Perfetti snapped a rebound high over the blocker of Nikita Tolopilo from close range after the
goalie deflected Adam Lowry’s centering attempt into the slot to his right.
Mark Scheifele had two assists, and Eric Comrie made 21 saves for the Jets (23-26-8), who won despite missing No.1 goalie Connor Hellebuyck after winning a gold medal with Team USA on Sunday at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, and No.1 defenseman Josh Morrissey after getting injured during Team Canada’s first game at the Olympics.
Tolopilo made 25 saves for the Canucks (18-33-7), who have lost four in a row and are 2-14-4 in their past 20 games.
It was the first game for each team following the break for the Olympics.
Drew O’Connor put the Canucks ahead 1-0 at 1:58 of the first period after a turnover to Brock Boeser at the right point. He passed it cross-ice to O’Connor at the left face-off dot and he snapped a shot under the pads of Comrie that trickled over the goal line.
Kyle Connor, back with the Jets after winning a gold medal with Team USA but not playing in the final game on Sunday, tied it 1-1 at 11:42 after a nice blind backhand pass by Scheifele from below the goal line. Scheifele cut behind the net and pulled Tolopilo across to his right post before passing back the other way to leave Connor with an open net.
Evander Kane restored the Vancouver lead 38 seconds into the second period with a quick wrist shot over Comrie’s glove to make it 2-1 after Elias Pettersson won an offensive zone face-off back to him inside the left circle.
Gabriel Vilardi tied it 2-2 at 18:45 of the second period, outbattling Canucks defenseman Elias Pettersson at the edge of the crease to redirect a cross-ice pass from Scheifele at the bottom of the left circle over the outstretched pad of Tolopilo.
