Penalty kill problems continue to plague Vancouver Canucks

The unit came up against a dangerous foe on Tuesday.

Anaheim went 3-for-3 with the man advantage during the game and added a short-handed goal early in the second period.

“They obviously have good players, I think that everyone knows that across the league,” said DeBrusk, who scored twice for the Canucks, including a power-play tally. “So whatever power play you see is going to have their best players on the ice, and they made us pay in that respect.”

The Ducks (7-7-1) now boasts the league’s best power play (38 per cent efficiency), with 10 power-play goals on 12 chances over their last three games.

The top power-play unit has a new sense of confidence, said Beckett Sennecke, who recorded four assists on Tuesday.

“I feel like as a group, every time we go out there, we think we’re going to score,” said the winger. “So that’s a big change from last year. We kind of had a couple power play struggles throughout the year, but we’re rolling pretty hot right now.”

Cutter Gauthier buried a pair of power-play goals for the Ducks, then added an even-strength tally in the third period to record hat tricks in back-to-back games. He’s the first player in Anaheim’s history to accomplish the feat.

“It’s obviously pretty cool,” he said of setting a franchise record. “Kind of surprised some of those other legends before me haven’t done that with how good they were. And obviously a really special moment, but really happy we got the two wins and we can keep this thing going.”

Gauthier also became the first NHL player to record multiple power-play goals in three straight games.

After going nine games without scoring, the 22-year-old American has eight goals in his last three games — six of which came with his team up a man.

It helps that the power-play unit has been playing a lot with one another, Gauthier said.

“We have a lot of high-level guys who have a lot of poise and are able to see plays a step ahead of the game,” he said.

Gauthier’s two power-play tallies on Tuesday came off near identical plays where he dished off to Sennecke, stationed near the goal line, then got the puck back inside the faceoff circle and sent a one-timer flying in past Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen.

Anaheim’s power-play coach Jay Woodcroft pointed out the move could work against Vancouver, Gauthier said.

“He gave me a little nod as I was skating through the line there,” said the winger. “Very good hockey mind behind the bench, and we’re super lucky to have him.”

QUESTIONABLE CALL?

Some of Vancouver’s personnel disagreed with one call made by the on-ice officials Tuesday.

Liam Ohgren chased down Jackson LaCombe inside the Ducks zone late in the first period, picked the puck off his stick and fired a shot into the Anaheim net. The goal was immediately called off and Ohgren was sent to the box for hooking. Gauthier scored eight seconds into the ensuing power play.

“I haven’t looked at it closely, but from what I’ve seen, I don’t agree with the call,” Ohgren said. “Feel like I got the stick pretty good, and I score right after, and (it) got called back. And I got a penalty and they scored on the power play. So, I mean, obviously a tough one. But gotta trust the referee that he sees the right thing and made the right call.”

QUILLAN’S SHOWING

Forward Jacob Quillan was a noticeable presence for the Canucks on Tuesday.

The 24-year-old centre from Dartmouth, N.S., skated on the third line with Drew O’Connor and Linus Karlsson, and logged 10 minutes and 31 seconds of ice time with one shot and two hits. He also landed in the penalty box twice after fighting Roger McQueen and Travis Mitchell.

“He’s endearing himself to the group, for sure,” said Canucks head coach Manny Malhotra.

“Just in terms of the way he competes and brings the tenacity that we expect out of him. The fights aside, just his ability to create turnovers on the forecheck … he executes on breakouts, he makes plays in small areas. So there’s definitely a skill aspect to it as well. But he’s doing the things we’re asking of him physically and forechecking wise.”

Tuesday marked Quillan’s second game for Vancouver after the Canucks acquired him in a trade for Aatu Raty on Oct. 15, and he knows there’s opportunity for him ahead.

“This is everything for me,” Quillan said. “I feel like I’m getting a regular shift here, so I want to show up and I want to prove myself every day, every night in the lineup. So, yeah, it’s huge for me.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2026.

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Penalty kill problems continue to plague Vancouver Canucks

What's Trending