Canucks vs Avalanche Game Review 4/2/2025

Forwards:

DeBrusk - Pettersson - Boeser

Joshua - Chytil - Garland

O’Conner - Suter - Sherwood

Hoglander - Blueger - Karlsson

Defence:

Forbort - Hronek

M.Pettersson - Myers

E.Pettersson - Soucy

Goalies:

Demko

Lankinen

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The Canucks faced off against the Avalanche on Tuesday night, and Necas opened the game with an early chance. The puck traveled between zones until Chytil got a shot on goal that was stopped. After a quick offside call, Hronek fired a shot to enter the zone, setting up Boeser, but he couldn’t get a shot off before the Avs gained possession and controlled play with several blocked shots. Jake DeBrusk dumped the puck in for a change, and after an Avalanche rush was stopped, Blueger had a solid chance that was denied by Blackwood’s pad. Play remained back and forth until Pius Suter took a hooking penalty, sending the Avs to the powerplay. Forbort cleared the puck immediately, and despite a couple of setup attempts by Colorado, Vancouver’s penalty killers continued to send the puck down, eventually killing off the penalty. After a hand pass stoppage, the Avs cycled in the Canucks’ zone, leading to a great chance for MacKinnon that was stopped by Demko. The game remained tight until MacKinnon found Necas on an odd-man rush, but Necas hit the post. Chytil then drew a holding penalty, giving the Canucks their first powerplay. Pettersson got a quick shot off, but the Avs countered with a short-handed rush. Vancouver struggled to enter the zone and failed to capitalize on the opportunity. Moments later, Hoglander set up Marcus Pettersson for a chance, but his shot was denied. The Avs responded with a shot from Toews that missed the net, while DeBrusk had a tight-angle attempt that couldn’t find a way through. As the Avalanche applied pressure, Makar rang a shot off the post, forcing Demko to cover the rebound. Vancouver brought the puck back, but O’Connor was called for holding MacKinnon in the offensive zone, giving the Avs another powerplay. The Canucks’ penalty killers did a strong job early, with Garland wasting time and Blueger stealing the puck to set up a scoring chance for Marcus Pettersson. The Avs eventually set up, creating a few chances, but the Canucks successfully killed off the penalty. With under two minutes left, Boeser forced a great chance that Blackwood stopped. In the final minute, Manson took an interference penalty, sending Vancouver to a late powerplay, but their only real opportunity came when Boeser cut to the front of the net, only to be denied again by Blackwood. The period ended in a tight, defensive battle with both goalies making key stops.

The second period started with the Canucks on the powerplay, but they struggled to set up until the final 30 seconds, generating a few chances but failing to score. However, they maintained possession after the penalty, leading to a smart play off the boards by Myers to set up Sherwood in front, but Blackwood made the stop. Play remained back and forth until Karlsson found O’Connor for a great chance, which was denied. The Canucks responded with Chytil rushing into the zone, slowing down to find Soucy, whose shot missed the net. The Avalanche pushed back, forcing Demko to make a big glove save. Moments later, Hronek fired a shot that bounced off Blackwood and into the air, where DeBrusk grabbed it and buried it to give Vancouver a 1-0 lead, marking his nineteeth goal of the season. The Canucks controlled play after a blocked Soucy chance, leading to a Boeser opportunity that trickled toward the goal but was covered. The Avalanche countered with zone time, firing a point shot and generating a dangerous rush off the ensuing draw, but they missed the net. Both teams exchanged chances until Hoglander found D. Pettersson for a shot that was stopped. The Avalanche responded with a furious attack, with Makar leading the charge, but Demko stood tall—making multiple saves without a stick while Pettersson made a huge diving block. The crowd erupted with a standing ovation for Demko as Vancouver weathered the storm. Off the next draw, the Avalanche iced the puck, and soon after, MacKinnon tried to break in at high speed, but Hronek defended him well before Soucy cleared the puck out of play. The Canucks followed up with a strong shift led by Sherwood, ending in a Myers shot that was blocked. After an icing call against Vancouver, Chytil fired a dangerous shot off the draw, but Blackwood flashed the glove for the save. Both teams traded rushes before another Canucks icing. Colorado sustained offensive pressure, but the Canucks managed to clear the puck every time they entered the zone. O’Connor nearly extended the lead when his shot deflected off Blackwood’s mask but play continued. Tempers flared as Forbort and Wood dropped the gloves at center ice, though the fight was short-lived as Wood quickly wrestled Forbort to the ground. The period closed with a solid defensive stretch for Vancouver, who consistently shut down Colorado’s top line. Chytil had the final scoring chance of the frame, but Blackwood kicked out his left pad to deny him. After an improved second period, the Canucks entered the third holding a 1-0 lead.

The Canucks started the third getting the puck in the Avs zone but the top line for the Avs brought it out and had a chance that was stopped by Demko. After the faceoff the Canucks had to chances one for DeBrusk and one for D Petey that didn’t go in. the Avs had some attack time but were held to the outside then Chytil set up Marcus Pettersson for a chance that was stopped. The Avs came back and after a missed handle by Myers Mackinnon had a chance that was stopped by Demko. He came back in a bit after and missed the net and a pass. The Canucks came back down but the puck went out of play. The Canucks had a great chance to extend the lead but couldn’t put it home and the score stayed 1-0. After Garland was up ended D Petey came in to stand up for him and that started a scuffle that Soucy came in to calm it down. It ended up in a Canucks powerplay which started with two good chances and a whistle. The Avs dumped it out right away, but the Canucks came right back and set up but after a mishandled pass the Avs shot it into Ray Ferraro’s area. Off the draw the avs got it out and the Canucks came right back, and Jake DeBrusk set up Boeser and he scores to give the Canucks a 2-0 lead with his seventeenth of the year. The Avs got some zone time that was shut down by Blueger’s line and then Hoglander battled to set up Chytil for a weak chance that was Covered by Blackwood. The Avs got their puck out of the zone and Malinski shot the puck on goal from the blueline that was stopped by Demko. Off the draw Sherwood set up Joshua who got a shot that was stopped by Blackwood. Avs came back but their chance was stopped by Demko. Canucks came down to the Avs zone, but it was covered on the entry. After a solid check by D Petey, Miles Wood held Hoglander then after the play was blown, he speared/slashed Karlsson and was sent to the locker room. He ended up with two for holding and two for slashing and a ten-minute misconduct. The Canucks started their 4-minute power play chasing the puck, they then entered the zone and Pettersson drew a holding call on Makar sending the Canucks on a 5 on 3. The Canucks set up but a weak pass by Boeser saw the puck go down to the ice. They came back and set up and held it for a bit and had two shots for Hronek they get a quick up set up and get a chance for Boeser that was a weak shot. And a offside. They set up for a bit and had some chances, but the Avs killed the rest off. After a few failed zones entrances the Avs pulled the goalie and set up. Joshua made a good check and made the put go out of play. Off the draw Marcus Pettersson deflected a Mackinnon shot out of play. Canucks cleared the zone and Necas entered and Myers intercepted and iced the puck. After a Avs timeout the Canucks kept the puck away and left the zone. The Avs came back and set up. The Canucks were able to defend well and the puck ended up on the stick of drew O’Conner and he skated down the ice and put home the empty netter to extend the lead to 3-0 for his first as a Canucks and seventh of the season. The Canucks would take it 3-0 in a great game and tie Calgary for the final wildcard spot.

First star: Thatcher Demko SV25 SV%1.000 SHUTOUT!!!!!

Second star: Jake DeBrusk G 1 A 1 P 2 TOI 19:30 H 3 SOG 5

Third star: D Elias Pettersson G 0 A 0 P 0 TOI 13:57 H 4 SOG 1