Canucks’ First Game Against Utah Ends In A 3–2 Overtime Loss

History was made on Wednesday night as the Vancouver Canucks played their first game against Utah Hockey Club, losing 3–2 in overtime. Danton Heinen scored a power play goal and Dakota Joshua buried his breakaway. For Utah, Clayton Keller scored his 11th of the season, Dylan Guenther tied the game, and Mikhail Sergachev stole the victory with his second overtime winner this season. Thatcher Demko started for the Canucks, making 28 saves on 31, while Karel Vejmelka stopped 25 of 27.

It was Vancouver’s first trip to Hockey Club’s Delta Center, as the team formerly known as the Arizona Coyotes was purchased by Utah-based owner Ryan Smith during the summer. Despite being a first-time NHL franchise owner, Smith has already grown popular throughout the hockey community. In an X post from this morning, Smith gave away free tickets to tonight’s game, citing they were reserved for fans who hadn’t had the chance to attend yet.

This was Vancouver’s 13th road game of the 2024–25 regular season. They came into the matchup riding a remarkable 10–2–1 road record, good for 21 points collected of a possible 26. In the first period of tonight’s game, Vancouver had 11 shot blocks as a team compared to Utah’s six. Faceoffs were an even 50–50, with Teddy Blueger winning all three of the faceoffs he took.

The Canucks started the game with their eyes set on the puck, as Utah kept possession towards the start of the first period. Their first shot of the opening frame came at 6:30 into the period. It seemed as though Vancouver could only keep the puck in Utah’s zone a handful of times. Despite limited O-zone time, breakaways for Alex Kerfoot and Logan Cooley, and quite a couple of chances for the home team, Demko shut the door for nearly 50 minutes. The Canucks’ second shot of the game didn’t come until 14:59. With both teams’ efforts combined, a total of 13 shots on goal were registered throughout the period.

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The second period got off to a better start for Vancouver, as the Canucks started it off with a few shots and some greatly-needed O-zone time. Early on, their best chances came off a wraparound shot by Conor Garland, which then rebounded over to an oncoming Quinn Hughes. Garland also had the first shot of the game for Vancouver.

Erik Brännström had a great first few games with the Canucks, but has faltered in the past little while. He took the first penalty of the game, sending Utah onto the power play 8:41 into the second period. With Vancouver’s penalty kill coming off a perfect game against the Colorado Avalanche, the Canucks killed yet another penalty and even drew a power play of their own immediately after. During the Canucks power play, the team surrendered a 3-on-1 chance that, as expected, Demko took care of on his own.

Fans saw an interesting switch-up on the power play the game before, as J.T. Miller was dropped to the second unit. Tonight, Miller and Elias Pettersson switched spots twice, while Hughes stayed on for the entire two minutes. Since the switch, the power play has looked much more dangerous. This change paid off tonight, as a shot by Hughes ricocheted off the boards before finding Heinen, who stretched out awkwardly to send the puck past Vejmelka and into the net. By the time the second period ended, Vancouver was up 1–0.

Vancouver started the third period on an abbreviated power play, though they didn’t end up capitalizing on it. However, that doesn’t mean they didn’t score. A quick tear down the ice left Joshua open for a breakaway pass, which he accepted while fending off Nick Schmaltz. After a small deke, he slid the puck into Utah’s net to make it 2–0. The home team soon made it a one-goal game off a tuck by Utah captain Clayton Keller.

With less than four minutes left in the third period, Tyler Myers took a cross-checking penalty, sending Vancouver onto the penalty kill leading by only a goal. A deflected shot from Dylan Guenther bounced off Nick Schmaltz and past Demko, bringing the score back to a tie. Utah picked up the pace after their game-tying goal, continuing the pressure they applied on their power play.

Of course, on a night when Vancouver needed to hightail it to the airport for their next game the night after, tonight ended in overtime. Garland, Miller, and Hughes took to the ice to open the extra frame, while Utah started with Kevin Stenlund to win the faceoff and gain first possession. Both teams traded chances in overtime, with Demko making clutch saves as per usual, but ultimately Utah ended the game off a goal by Mikhail Sergachev.

The start of the game was slow for the Canucks, but as they continued playing, they seemed to regain their footing. While they may be saving themselves for the second half of their back-to-back, they can’t continue to come out as slowly as they did tonight.

Facts and Stats

• With two points tonight, Quinn Hughes passes Greg Adams for 21st in points as a Canuck with 370

• Quinn Hughes has his 12th multi-point and ninth multi-assist game of the season

Scoring Summary:

1st Period

2nd Period

12:37 - VAN: Danton Heinen (5) from Quinn Hughes (PPG)

3rd Period

2:45 - VAN: Dakota Joshua (2) from Teddy Blueger and Quinn Hughes

9:02 - UTA: Clayton Keller (11) from Nick Schmaltz and Barret Hayton

15:30 - UTA: Dylan Guenther (14) from Clayton Keller and Logan Cooley (PPG)

Overtime

4:47 - UTA: Mikhail Sergachev (8) from

Up Next:

Vancouver won’t have much time to rest, as they take on the division-leading Vegas Golden Knights tomorrow night, December 19. Given that Demko started tonight, expect to see Kevin Lankinen in net. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.