Canucks player grades: Kucherov sparks Lightning to 6-2 win

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The Canucks once again struggled to play a coherent defence and were too often crushed in crucial moments on Thursday night.

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Published Mar 19, 2026 • 5 minute read

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Vancouver Canucks' Teddy Blueger and Tampa Bay Lightning's Brayden Point vie for the puck along the boards. Vancouver Canucks’ Teddy Blueger and Tampa Bay Lightning’s Brayden Point vie for the puck along the boards. Photo by DARRYL DYCK /THE CANADIAN PRESSArticle content

There are two easy comparison points for the Vancouver Canucks’ 6-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday at Rogers Arena.

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The first is the Canucks’ 6-2 win in November in Tampa, where they roared back after falling behind 2-0 in the second period. It was an impressive, take-your-chances effort.

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The other is to look at how well the Canucks played on Tuesday, outclassing the defending Stanley Cup champions.

November’s win featured six players who are no longer in Vancouver, four of them significant. Gone are Quinn Hughes — who had four assists vs. Tampa — Tyler Myers, Conor Garland, Kiefer Sherwood, Lukas Reichel and Mackenzie MacEachern.

That lineup, we all thought, was good enough to make the playoffs. That didn’t happen and now here we are, watching the roster being built anew. Or at least, that’s what the stated plan is.

This lineup was good enough to overcome a depleted Panthers squad on Tuesday. They took advantage of what the Panthers, who were missing nine regulars, gave them. It was the Canucks’ third win since the deadline, following that nice comeback shootout win vs. Nashville last week and a wildly fun win in Chicago on deadline day.

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And sure, there was that 2-0 loss to Ottawa last week that at least had decent moments.

Thursday’s loss and last Saturday’s loss vs. Seattle were of a kind, though: A team struggling to play coherent defence being crushed in crucial moments too many times, and those moments are often of their own making.

Tampa scored three goals on top of the Canucks’ crease, a reminder of how badly the Canucks have done in their own end this season. Kevin Lankinen can only do so much.

This is where the Canucks are at. There’s a collection of younger players who want to be part of the solution going forward. It’s on them to show progress, to show improvement.

And it’s on the veterans to guide the way as well.

Winning battles

Head coach Adam Foote lamented his team’s lack of savvy, something he hopes they’re learning to improve. As his opposite number Jon Cooper said post-game, the Lightning were vibing with one another.

“We’ve kind of been very fortunate we got a group of guys that I can mix and match up there when things are going a little stale and right now that group has really been excellent for us on this road trip,” Cooper said. “There’s just a lot of work, a lot of skill, a lot of hockey IQ, and when they’re all working and vibing (with) each other, it’s fun to watch.”

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A team playing like that will keep your defensive structure under pressure; you can’t afford to give anything away.

“There’s a couple pot battles we lost, where we’re going for the puck instead of chipping the body,” Foote said. “I always use a term from basketball: when you go for a jump ball, you get in the body first.”

An apt explanation for why the Canucks defended the slot so badly.

Where’s the No. 1 guy?

Elias Pettersson, as so many declared after Tuesday’s win, was back at it.

Sure, his power play goal was a great shot. But it was also the creation of a great Marco Rossi pass. His second goal was a wild deflection: Though, sure, you’ve got to be good to be lucky.

But to say he was going to be the guy again, just off one game, was a little much.

Tampa Bay Lightning’s J.J. Moser, left, lifts Vancouver Canucks’ Elias Pettersson’s stick as they vie for the puck. Photo by DARRYL DYCK THE CANADIAN PRESS /THE CANADIAN PRESS

Sadly, he was mostly back to form on Thursday. He played well enough, but is still lacking consistent zip to his game. His night was far more in keeping with how much so much of his season has gone: fits and starts and an overall lack of production.

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On the other side of the equation, there was Nikita Kucherov, who is just relentless this year. The self-professed video obsessive showed nothing but smart decisions under pressure and dazzling execution. His goal was fabulous and so were his passes.

Weak seas

How tough are things out west? On Wednesday night, six of the Pacific Division’s eight teams in were in action … and, combined, they scored a measly six goals.

The Canucks obviously had two of those. LA scored three. Seattle had a single.

But Vegas, San Jose and Edmonton were all shut out.

This is not likely to be a very good playoff year for the division.

Let’s dive into the game itself …

REPORT CARDForwards

Elias Pettersson C Decent in possession — but those vibes everyone was on about last game? Yeah, not much juice here. Lost a couple puck battles in pretty embarrassing fashion too.

Drew O’Connor C+ Skated hard. You always get that.

Jake DeBrusk C+ He was fine.

Marco Rossi C Really not good all night but ended up with two assists, including one off a crazy Tampa turnover in the third that became the Karlsson goal. There’s also no denying he has nine points in four games.

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Liam Ohgren C+ Well, he scored a very nice goal, but like the rest of his line was absolutely buried in his own end. Hit a post in the third, which might have turned the night.

Brock Boeser C- His assist on the Ohgren goal ties him with Tony Tanti on the Canucks’ all-time point list at ninth. But a tough night overall.

Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy makes a save as Vancouver Canucks’ Brock Boeser tries to make a shot on goal. Photo by DARRYL DYCK THE CANADIAN PRESS /THE CANADIAN PRESS

Teddy Blueger C Quietest night in a while.

Max Sasson C Skated hard but a tough night.

Linus Karlsson B Nice goal. Not much else.

Aatu Raty C+ He’s playing well enough if you want him to be a fourth line centre.

Evander Kane D Can confirm he was on the ice.

Nils Hoglander C Skated hard but struggled to get to the net.

Defence

Elias Pettersson C- Good first. Ugly second with a giveaway that led to the third goal. Game got worse from there.

Filip Hronek C He’s had better nights. Struggled to defend against Tampa’s top players. Fourth goal deflected in off him.

Marcus Pettersson C+ An island in a storm. But in this one, does that matter?

Tom Willander C+ Held his own, though maybe a little lucky given how he struggled with puck possession and a couple big misses defending too.

Zeev Buium C He was fine.

Victor Mancini C+ His best game in a while, but the bar is pretty low.

Goalie

Kevin Lankinen C Tough night, with not much help in front of him.

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