The Canucks play six games in 10 days in a gruelling road trip that opens Thursday against the Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes
Published Oct 05, 2026 • Last updated 56 minutes ago • 4 minute read
Normally, the Vancouver Canucks would still be playing NHL pre-season games.
This season, the preparation was anything but typical. With an 84-game schedule ahead, the Canucks had only four preseason games—and just two for veterans with 100 or more NHL appearances—producing the kind of erratic results seen league-wide.
“Mistakes get magnified,” said Canucks head coach Manny Malhotra, whose task is magnified by a daunting roster rebuild that presents roller-coaster shifts, games and results. “A lot of areas for us to clean up. You give elite offensive players chances to score and they’re going to make good.”
By contrast, Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour comes from a place of established strength. His defending champion roster is settled, with minimal positional battles and a clear strategic identity.
“Guys just want play,” Brind’Amour told TSN’s Overdrive before this season started. “I’d sooner play 86 games and zero pre-season, if that’s the way we’re going. Guys are in such good shape now. Why waste the games on the fans that don’t count?”
“Guys fighting for spots doesn’t happen now hardly ever. The team is picked.”
That confidence sets up a stiff test for Vancouver when they open a grueling six-game, 10-day road trip Thursday in Raleigh, N.C. The Hurricanes entered the weekend with a 1-0 overtime loss to Florida, a 5-2 setback against Washington, and a 3-2 overtime win over Philadelphia.
“We need to start better and we can’t give up goals early in a game,” stressed Malhotra. “It’s too hard of a league to fight back. It’s playing direct and simple. We don’t need to complicate things for ourselves. Break pucks out cleanly and get to the neutral zone.”
Canucks at Hurricanes
When and where: Thursday, 4 p.m. | Lenovo Center
TV: Sportsnet Pacific. Radio: Kiss 104.9 FM
What to watch: Like a strong storm surge, the Hurricanes come at you in waves. They’re fast, efficient and have quick-strike effectiveness. Sebastian Aho needed 10 seconds to open scoring Saturday and then forced over in the victory at Philadelphia.
Who to watch: Logan Stankoven. The Kamloops native is coming off 21 goals and 44 points in the 2025-26 regular season, augmented by 11 goals in 19 playoff games, including three game-winners and multiple-point efforts as a durable, direct second-line centre.
Prediction: Second-ranked offence last season. Five players had at least 20 goals and two more than 30. Canes win 4-2.
Canucks at Devils
When and where: Saturday, 12:30 p.m. | Prudential Center
TV: Sportsnet Pacific. Radio: Kiss 104.9 FM
What to watch: Who are these confounding Devils? How do you ice five 20-goal scorers last season and miss the playoffs by 13 points? Injuries are always a factor, and maybe New Jersey got caught up early in Quinn Hughes trade rumours. Might happen again.
Who to watch: Jack Hughes. The confident swagger started long ago as first-overall selection in the 2019 NHL draft at Rogers Arena. He had 27 goals in each of the last three seasons after striking for 43 in 2022-23. Speed is the name of his game, as is sublime stick work—a strong family trait.
Prediction: The Canucks often struggle in day games and maybe they get it right this time and find a way to gut out a 3-2 win.
Canucks at Rangers
When and where: Sunday, 3 p.m. | Madison Square Garden
TV: Sportsnet Pacific. Radio: Kiss 104.9 FM
What to watch: The Canucks have a history of rising to the occasion on the big NYC stage, but back-to-back day games can really disrupt regular routines and make it difficult to find a collective stride.
Who to watch: J.T. Miller. Which Miller will we see against his former club? The one who slumped to 17 goals, 53 points and a team-worst minus-30 rating last season as captain of the league’s third-worst team? Or the one who’s motivated? He had no points in his first three games this season but scored Sunday in a 4-2 win over Mammoth at MSG.
Prediction: The Rangers won just 14 games at home last season. Can’t happen again. Canucks hang in but are edged 4-3 in overtime.
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