Game Notes: Canucks at Lightning

CANUCKS AT LIGHTNING

TV: Sportsnet Pacific, The Spot

Radio: KiSS West Coast

MATCH-UP INFO

• Tonight marks the first of two meetings between the Canucks and Lightning this season: Oct. 17 (road) and Jan. 7 (home).
• Vancouver is 22-21-2-2 all-time against Tampa Bay, including an 11-13-0-0 record on the road.
• The Canucks are 2-8-0 in their last 10 games against the Lightning (2-3-0 in their last five).
• Brendan Gallagher leads active Canucks skaters in scoring against Tampa Bay with 19 points (8-11-19) in 40 career games.  
• In 24 career games against the Lightning, Filip Hronek has 13 points (0-13-13).
• Brock Boeser has 12 points (7-5-12) in 15 career games against Tampa Bay.
• In 23 career games against the Lightning, Jake DeBrusk has 10 points (5-5-10).
• Kevin Lankinen is 1-5-1 with a 4.10 goals-against average and an .876 save percentage in eight career games against Tampa Bay.
• Leevi Meriläinen has yet to face the Lightning in his career.

QUICK NUMBERS

• Amongst goaltenders with at least 100 minutes played, Leevi Meriläinen ranks third in the NHL in 5v5 save percentage (.960).
  • This includes a .966 high danger save percentage, which ranks first in the NHL amongst goaltenders with at least 100 minutes played.
• D Elias Pettersson ranks tied for second amongst all defencemen in goals this season (3).

LAST MEETING – MAR. 19/26: VAN 2 vs TBL 6

Jake Guentzel opened the scoring with 2:23 left in the first…Darren Raddysh doubled the lead 49 seconds into the second…Yanni Gourde gave Tampa Bay a three-goal lead 3:27 later…Nikita Kucherov added another 1:15 later…Liam Öhgren got the Canucks on the board just past the 12-minute mark of the second…Brock Boeser and Marco Rossi had the assists…Linus Karlsson cut the deficit to two 7:04 into the third…Rossi had the lone assist…Anthony Cirelli got one back for the Lightning 32 seconds later…Brandon Hagel added another at 10:35 of the third…Jake DeBrusk had five shots…Aatu Räty had six hits…Marcus Pettersson blocked two shots…Kevin Lankinen made 24 saves.

LAST GAME PLAYED – OCT. 15/26: VAN 2 at FLA 3 (OT)

Liam Öhgren opened the scoring 7:23 into the first period…Linus Karlsson had the only assist…D Elias Pettersson doubled the lead with 2:54 left in the opening frame…Filip Chytil and Brock Boeser were credited with the assists…Brady Tkachuk cut Vancouver’s lead in half at 11:11 of the third period…Tkachuk tied the game with 13 seconds remaining in regulation…Tkachuk scored the overtime winner at 2:23 of the extra frame…Jamie Oleksiak, Pettersson, Max Sasson, Jake DeBrusk, and Jonathan Lekkerimäki each had two shots…Paul Cotter had four hits…Elias Pettersson blocked three shots…Leevi Meriläinen made 36 saves.

LAST 5 – vs TAMPA BAY

• Mar. 19/26: VAN 2 vs TBL 6
• Nov. 16/25: VAN 6 at TBL 2
• Dec. 8/24: VAN 2 vs TBL 4
• Oct. 15/24: VAN 1 at TBL 4
• Dec. 12/23: VAN 4 vs TBL 1

ON THIS DATE

• The Canucks have played 24 times on October 17 in the franchise’s history, going 13-10-1-0.
  • This includes a 8-8-0-0 record on the road.
  • Tonight will be Vancouver’s first-ever game against Tampa Bay on October 17.
  • The Canucks have played each of the last four years on October 17, all on the road, going 2-2-0.

G-PETEY

• Doubled Vancouver’s lead on Oct. 15/26 at FLA, D Elias Pettersson tied his career-high in goals (3), set in 2025.26.
• Tying the game on Oct. 11/26 at NYR, D Elias Pettersson notched his first career shorthanded goal, becoming the fourth Canucks defenceman in the last decade to record a shorthanded goal.
• Scoring his first goal of the season on Oct. 3/26 vs CGY, D Elias Pettersson recorded his first career game-winning goal.

READY TO BROCK & ROLL

• Entering 2026.27, Brock Boeser is close to moving up the franchise list in a number of different categories:
  • Tied with Todd Bertuzzi for fifth on the Canucks all-time power play goals list (79).
    • Passed on Oct. 13/26 at NYI
  • Tied with J.T. Miller for 10th on the Canucks all-time power play points list (165).
    • Passed on Sept. 29/26 at EDM
  • One assist behind Brendan Morrison for 14th on the Canucks all-time assists list (257).
    • Tied on Sept. 29/26 at EDM
    • Passed on Oct. 1/26 vs EDM
  • Two goals behind Tony Tanti for eighth on the Canucks all-time even-strength goals list (147).

SWEDE START TO THE SEASON

• With two points (0-2-2) on Oct. 8/26 at CAR, Elias Pettersson extended his season-opening point streak to five games (2-6-8), tied for the longest of his career and tied for the eighth-longest season-opening point streak in franchise history.

CZECH OUT FIL

• Assisting on Paul Cotter’s goal on Oct. 4/26 vs VGK, Filip Hronek tied Doug Halward (118) for 15th on the Canucks all-time assist list by a defenceman.
• With his first of two assists on Oct. 1/26 vs EDM, Filip Hronek passed Michal Rozsival for the eighth-most assists by a Czech-born defenceman in NHL history (240).
• Recording two points (0-2-2) on Oct. 1/26 vs EDM, Filip Hronek tied Jaroslav Spacek (58) for the fifth-most multipoint games by a Czech defenceman in NHL history.
• Notching two assists on Oct. 1/26 vs EDM, Filip Hronek tied Marek Zidlicky for the fourth-most multi-assist games by a Czech defenceman in NHL history (45).

BETTER CALL PAUL

• Opening the scoring on Oct. 4/26 vs VGK, Paul Cotter notched his fourth goal in his fourth game as a Canuck, matching Curt Fraser (1978), Elias Pettersson (2018) and Tyler Toffoli (2020) for the second-most goals scored by a player in their first four games as a Canuck.
• Making his first appearance in a Canucks uniform on Sept. 29/26 at EDM, Paul Cotter achieved a number of franchise marks, including:
  • First player to score a shorthanded goal in his Canucks debut.
  • First player to score the overtime winner in his Canucks debut.
• Scoring two goals in his Canucks debut, Paul Cotter became the sixth player in franchise history to score multiple goals in his team debut, joining Claire Alexander, Thomas Gradin, Greg Adams, Esa Tikkanen, and Elias Lindholm.
• With both a shorthanded goal and overtime winner on Sept. 29.26 at EDM, Paul Cotter became the second player in NHL history to record both such goals in a season opener.

MAMMA MIA! PETEY’S PLAYING THE HITS ALL NIGHT LONG

• With eight hits on Oct. 3/26 vs CGY, Elias Pettersson has 16 hits over a two-game span (Oct. 1-3/26), the most hits he has registered in a two-game span in his career.

THREE-POINT PETEY

• Registering three points (1-2-3) on Oct. 1/26 vs EDM, Elias Pettersson passed Thomas Gradin for sole possession of the seventh-most three-point games in franchise history (39).

MOVIN’ ON UP

• With an assist on Oct. 3/26 vs CGY, Elias Pettersson passed Alex Edler for eighth on the franchise’s all-time assist list (311).

DOWN BUT NOT OUT

• Scoring shorthanded to open the scoring during their season opener courtesy of Paul Cotter, the 2026.27 Canucks became the second team in franchise history to score their first goal of the season shorthanded, joining the 2000.01 Canucks (Matt Cooke).

SEASON-OPENING STREAKS

• Recording a goal and an assist respectively, Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser extend their point streaks in season-opening games to five, tying Brendan Morrison (2000.01 to 2005.06) for the fourth-longest season-opening point streaks in franchise history.

FROM A TO Z(EEV)

• Fresh off signing an eight-year contract extension on September 4, 2026, Zeev Buium looks to build upon his rookie season in 2026.27, after finishing third amongst NHL rookie defencemen in points (6-20-26) and tied for third amongst all NHL rookies in average time on ice (19:35), minimum five games played.

NEW MAN(NY) IN TOWN

• Hired as the 23rd Head Coach in franchise history on June 1, 2026, Manny Malhotra became the eighth coach in the last 30 years to win the Calder Cup with an organization’s AHL affiliate (as the Head Coach) before being promoted to the NHL club as Head Coach.
  • First since Sheldon Keefe (Toronto Marlies and Maple Leafs).

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

• Filip Chytil activated from Injured Reserve, Oc.t 15
• Jacob Quillan and Brandon Buhr acquired from Toronto in exchange for Aatu Räty, Oct. 15
• Aatu Räty placed on waivers, Oct. 14
• Nikita Tolopilo assigned to Abbotsford, Sept. 28
• Filip Chytil placed on Injured Reserve retroactive to Sept. 24, Sept. 25
• Braeden Cootes assigned to Abbotsford, Sept. 25
• Matthew Stienburg assigned to Abbotsford, Sept. 25
• Leevi Meriläinen claimed off waivers from Ottawa, Sept. 25

THE LAST TIME…

• The Canucks won when leading after 1P: Apr. 12/26 at ANA

• The Canucks lost when leading after 1P: Oct. 4/26 vs VGK

• The Canucks lost in OT/SO when leading after 1P: Oct. 15/26 at FLA

• The Canucks won when leading after 2P: Apr. 12/26 at ANA

• The Canucks lost when leading after 2P: Oct. 25/25 vs MTL

• The Canucks lost in OT/SO when leading after 2P: Oct. 15/26 at FLA

• The Canucks won when trailing after 1P: Oct. 3/26 vs CGY

• The Canucks lost when trailing after 1P: Oct. 13/26 at NYI

• The Canucks lost in OT/SO when trailing after 1P: Jan. 3/26 vs BOS

• The Canucks won when trailing after 2P: Oct. 3/26 vs CGY

• The Canucks lost when trailing after 2P: Oct. 11/26 at NYR

• The Canucks lost in OT/SO when trailing after 2P: Jan. 2/26 vs SEA

• The Canucks won when tied after 1P: Sept. 29/26 at EDM

• The Canucks lost when tied after 1P: Oct. 11/26 at NYR

• The Canucks lost in OT/SO when tied after 1P: Feb. 25/26 vs WPG

• The Canucks won when tied after 2P: Sept. 29/26 at EDM

• The Canucks lost when tied after 2P: Oct. 13/26 at NYI

• The Canucks lost in OT/SO when tied after 2P: Mar. 7/26 at WPG

2026.27 SEASON HIGHS AND LOWS

• Most Goals Scored, Game: 7, Oct. 1/26 vs EDM

• Most Goals Scored, Period: 4, 2x, Latest Oct. 3/26 vs CGY, 3rd period

• Most Goals Allowed, Game: 9, Oct. 1/26 vs EDM

• Most Goals Allowed, Period: 4, Oct. 1/26 vs EDM, 2nd & 3rd period

• Fewest Goals Scored, Game: 1, Oct. 10/26 at NJD

• Fewest Goals Allowed, Game: 1, Oct. 3/26 vs CGY

• Most PPG Scored, Game: 1, 5x, Latest Oct. 13/26 at NYI

• Most PPG Allowed, Game: 3, 2x, Latest Oct. 10/26 at NJD

• Most SHG Scored, Game: 1, 2x, Latest Oct. 11/26 at NYR

• Most SHG Allowed, Game: 2, Oct. 1/26 vs EDM

• Most Shots, Game: 26, 2x, Latest Oct. 13/26 at NYI

• Most Shots, Period: 12, 2x, Latest Oct. 3/26 vs CGY, 3rd period

• Most Shots, OT: 2, Sept. 29/26 at EDM

• Fewest Shots, Game: 18, Oct. 15/26 at FLA

• Fewest Shots, Period: 2, Oct. 1/26 vs EDM, 1st period

• Fewest Shots, OT: 0, Oct. 15/26 at FLA

• Most Shots Allowed, Game: 39, Oct. 15/26 at FLA

• Most Shots Allowed, Period: 19, Oct. 13/26 at NYI, 3rd period

• Most Shots Allowed, OT: 2, Oct. 15/26 at FLA

• Fewest Shots Allowed, Game: 24, Oct. 3/26 vs CGY

• Fewest Shots Allowed, Period: 2, Oct. 4/26 vs VGK, 3rd period

• Fewest Shots Allowed, OT: 0, Sept. 29/26 at EDM

• Most Hits, Game: 33, 2x, Latest Oct. 13/26 at NYI

• Fewest Hits, Game: 13, Sept. 29/26 at EDM

• Most Blocked Shots, Game: 21, 2x, Latest Oct. 3/26 vs CGY

• Fewest Blocked Shots, Game: 7, Oct. 8/26 at CAR

• Largest Margin of Victory: 3 goals, Oct. 3/26 vs CGY

• Largest Margin of Defeat: 5 goals, Oct. 8/26 at CAR

• Longest Win Streak: n/a

• Longest Point Streak: n/a

• Longest Winless Streak: 6 games, Oct 4-15/26 (0-5-1)

• Longest Pointless Streak: 5 games, Oct 4-13/26 (0-5-0)

VANCOUVER 2026.27 RECORD WHEN…

• Score 4+ Goals: 2-1-0
• Score 3 Goals or Less: 0-5-1
• Allow 4+ Goals: 1-4-0
• Allow 3 Goals or Less: 1-2-1
• Scoring First: 1-2-1
• Allowing First Goal: 1-4-0
• On 0 Days Rest: 0-2-0
• On 1 Day Rest: 1-3-1
• On 2 Days Rest: 0-0-0
• On 3+ Days Rest: 1-1-0
• Score a PPG: 1-4-0
• Give up a PPG: 2-5-0
• 25 or More Shots on Goal: 1-1-0
• Less than 25 shots: 1-5-1

THREE STARS – SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

• Cotter (5 pts)
• Rossi (5 pts)
• Öhgren (5 pts)
• Meriläinen (5 pts)
• Willander (5 pts)
• Pettersson (5 pts)
• D Pettersson (5 pts)

\5 points are awarded for each Three Stars Selection*

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

• Tuesday, October 20: Vancouver vs Carolina, 7:00pm PCT
• Thursday, October 22: Vancouver vs Detroit, 7:00pm PCT
• Sunday, October 25: Vancouver vs Minnesota, 7:00pm PCT
• Tuesday, October 27: Vancouver at Anaheim, 7:00pm PCT
• Thursday, October 29: Vancouver at San Jose, 7:00pm PCT