Coach Foote points to Canucks’ resiliency as a positive sign moving forward

Vancouver Canucks' Jake DeBrusk, back left, and Elias Pettersson celebrate DeBrusk's goal against Colorado Avalanche goalie MacKenzie Blackwood, front right, during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, B.C., Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Canucks did a lot of things right against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday night.

Head coach Adam Foote said even though they lost 5-4 in overtime against the best team in the NHL, the Canucks showed flashes of what they can be.

“I like the resilience,” said Foote. “We’re trying to get players to believe what we’re doing is working. We’ve got a lot of young guys in that lineup right now that are playing bigger minutes than probably they anticipated.

“They’re doing a hell of a job. They’ve been really resilient. That’s the positive we’re going to take.”

The Canucks (8-8-1) didn’t fold when they fell behind 2-0 early. Vancouver got a short-handed goal from Drew O’Connor to tie the game once, then after falling behind again, forced the overtime on Jake DeBrusk’s power-play goal with just 3:01 left in the game.

They got production from their leading goal scorer when Kiefer Sherwood scored his 10th of the year. Linus Karlsson opened the scoring with his first goal in 14 games this season.

Vancouver also got solid goaltending from backup Kevin Lankinen who was playing in his second game in as many nights.

“I think that should give us some confidence,” said Karlsson. “We were in the game all the time. Maybe the start really wasn’t our best, but I think we grew into the game.

“It sucks to lose and we have to look what we can do better. But overall, I think we played pretty good.”

Gavin Brindley scored 68 seconds into overtime to give the Avalanche the win.

Artturi Lehkonen scored twice in the third period — including once on the power play — for Colorado.

Nathan MacKinnon scored twice in a span of 1:28, once on the power play, to give Colorado a 2-0 first-period lead. He also added three assists for a five-point game. Valeri Nichushkin had two assists for the Avs, who lead the league with a 10-1-5 record. Cale Makar — who leads all defenceman in scoring with 21 points from six goals and 15 assists — collected two assists.

Both team were coming off wins Saturday night. Vancouver defeated the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3, while Colorado drubbed the Oilers 9-1 in Edmonton.

Lankinen was back in net after starter Thatcher Demko did not dress for the second consecutive game after missing practice Friday.

He stopped 27 shots, including a flurry of saves in the final wild moments of regulation.

“I felt great,” the Helsinki, Finland, native said about the back-to-back starts. “That’s what I’ve been working extremely hard for over the years. I give a lot of credit to my strength and conditioning game back home.”

DeBrusk said Lankinen didn’t buckle under the Colorado pressure.

“They’re such an offensive team,” said DeBrusk, who has goals in three of his last four games. “They throw a lot of pucks from the point and a lot of deflections.

“He’s (Lankinen) been a rock for us. He gave us a chance to win, and he was the main reason why it got to overtime. We’re not even there if he’s not in net.”

Foote said Demko could be ready to play on Tuesday when Vancouver hosts the Winnipeg Jets.

So far this season the Canucks have been a middle-of-the pack team. DeBrusk believes the game against Colorado shows Vancouver’s potential.

“We stuck in there with them,” he said. “I think guys are getting more used to playing with each other. We need to be better. I feel like it’s a good confidence booster, but you want the two points.”

This report by Jim Morris, The Canadian Press, was first published Nov. 9, 2025.