VANCOUVER — The Utah Hockey Club defeated the Vancouver Canucks 3-1 on March 16, 2025, at Rogers Arena, marking their first victory over the Canucks as they continue to chase playoff aspirations.
This important win held significant playoff ramifications for both teams as they vie for the final wild-card position in the Western Conference. With this victory, Utah is now locked in at 71 points, tying them with the Calgary Flames and St. Louis Blues but trailing Vancouver, which occupies the second wild-card spot with 73 points.
Head coach Rick Tocchet, who previously managed some of Utah's rising stars during his tenure with the Arizona Coyotes, recognized Utah's strengths. He explained, “It’s a playoff style game for us,” anticipating the fatigue factor as his team played back-to-back games. The matchup was marked by its low-scoring yet high-pressure nature.
Logan Cooley was the hero for Utah, scoring the game-winning goal at 5:08 of the third period after capitalizing on a rebound from Kevin Lankinen. This allowed Utah to break the 1-1 deadlock, prompting even more urgency within the Canucks' defensive lines.
The scoring began with Quinn Hughes lighting the lamp for the Canucks at 2:37 in the second period, helped along by Brock Boeser and Jake DeBrusk. Unfortunately for Vancouver, this was their only goal of the night.
Kevin Stenlund and Clayton Keller also found their way onto the scoresheet for Utah, with Keller sealing the victory by scoring an empty-netter after the Canucks' last-minute attempts fell short. Keller's performance continues to be stellar; he is currently tied for 12th place overall with 74 points (23 goals, 51 assists) this season.
The Canucks faced additional challenges with Filip Chytil sidelined due to concussion protocols after a dangerous hit from Chicago's Jason Dickinson during their previous game. Tocchet confirmed, “He has had several concussions before... sometimes, they can rapidly turn, so you’ve got to stay positive.” With Chytil out, the Canucks shifted their lineup, placing Nils Aman at center on the fourth line and adjusting the other lines to combat the loss.
Despite limited offensive output, Vancouver's defensive game held its own, with Lankinen making 20 saves and keeping the Canucks competitive. The overall skills displayed by both teams showcased why the NHL fiercely contends for the wild card position.
The spirited nature of the game was also reflected in the physical play, with the Canucks outhitting Utah 38-17 and earning more penalty minutes, with Utah racking up 14 as opposed to Vancouver's 8.
“They’ve had a lot of draft picks over the years and hit on a couple,” Tocchet said, highlighting the youthful talent on the Utah roster, which includes promising players like Cooley, Guenther, and Keller.
The NHL's playoff race is shaping up to be thrilling, with Utah's growing confidence following their recent form boasting 8-5-2 since February, meanwhile Vancouver's path remains turbulent.
With the NHL season winding down and playoff spots tightening, both teams will need to step up as they face their subsequent opponents. The Canucks are set to host the Winnipeg Jets, aiming to recover from this latest setback, and Utah will be facing the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. With the stakes now higher than ever, the race for playoff contention will continue to heat up.
“We can’t have nice things in Vancouver,” might just be the sentiment shared by fans who have witnessed this exciting yet turbulent season. With their playoff hopes hanging on the line, the Canucks will have to regroup quickly and recalibrate their strategy going forward.