The Vancouver Canucks opened their 2024 pre-season with an impressive 3-1 win over the Seattle Kraken. The game was full of emotion, with two fights and several scrums breaking out over the course of the 60 minutes. As for the goals, they were scored by Nils Höglander, Filip Hronek and Pius Suter, while Artūrs Šilovs stopped 18 of the 19 shots he faced.
See the original article to view embedded media.
While he wasn’t particularly busy, Šilovs was fantastic in his first start of the preseason. He made a few great saves and looked very composed in net. When asked about his goaltending after the game, head coach Rick Tocchet said, “You can see his attitude. I really like it. I don’t think I ever get rattled.” With the organization now boasting three NHL-caliber goaltenders, these types of performances are crucial because they show Šilovs is ready to become a full-time NHL player this season.
As for the Canucks’ top skater, it’s Aatu Räty. In 15:10 of ice time, he finished with one assist, three hits and two blocked shots while going 14-of-18. Ultimately, Räty was able to build on a strong training camp and, despite only playing one preseason game, he looks set to take a roster spot.
The other star of the attack was Jonathan Lekkerimäki, who finished with two assists in 16:09 of ice time. What really stood out was his ability to read the play, the most striking example coming late in the game when he made a safe pass to the bank to Suter with the net empty rather than just throwing the puck up the ice and trying to hit it into the open net. When asked about Lekkerimäki, Tocchet said: “He’s just a very crafty guy, smart, pretty patient with the puck. I really liked him on that Suter goal. You know, he made a nice pass to the bank, things like that. I think he’s a pretty smart guy. I think he’s going to get more and more comfortable.” » Even if Lekkerimäki doesn’t start the season in the NHL, performances like this show he’s not far from becoming a valuable part of the lineup.
Latest news from THN Vancouver Canucks Website:
CUP HOLDERS! Canucks confirm seating upgrades at Rogers Arena for 2025-26 season
Canucks’ Teddy Blueger taking things day by day as he recovers from off-season surgery
Canucks’ Anthony Romani expected to be OHL’s leading scorer
Sammy Blais and his journey from Saint-Louis to Vancouver
Canucks update roster for preseason game against Flames in Abbotsford
On the blue line, Hronek stood out for a number of reasons. Yes, he scored a goal, but he was also solid defensively in the 22 minutes and 35 seconds he played. Hronek also played a big role in helping defenseman Elias Pettersson in his first NHL preseason, as the two played 10 minutes and 52 seconds together at even strength while limiting the Kraken to just one high-danger opportunity.
Finally, Vancouver showed their physical strength and willingness to defend against Seattle. After landing a massive blow, Vilmer Alriksson didn’t hesitate to fight John Hayden, while Tyler Myers, Mark Friedman, Derek Forbort, Conor Garland, and Höglander all got involved in scrums throughout the game. While it’s still preseason, it’s clear that a rivalry is starting to build between these two teams, which should lead to some exciting matchups during the regular season.
The Canucks won’t have to wait long for their next preseason game, as they take on the Calgary Flames in Abbotsford on Wednesday night. Among the players fans will be able to see at the Abbotsford Centre are Quinn Hughes, Elias Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk. The game will start at 7:00 p.m. PT.
