The Vancouver Canucks started their five-game road trip with a 5–4 overtime loss to the Montréal Canadiens. J.T. Miller (2), Jonathan Lekkerimäki, and Jake DeBrusk scored for Vancouver. Cole Caufield, Kaiden Guhle, Kirby Dach, Lane Hutson, and Nick Suzuki scored for the Canadiens. Kevin Lankinen made 19 saves on 24 shots, while Sam Montembault made 16 saves on 20 shots.
Fans were ecstatic to hear prior to the game that Canucks captain Quinn Hughes could play as early as tonight. The defenceman took to the ice alongside Tyler Myers during warmups, and ultimately skated in his long-awaited 400th career NHL game. As well, Lekkerimäki slotted in for Dakota Joshua, the latter of which was placed on the IR earlier today. The top prospect started the game alongside Miller and Brock Boeser.
Canadiens are just bullying the #Canucks so far. Fast, aggressive, physical. Their breakouts are a lot cleaner too
— Harman Dayal (@harmandayal2) January 7, 2025
Montréal set the tone with a crop of hefty hits, as Guhle laid a crushing hit on Lekkerimäki. Shortly after, Caufield sent a quick shot past Lankinen and into the net. The physicality continued throughout the first bit of the first period, with Vancouver beginning to engage as well.
After a quick TV timeout, Vancouver applied some pressure on the forecheck, resulting in Nils Höglander getting the puck over to Miller. He fired the puck past Montembault for his seventh goal of the season. Conor Garland was later called for a slash, sending Montréal onto the power play. However, Vancouver’s penalty kill kept them far enough away from any overt danger.
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The physicality continued throughout the second period, but not to Vancouver’s delight. An open-ice hit left Derek Forbort curled up on the ground, with the defender leaving for the locker room only momentarily. Vancouver ramped up the pressure shortly after, with Max Sasson and Höglander leading the charge into the Canadiens’ zone.
First career multip-point game in the NHL for Lekkermäki comes off a wicked snipe on a 2-on-1 with Myers.
Kids a natural in the NHL already by looking off Myers. #Canucks
— Tyson Cole…