The Canucks rallied from a 2-0 deficit in first period to stop the bleeding at 11 games and also ended a seven-game slide on home ice<\/p>\n
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Published Jan 21, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 1\u00a0hour ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 7 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n Message received. Message understood. Message executed.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. 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Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an Account<\/p>\n or<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n When the struggling Vancouver Canucks<\/a> set a franchise record for futility Monday with their 11th-consecutive loss to surpass the mark set by the 1997-98 club, it prompted a prickly post-game dissection by head coach Adam Foote.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n He was frank about the lack of adhering to club culture. In his mind, it has been missing for some time and veterans should be held accountable because a lack of professionalism played out in the 4-3 setback to the New York Islanders.<\/p>\n They shouldn\u2019t be deflated and showing their disdain by slamming sticks or the bench gate. They should be leading by example.<\/p>\n On Wednesday, the Canucks were initially slow in response to Foote\u2019s demands, but then showed something.<\/p>\n They rallied from a 2-0 first-period deficit with goals by Brock Boeser<\/a>, Evander Kane, Drew O\u2019Connor and Filip Hronek<\/a> en route to an encouraging 4-3 victory. It stopped the bleeding at 11 games and also ended a seven-game slide on home ice to send the Washington Capitals to their fourth-straight setback.<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The Capitals made it interesting with a late goal, but the Canucks hung on for a very rare and very satisfying win that got a standing ovation from the faithful.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the best part was how our bench was after being down,\u201d said Foote. \u201cIt was really calm and you have to give a lot of credit to the guys for not getting rattled. They (refs) missed a call and maybe it was meant to be to give a test to our guys. The guys stuck to it and when we had to defend down low, they did a good job clogging it up.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s one of the best games i\u2019ve seen (Brock) Boeser and (Conor) Garland play. Not just points, but Boeser was matched against (Tom) Wilson and he defended well. We can really grow from this. With this young group, we\u2019re going have some tough nights, but to not fall off a game plan I\u2019m happy for them. I\u2019m proud of them.\u201d<\/p>\n Boeser was energized and had his first multi-point outing in eight games. He also won an end boards battle to start the scoring sequence on the O\u2019Connor goal and drew a penalty by driving hard into the offensive zone.<\/p>\n Canucks Report<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cIt feels good,\u201d said Boeser. \u201cWe stuck together as a group after they jumped into that lead and kept it going. Positive vibes out there and I\u2019m just happy that we got a win. We can\u2019t have bad body language or negative attitude on the bench and we can\u2019t show that to the young guys. We have to be good leaders and that helped us tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n Boeser was also engaged in all areas of the ice and had an extra jump in his stride.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m trying to shoot more and get back to myself and I feed off that and feel better as the game goes on,\u201d added Boeser. \u201cDefinitely something I\u2019m trying to do and I have to work as hard as I can and everybody needs to do it. Getting a win shows that.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t remember the last time we were sitting there in the third period (with a lead) and everybody was communicating to make smart plays and not give them much. We did a good job of that.\u201d<\/p>\n David Kampf had his first multi-point game in 12 outings by setting up a pair of goals and Kevin Lankinen rebounded to finish strong with 29 saves.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n It was impressive but the night didn\u2019t start that way.<\/p>\n The easiest exercise for the Canucks is to stay out of the penalty box, especially with a 31st ranked penalty kill.<\/p>\n However, when Max Sasson took a needless holding infraction in the first period, and Marcus Pettersson followed with a high-sticking minor, the Capitals had a 5-on-3 advantage for 1:09 and made the best of it. They struck twice with pair of easy down low and untouched goals.<\/p>\n Lesson learned.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s big for the mental side of things,\u201d said Hronek. \u201cWe just have to take the positives from this game and we had some good O-zone shifts. It\u2019s nice to get a win and get that feeling again.\u201d<\/p>\n Teddy Blueger<\/a> was effective in his first game since Oct. 19 by making smart penalty kill reads and finishing with five shot attempts and working well in being re-united with Garland.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have to give credit to the work Teddy did and it\u2019s a long time missed and for him to come in and have that much of an impact on a game, he really looked good out there,\u201d said Foote. \u201cIt gave Garly a spark, too, and they had something going on.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement 6<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n It echoed what veteran defenceman Tyler Myers<\/a> suggested earlier in the day. The Canucks would be better than Monday.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think we need to make this bigger than it is,\u201d he stressed. \u201cWe had a couple of stick slams on the bench and got a little negative when things weren\u2019t going our way. Clean those things up. We\u2019ll be fine.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s learning from that kind of stuff, it\u2019s wasted energy. And we\u2019ve all been there, but we have to show some maturity.\u201d<\/p>\n If the Canucks needed extra incentive, denying Alex Ovechkin is always a formidable challenge, even if he\u2019s 40 years old on an expiring contract. He has 20 goals this season.<\/p>\n The NHL\u2019s all-time leading goal scorer with 917 goals has 16 in 31 career games against Vancouver and stepping in front of his patented one-timer, slapshot from the left faceoff dot is not for the faint of heart. He had two shots and nine attempts.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember one that broke my toe, and luckily it was my little guy, so I didn\u2019t have to miss time,\u201d Myers recalled Wednesday morning. \u201cI\u2019ve been fortunate to play against him and see all the things he\u2019s done in his career. And I\u2019ve been on the ice for a lot of his goals. One of the greats.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement 7<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n As for keeping Ovechkin from scoring on Wednesday, Lankinen knew it wasn\u2019t going to be easy. His release is quick and accurate, and when he misses the net it\u2019s over my mere inches.<\/p>\n \u201cJust close your eyes and hope for the best,\u201d joked Lankinen when asked about his strategy to deny Ovechkin. \u201cHe\u2019s a special player and I have a lot of respect for that guy. He sneaks around and finds places to score. I\u2019m a big fan.\u201d<\/p>\n And Lankinen is also a fan of winning. It was a rare one Wednesday and one that was badly needed and richly deserved.<\/p>\n If Wednesday was the last time we see \u2018The Great 8\u2032 at Rogers Arena<\/a>, his journey to NHL all-time leading scorer is certainly worth recalling.<\/p>\n After all, it all seemed so daunting and unrealistic to Ovechkin 10 years ago when I approach him with the math following a practice in Arlington, Va. To me, it added up to the Capitals\u2019 legend eventually surpassing Wayne Gretzky\u2019s 894 goals as the game\u2019s supreme sniper. To him, it made no sense.<\/p>\n Advertisement 8<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Even though his scoring pace suggested that, barring a significant injury, he was capable of averaging 40 goals annually over the next 10 years to surpass The Great One, to him it was pure fantasy.<\/p>\n \u201cTen years? I don\u2019t think I\u2019m going to play 10 years,\u201d Ovechkin chuckled. \u201cI\u2019m not a (Jaromir) Jagr. As long as I\u2019m healthy and can produce and the physicality is the most important thing. You can play, but what\u2019s the point if you can\u2019t do anything out there?<\/p>\n \u201cYou just embarrass yourself and embarrass your name. You have to be done when it\u2019s time, and, of course, that is going to be hard. But sometimes you have to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n And sometimes you carry on and reach the summit.<\/p>\n Evander Kane (C+)<\/p>\n Driving net better. Untouched wraparound goal. Two shots, four attempts.<\/p>\n Elias Pettersson<\/a> (C+)<\/p>\n Good pace in neutral zone, hit crossbar on PK chance, 25 per cent on draws.<\/p>\n Jake DeBrusk (C+)<\/p>\n Great pace in feed on Hronek goal. Two assists. No shots. Three hits.<\/p>\n Drew O\u2019Connor (B-)<\/p>\n Advertisement 9<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Direct route for quick goal. Stopped on break, four shots, six attempts.<\/p>\n David Kampf (B-)<\/p>\n Good spade work to win puck battle to set up Boeser goal. Two assists.<\/p>\n Brock Boeser<\/a> (B)<\/p>\n Energized. Effective. Goal lit a fuse. Best game in long time. Four shots.<\/p>\n Liam Ohgren (C+)<\/p>\n Complemented the line with Garland and Blueger. Two shots, six attempts.<\/p>\n Teddy Blueger<\/a> (C+)<\/p>\n First game since Oct. 19, good PK reads, three shots, five attempts, four hits.<\/p>\n Conor Garland<\/a> (C+)<\/p>\n Had zip. Rekindled some line chemistry with Blueger and effective on the PK.<\/p>\n Nils Hoglander<\/a> (C)<\/p>\n Denied on backhander on sweet feed from Hronek. Motor ran hot.Two shot.<\/p>\n Max Sasson (C-)<\/p>\n Always has wheels, but not in high gear. Took bad early minor. No shots.<\/p>\n Linus Karlsson (C+)<\/p>\n Good possessions, sharp feed to streaking Hoglander, bad penalty.<\/p>\n (D-Petey) Pettersson (C)<\/p>\n Learning to make better O-zone passes, can\u2019t be stick checking low.<\/p>\n Filip Hronek<\/a> (B)<\/p>\n Always strong in own zone, scored an impressive goal off the rush.<\/p>\n Zeev Buium (C+)<\/p>\n Sped to net for good chance. Learning on the fly. Two shot blocks.<\/p>\n Tyler Myers<\/a> (C)<\/p>\n No gaffes, no penalties, no bad pinches. Much better defensively.<\/p>\n Marcus Pettersson (C-)<\/p>\n Took a bad penalty and still struggling with positioning, battles.<\/p>\n Tom Willander (C)<\/p>\n Capitals took away zone exit routes but did wire good PP shot.<\/p>\n Kevin Lankinen (B)<\/p>\n Two PP goals on first six shots, but settled down to backstop win.<\/p>\n bkuzma@postmedia.com<\/a><\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n How to manage the losses: The 1998-99 Canucks speak<\/p>\n![\"Evander](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2256927389_300880707.jpg\")
Evander Kane is congratulated by Tyler Myers after scoring a goal against the Washington Capitals during the first period at Rogers Arena on Wednesday night. The Canucks won 4-3. Photo by Derek Cain \/Getty ImagesArticle content<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.4.0\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-vp.svg\"){kind=logo}
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Brock Boeser scores a goal on Logan Thompson during the first period at Rogers Arena Photo by Derek Cain \/Getty ImagesBoeser executes, energized, effective<\/p>\n![\"Canucks](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.4.0\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/icon-vs-canucksReport.svg\"\/){kind=icon}
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Washington Capitals\u2019 Hendrix Lapierre (29) checks David Kampf (64) as Drew O\u2019Connor (18) skates after the puck during the first period Photo by Darryl Dyck \/THE CANADIAN PRESS<\/p>\n![\"Alex](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/cp175662755_300880763.jpg\")
Alex Ovechkin (8), Tom Wilson (43) and Dylan Strome (17) celebrate Strome\u2019s goal against the Canucks during the first period Photo by Darryl Dyck \/THE CANADIAN PRESSOvechkin: One more time, with feeling<\/p>\n![\"Martin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2256929150_300882031.jpg\")
Martin Feh\u00e9rv\u00e1ry of the Washington Capitals is dumped in front of Kevin Lankinen during the second period Photo by Derek Cain \/Getty ImagesREPORT CARDS<\/p>\n![\"Markus](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0122-canucks-losses-1.jpg\")
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