Published Oct 04, 2026 • Last updated 1 hour ago • 4 minute read
In a battle of contrasting trajectories, the Vegas Golden Knights leveraged their veteran savvy and power-play precision to edge the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 in their season opener at Rogers Arena.
While the Canucks continue rebuilding their identity, Vegas demonstrated why they remain a formidable force — combining clinical execution with opportunistic scoring to secure an early statement win.
Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, and Mark Stone led the charge for the visiting Golden Knights, combining for crucial contributions throughout the contest. For Vancouver, Paul Cotter and Jonathan Lekkerimaki provided bright spots in a losing effort.
Momentum and Execution Define the Night
Head coach Manny Malhotra emphasized the importance of starting fast against a team known for its relentless pace. “We have to create momentum right from the start,” he stressed pregame. “They play very direct and a physical and good challenge to us to play through that pressure.”
Vegas responded by capitalizing on two first-period power plays, showcasing their ability to generate quick transition chances. A key moment came midway through the second frame when Stone intercepted a rebound near the crease and fired a cross-ice pass to Victor Olofsson, who buried the goal to extend their lead.
“We came out a lot better, but if you give a team like that with a potent power play opportunities, to touch pucks and feel good about themselves, they drove a lot of the play,” Malhotra noted postgame.
Lankinen Shines Amidst Relentless Attack
Despite being outshot, Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen stood tall with 25 saves, delivering several spectacular stops. His positional awareness and reflexes kept Vancouver competitive, particularly during a flurry in the first period where he flawlessly handled a spinning puck atop the net before swatting it away from danger.
“He was huge for us,” said defenseman Zeev Buium. “Even when things got messy, he found a way to keep us in it.”
The Golden Knights’ forecheck consistently pressured the Canucks defense, creating turnovers and forcing uncomfortable clearances. However, Vancouver showed flashes of resilience, especially through the efforts of young winger Liam Ohgren, whose aggressive penalty-killing play disrupted several Vegas rushes.
Looking Ahead
For the Canucks, the loss serves as a learning curve as they prepare for a challenging six-game road trip beginning Thursday in Raleigh. “For a team that everybody in the world has said is going to be last in the league, I’m pretty happy in how we’ve been doing,” said Cotter. “We have a great group… When you have a room that close and willing to get better together it can take you so far.”
Report by Ben Kuzma – bkuzma@postmedia.com
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