VANCOUVER – It’s been every week of highs and lows for Vancouver Canucks winger Jake DeBrusk.
He held out Monday when his workforce took a 3-2 shootout win over the Seattle Kraken. Again within the lineup Friday for a rematch in Vancouver, DeBrusk notched a aim and two assists because the Canucks fell 4-3 in a shootout.
The 29-year-old ahead would have most well-liked if the factors had gone towards a victory.
“It’s higher in a win,” DeBrusk mentioned. “We didn’t win. I believe that everybody likes to evaluate folks on factors. It’s straightforward to say that when you’ve gotten a pair factors within the recreation. However we misplaced.”
Vancouver (16-20-4) fell behind 2-0 halfway by the second interval earlier than rallying late within the body and forcing further time within the third.
Brock Boeser helped DeBrusk get on the board late within the second, slicing the winger a go from the aim line on the ability play. Stationed backdoor, DeBrusk directed the puck in off his skate for his first aim in seven video games and minimize Seattle’s result in 3-2.
Kiefer Sherwood and Linus Karlsson additionally scored for the Canucks, whereas Thatcher Demko stopped 25 of the 28 pictures he confronted.
Matty Beniers performed hero for the Kraken (18-14-7), scoring the lone aim within the shootout.
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Cale Fleury, Chandler Stephenson and Ben Meyers all scored for Seattle in regulation, and Joey Daccord made 20 saves.
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It’s been a irritating season for the Canucks, and for DeBrusk.
Vancouver was anticipated to problem for a playoff spot. As an alternative, midway by the marketing campaign, the squad sits second final within the NHL standings with a 1-3-1 document over their final 5 video games.
DeBrusk, now in his second marketing campaign with the Canucks, is called a degree producer and had a career-high 28 objectives final season.
Whereas he has 10 objectives and 10 assists in 2025-26, he didn’t have a multi-point efficiency going into Friday’s contest and was a wholesome scratch Tuesday.
Canucks head coach Adam Foote mentioned DeBrusk has responded properly to being sidelined, enjoying defence first and being strong on the forecheck.
“Jake’s a aim scorer and he will get actual streaky,” Foote mentioned. “He desires to attain, he desires to assist his workforce out, he feels down on himself when he doesn’t.
“And generally — I hate utilizing the time period — however you guess, perhaps. Otherwise you play for hoping a bounce goes your method, you may get the sting or get a step on a man. And when he performs the precise method, he’s going to get his probabilities together with his pace and the blokes round him. So I like the best way he was enjoying with extra construction and he was capable of create.”
As accidents proceed to ravage Vancouver’s roster, the workforce will look to DeBrusk to place pucks within the web.
He’ll have one other likelihood Saturday in opposition to his former workforce, the Boston Bruins.
The veteran NHLer is aware of what it’ll take to piece collectively run of video games.
“I’m simply attempting to construct, attempting to get again. Little issues. You simply attempt to persist with your ABCs, simply attempt to keep as centered as potential,” DeBrusk mentioned. “Actually, half of it with me is my very own head. So I simply have to proceed this.”
KARLSSON CASHES IN
Hours after inking a two-year, US$4.5-million extension with the Canucks, Karlsson celebrated together with his tenth aim of the season.
“I like to play right here. So, I imply, I’m actually excited for 2 extra years within the group,” he mentioned.
The deal comes amid a breakout season for the 26-year-old depth ahead.
Karlsson had three objectives and three assists over 23 video games with Vancouver final season. Over 37 appearances in 2025-26, he has 17 factors.
The elevated efficiency follows a spring by which he helped the American Hockey League’s Abbotsford Canucks carry dwelling the Calder Cup.
“I attempt to be the identical participant as I’ve at all times been, carry the sport I had in Abbotsford to right here,” Karlsson mentioned. “I felt like even the tip of final yr, I bought it a bit of bit. And I bought lots of confidence from the playoffs in Abbotsford, after which introduced it to this season.”
SEATTLE’S SURGE
The Kraken logged only one win over 10 video games between Nov. 26 and Dec. 18.
Since then, they’ve been one of many hottest groups within the league, going 6-0-1. Seattle’s lone loss throughout the stretch was the 3-2 shootout loss to Vancouver on Monday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Jan. 3, 2026.
© 2026 The Canadian Press
