malkin, and Crosby had six points (all assists).

Where Kevin Lankinen handed the Canucks two points on a silver platter, Šilovs tripped and knocked the platter out of the waiter's hands and ruined your new shirt before it could reach the table.

This is what folks call a schedule loss, and unfortunately, folks were right.

Best Jeff's Dark Stat

https://twitter.com/patersonjeff/status/1861935226077016353

Folks, you will never believe this. The Canucks gave up the first goal of the game in the first period. There were a lot of goals scored in this game, and the majority of them went against the Canucks, unfortunately. A lot of them seemed like saveable plays if you were a Vezina Callibre goaltender like Lankinen but for a struggling Artūrs Šilovs, the first half of this game was a problem. But Blake Lizotte's goal was not Šilovs fault all on his own.

Worst Playing the Classics

https://i.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExOW83ZTk5eHczdmsxbGxzZXo5NXl6bjJxY2ZwY290b3ZkZmRxc2sxbCZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/6Fh8NA4fA8P8lnPGHa/giphy.mp4

Ryan Shea shoots the puck intentionally wide of the net for a bounce off the end board that perfectly lants on Lizotte's stick. Quinn Hughes lost Lizotte in the crowd and was not expecting a bank pass. As a result, he was not covering his man for one. The Canucks were chasing the game less than four minutes into the first frame.

Best But Wait! 

A few short minutes later, Aatu Räty has a strong shift with a bone-crunching hit. Followed by his second goal of the season seconds later.

https://i.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExdWh4bjJqbmZ6ZWYzc2VrM2hlZGozbTlkNmNtbTB2Y3YyejRyaWNkcCZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/rgs38dnlKbKMNdoMCL/giphy.mp4

Räty's first shot is right into a defender's skates, but the puck lands right back on his stick for a quick shot that fooled the goalie. I don't think Jarry was expecting that puck to be recovered and shot so fast, but Räty gives us hope.

The Finn has played exceptionally well in a fourth-line centre role; he is reliable, hardworking, wins draws, and the coach trusts him. It is the perfect recipe for success in Rick Tocchet's system.

Worst Oh, Nevermind. 

Aaaaaaaaand within the span of five minutes in the first period, the Canucks went from being tied 1-1 to being down 4-1.

Life moves fast.

Rickard Rakell scored next to crack this game wide-open.

https://i.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExd3pjMXIxYXV0NGVpZWxpOXZydzZ1ZGdhaW5rbGljaTRpYWR4ZTNsZCZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/CyTNrDst0ZhIaDfH1T/giphy.mp4

You're on Your Own Kid - Juulsen, probably.

Noah Juulsen was covering Rakell here, but then he suddenly decided to run away like it's "Back to December" 2006 again, and you just heard from your son's friend that the local Walmart just got a truckload of Wii's. Juulsen just decides to walk away from Rakell to leave him wide open for a tap-in goal.

Nice. 2-1 Penguins.

Then while the Canucks are on the PK, Kevin Hayes scores his fourth of the season after returning from injury.

https://i.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExbDRvbDQzaHFzeGF5bDF4ZWMyZHlpeXNvcjk2Mzk1MXR5Zmlta2N5MSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/wHAKqrUQJVTTQmH7Py/giphy.mp4

Juulsen, my guy what are you doing here?

"I have this thing, where I get older but just never wiser"  - Juulsen, probably.

Juulsen is on Hayes, trying to box him out, and then just backs off giving Hayes time and space. It almost looks like he expects a point shot from a player who simply is not there.

Juulsen did not have a strong game on Wednesday night. Not many defenders did to his credit.

https://i.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExaXdnZTViYWtndnp3NGprMGVheHJydjVmbDhjb2E5bzltZ2VvcDh3OSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/GjiLvJov4psizC5oKu/giphy.mp4

The Penguins' fourth and final goal of the period (thank god) was off the stick of Bryan Rust. Erik Karlsson makes a beautiful pass from blueline to blueline to Sid, the 37-year-old Kid, who makes a cross-decrease pass to Rust for an easy goal. But our poor Šilovs plays Crosby as if there is no passing option, comes out too far and then is too slow to react to the pass to Rust.

I don't know who deflated the Arty Party balloons over the summer, but we need to track them down.

Best Goon Era

But I got smarter, I got harder in the nick of time 
Honey, I rose up from the dead, I do it all the time 
I've got a list of names and yours is in red, underlined 
I check it once, then I check it twice, oh

https://bsky.app/profile/skycorps.bsky.social/post/3lbxugmrfb22p

The first period wasn't all bad, no matter what Tocchet said post-game. Why? Well, because Taylor Swift is in town, and we can all feel the Era's Tour flowing through our city. Pettersson was inspired and has decided to enter his goon era and throw what might be the biggest hit of his career so far.

https://i.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExcWZsdnc2MnpkOG9jdzVxNjlvaWxyem1ja29tdjNsM3RkeHc3ZmpyNiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/w7t8lqXn3yUNQiTFn7/giphy.mp4

An absolutely perfect open-ice hit! Did the hit look like it stung Pettersson too? Sure, but did the first period sting for me personally? Yes. So I am glad we were sharing the pain together. It brings us closer, just like Taylor's songs of heartbreak bring her closer to her fans.

Best Foreshadowing:
Quinn Hughes decided to get on his horse early in the first period with Jake DeBrusk.

https://i.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExbGloOGR1OGFlYmFvcnJ0cHdqY2ZnM3lnaGdqMWtrODg4bGh1bHRzMCZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/GKjlOd5tLRs3UNXJMd/giphy.mp4

We're skatin' down the ice
I wonder if you know
 I'm tryin' so hard not to get caught up now 
But you're just so cool
- DeBrusk Probably

DeBrusk tries to make a pass across the top of the crease, but unfortunately, Hughes can't make contact with the puck.

Best No Actual Rust

Roughly four minutes into the second period, Bryan Rust scored. Again.


https://i.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExcDlkd2FrMGRnN3R5MnM0Z3l2OTV4Nzh5NXlvODllMnQxOXo0aW1sNSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/6a2SsQWm3ozuD0xQxi/giphy.mp4

This one is one that Šilovs needs to have. I know Rust is a shooter as they say, but he had a clean look and let it get past him. I'd be more likely to forgive him if he hasn't routinely let in goals that look identical to this.

Best You Need To Calm Down

To Šilovs' credit, he did make this great save on Drew O'Connor.

https://i.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExNndzbmw0N2p1NXc4dWQ4N3BrdGN0eTNlYmFkengwMGw1MGg4Z2JjcyZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/8Cc8VjkECuLpuNajqH/giphy.mp4

It is easy to pile onto Šilovs for having a rough season, but he is only 23. He had one strong performance in the playoffs, but let's remember, he is still a young goalie with only 17 games of NHL experience.

Šilovs is still a prospect really. As soon as Thatcher Demko returns, we likely won't see Šilovs in the NHL again for the rest of the year, barring any injuries. And that is a good thing; he needs more reps in the AHL.

Best Knew he was a killer the first time that I saw him

Pius Suter scored his seventh goal to take sole possession of the team lead in goal on the 5-2 goal to kickstart the comeback.

https://i.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExZXBvNHQ5MnRwcDBuaHRtMjRsMWtxc2M3ZG5zOHpxMnA0NjN2dGdheSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/rJE5LdaxYDT7nq3q7k/giphy.mp4

There is so much to like with this play.

Starting with Filip Hronek's brilliant tip pass/ line hold. Pettersson tries to send Hughes a backhand saucer pass across the ice, and it doesn't quite go where he wants. As he is getting off the ice, Hronek makes a perfect single touch to redirect the puck in the air to Hughes.

Hughes then makes a perfect pass to Pius Suter, who is getting on the ice for Pettersson and he walks into a Thomas Vanek-esque slapshot from the wing.

Best Don't Blame Me

https://bsky.app/profile/passittobulis.bsky.social/post/3lby3ervhe222

Wags didn't even reference this missed call on DeBrusk.

https://i.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExNGxodzY2dWJqNW9uanVtZzdqaHlxMjQ3dW0xOG96eXh4YTRkN2g4MiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/zwn9EXLx3wPvTOExGM/giphy.mp4

Sure, DeBrusk fell a little easy, but there is no doubt in my mind that the hook on him prevented him a fair chance at Kiefer Sherwood's pass to the front of the net.

The Conor Garland penalty, however, was atrocious. I was in the process of writing a note about how perfectly Garland played that. He forced Karlsson into skating the puck out, stayed with him and eventually got the puck off of him.

https://i.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExZTU4OHhzcTl3dXl5M3Z6YmRyOXBzZ2cya2VqcGI2NzEzMHNhcWI4ZiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/obeKyp1eFij3Pdzrst/giphy.mp4

I had to scratch off my note and instead make a note about the brutal call. The look on Garland's face just screams, "'Cause I knew you were trouble when you walked in."

Best I Can Do It With a Broken Heart

But I keep cruisin' 
Can't stop, won't stop movin' 
It's like I got this music 
In my mind sayin', "It's gonna be alright."
- Quinn Hughes Probably

https://bsky.app/profile/canuckliver.bsky.social/post/3lby2kyqakk2q

This time, when Quinn took the puck in his own end and went end to end, he knew he was going to do it himself.

https://i.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExdnJpc2FyMGs0eTVrdGNmNzhhYzM4czNraWZ1eXRrZmttYnM5dXRiZSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/v6Vv8jnNK3S3shHAFk/giphy.mp4

Now I don't want to suggest that there is any Bad Blood between DeBrusk and Hughes, but he certainly was going to do it all himself this time around.

The Canucks brought it to 5-3 with almost a whole period to go, and you started thinking to yourself, "Hey, maybe they can do this."

Best Fan Favourite

https://twitter.com/CodySevertson/status/1861833514632835550

Would it be the Stanchies without everyones favourite, Kiefer Sherwood, making smart plays? Like here, where he is all over Crosby on a zone entry and forces him offside, but does it without taking a penalty.

https://i.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExc3UxeXZneno3cnF6MW54ZHU1d3J3MHMwa2pqaGkyb3MwdzQ0MGVzYSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/8gT32n69Al1UobeOve/giphy.mp4

Or this short-handed chance that would have brought the Canucks within one with nearly four minutes remaining.

https://i.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExcGhhZmRxYnkzZjczb2JyNGgzMGE2czBrMm9pNnl5N2VoczRtamFsYiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/7ho2WHjJQWVCGixmaz/giphy.mp4

Just pure hard work on display there.

Best End Game

Pettersson scored to bring the game within one with only 1:46 remaining.

https://i.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExeHFvOGY4MDZta2tleG01b3pvcG5saDBpcXFqbW0wMmYwaGk4bzd5diZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/VTBM2vIJeYWKorZCYq/giphy.mp4

Pettersson joined Suter for the team lead in goals (7) with this goal. This had Canucks fans saying, "I only see daylight!" in hopes of a last-minute goal to tie the game and force OT.

But alas, there was no such luck. The 5-1 hole they put themselves in early was just too much to dig out of. The Canucks would have to settle with only two of a possible four points in their back-to-back with the black and yellow teams.

Best Regret

Not having a chance to reference Conor Garland as The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived. 

https://twitter.com/vanleygoodtakes/status/1850367811983687746

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The Stanchies: Canucks can’t dig out of early hole vs. Penguins

Jonathan Lekkerimäki, Aatu Räty, and Arshdeep Bains during the Vancouver Canucks' 2-0 win over the Edmonton Oilers at the 2024 Young Stars Classic from Penticton, BC.

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