Five fights. One of the worst calls of the season. Chaos incarnate is the apt description of the latest Vancouver Canucks game, as they wrapped up their homestand with the 10th annual Diwali Night at Rogers Arena with one of the most entertaining games of the season so far. However, it was not a celebratory night for the Canucks, as they fell to the Ducks, 5-4. The Canucks had won 14 of the last 16 meetings against the Ducks coming into tonight’s action.

Game Stories: Willander Injured, Lankinen Starts for First Time in Two Weeks

Tom Willander tweaked something this morning and did not dress for this game. It is a lower-body injury. Willander had been one of the team’s top performers over the last week. He led Vancouver with a 65.71 CF% (Corsi-For Percentage) at even strength against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. In his 18:54 of ice time, the Canucks had 23 shot attempts while giving up 12. In addition, Vancouver outchanced Toronto 12-4 and had a 6-3 edge in high-danger opportunities while Willander was on the ice. As a result, Zeev Buium moved up to the second pairing, and Guillaume Brisebois slotted in on the third pairing. Combined with other injuries the Canucks have sustained, this could be a big loss for the team if it keeps him out of the lineup for significant time.

Kevin Lankinen made his first start since October 22 against the Detroit Red Wings. It was yet another poor game for him, as pucks continued to zip by him at a high rate. It is not so much just the quantity of goals against that is concerning; it is how they are going in. Concern was there already for Lankinen’s performance, and those problems were exacerbated tonight. Do questions about a potential buyout need to be had? A bit extreme to think about considering the cap consequences, but it is an option. One thing is for sure: the net is Leevi Meriläinen‘s to lose.

A Frustrating First Period Despite Strong Even-Strength Play

The Canucks surrendered a penalty early to the red-hot Anaheim power play, which capitalized as Ducks captain Mikael Granlund was open in the bumper position and fired it home past Lankinen at 4:04 to take a 1-0 lead. The Ducks converted on nine of their last 15 power plays coming into this game. 10 for 16 now.

Vancouver responded quickly, as Jacob Quillan dropped the gloves with Roger McQueen. He was the first forward this season to have a fight this season. However, a power play ensued for the Canucks, which they scored on, as the second unit chipped in. Liam Öhgren scored into an open net with chaos in the blue paint, as Drew Helleson pushed Paul Cotter into Laurent Brossoit.

Öhgren would continue his good work on the night, as he thought he put one home late in the period. Much to his and the fans’ chagrin, it was called off, as a stick lift was called a hooking penalty. A sketchy call, to say the least, as his stick merely grazed Jackson LaCombe‘s glove during the stick lift. This would have been a highlight reel play.

On the ensuing power play, the Ducks got another goal on a slot one-timer from Cutter Gauthier and took a 2-1 lead. 11 for 17 now. “Refs you suck” chants rang loudly in the arena as this could have been a massive turning point in the game. Incredibly frustrating for the Canucks as they played well at five-on-five in the first.

Special Team Struggles in Second Period

The Canucks went on a power play early in the second, but their frustrations compounded. Brock Boeser made a blind pass to Filip Hronek, which got the Canucks panicking as the Ducks came up ice, with Leo Carlsson scoring a short-handed goal. The Canucks have now given up three short-handed goals this season, leading the NHL.

Jacob Quillan would then have his second fight of the game, against Travis Mitchell, after he clipped Ducks goaltender Laurent Brossoit in the pads. Quil the Thrill, anyone? Once again, that may have sparked the team, as Linus Karlsson scored shortly after to cut the Ducks’ lead to 3-2. Great forechecking by Drew O’Connor to create space for Karlsson.

Jamie Oleksiak got into a fight with Jeff Malott, marking the third fight of the night. This time, it did not lead to a Canucks goal right after, as Cutter Gauthier would fire home his second of the night on the power play. 12 for 18 now. Once again, the shot came from a one-timer from the left circle.

Gauthier Notches Hat Trick in Third Period, Fights Continue

Cutter Gauthier got yet another hat trick, his second of the season, as he extended the lead to 5-2. He is the first in Ducks history to register hat tricks in back-to-back games.

More fights broke out, as once again, Brossoit was clipped, leading to a Max Sasson fight against Noah Warren. During the same stoppage, Paul Cotter also got into a fight with Sam Colangelo. The second fight resulted in 10-minute misconducts being handed out to Cotter and Colangelo. Shout out to the Canucks DJ for playing “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” after the fights.

Once again, a Canucks goal followed a fight, as Jake DeBrusk made a filthy play to slide it under Brossoit, cutting the Ducks’ lead to 5-3. That extended Brock Boeser’s point streak against the Ducks to 10 games.

Jamie Oleksiak then fired a puck toward the net, and DeBrusk deflected a goal home for his second of the night with 10:26 left in the third, livening up the crowd again as the Ducks’ lead was cut to one. Déjà vu from last week’s game?

Déjà vu, it was not, as the Canucks could not muster up another goal. 5-4 Ducks is the final.

Stats & Game Flow

The first graph from NaturalStatTrick.com is the shot attempt advantage. The second is the expected goals advantage. A pretty even game, all things considered. Both teams have a lot to work on in terms of defence and goaltending, as shot volume was low, yet the goals came fast and furious.

Looking Ahead to the Next Game

The Canucks will face off against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time (PCT). You can catch that game on Sportsnet.