Canucks' Kevin Lankinen: Tagged for six goals in loss
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Lankinen stopped 19 of 25 shots in Sunday's 6-2 loss to the Rangers.
Lankinen took the loss in a brief relief appearance Saturday, but he was not good in his start Sunday. After winning his season debut, Lankinen has lost his last five outings, allowing six or more goals in three of those defeats. He's also been pulled twice. Lankinen won't be winning anyone over with a 6.88 GAA and a .779 save percentage through six appearances. If he continues to struggle, Leevi Merilainen could supplant him as the Canucks' top goalie until Thatcher Demko (hip) is ready to play. The Canucks' road trip continues against the Islanders on Tuesday.
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Canucks' Kevin Lankinen: First off Sunday
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Lankinen is expected to defend the road net against the Rangers on Sunday, according to Thomas Drance of The Athletic.
Lankinen has struggled mightily early in the 2026-27 campaign, posting a 1-4-0 record and surrendering 23 goals on 106 shots. The Rangers (4-2-0) have scored 16 goals in six outings to begin the season.
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Canucks' Kevin Lankinen: Stuck with tough-luck loss in relief
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Lankinen allowed one goal on three shots in relief of Leevi Merilainen to take the loss in a 4-1 defeat against the Devils on Saturday.
Merilainen got the start but left the ice with less than six minutes remaining in the first period for some skate repairs. During that brief time, Lankinen gave up what proved to be the game-winning goal by Jesper Boqvist. Getting stuck with the unlikely loss sums up how Lankinen's season has gone so far. In five appearances (four starts), he's 1-4-0 with an atrocious .783 save percentage. The 31-year-old will likely get the nod for Sunday's road game against the Rangers, but his hold on the top spot on the Vancouver depth chart appears increasingly tenuous.
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Canucks' Kevin Lankinen: Chased from net again Thursday
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Lankinen gave up six goals on 18 shots before being replaced by Leevi Merilainen to begin the third period of Thursday's 7-2 loss to the Hurricanes.
It's the second time in four starts to begin the season that Lankinen has gotten the hook, and the third time he's coughed up at least five goals. The 31-year-old netminder's dreadful 7.06 GAA and .786 save percentage can't even be blamed on the defense in front of him, as Merilainen has a 1.62 GAA and .941 save percentage in his start and two relief appearances. Lankinen's hold on the No. 1 job in the Vancouver crease may not last much longer if he can't regain some confidence quickly.
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Canucks' Kevin Lankinen: Defending road crease Thursday
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Lankinen was the first goalie off during Thursday's morning skate, Thomas Drance of The Athletic reports, indicating that he'll draw the road start against Carolina.
Lankinen will start for the fourth time in the Canucks' first five games of the regular season. He hasn't been particularly sharp over his first three starts, going 1-2-0 with a 6.49 GAA and .812 save percentage.
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Canucks' Kevin Lankinen: Struggles in second period
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Lankinen allowed three goals on 28 shots in Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Golden Knights.
All three goals against came in the second period, and the Canucks weren't able to provide an answer in the third. Lankinen has started three of Vancouver's four games so far, allowing a total of 16 goals on 85 shots while going 1-2-0. The 31-year-old netminder has been outplayed by Leevi Merilainen in this small sample of work, so it's fair to say the No. 1 job is up for grabs. The Canucks are set to head east on a six-game road trip that begins against the Hurricanes on Thursday.
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Canucks' Kevin Lankinen: Tending twine against Vegas
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Lankinen will start Sunday's home game against the Golden Knights, Canucks play-by-play announcer Brendan Batchelor reports.
Lankinen hasn't looked particularly sharp early in the season, as he allowed five goals on 37 shots during an Opening Night win over the Oilers on Tuesday, and he allowed eight goals on 20 shots during a rematch against Edmonton on Thursday before getting pulled in the second period. However, he'll draw his third start in the Canucks' first four regular-season games during the second half of a back-to-back set Sunday.
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Canucks' Kevin Lankinen: Chased from Thursday's loss
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Lankinen allowed eight goals on 20 shots before he was pulled in Thursday's 9-7 loss to the Oilers.
Lankinen stole a win over the Oilers on Tuesday, but he couldn't do it again. He's now allowed 13 goals on 57 shots over two games versus Edmonton, though not all of his appearances will be against such a tough offense to face. Still, the Canucks' defense looks about as bad as expected, which means it will be a long campaign for the team's goaltenders. With a back-to-back up next -- Saturday versus the Flames and Sunday against the Golden Knights, both at home -- expect Lankinen and Leevi Merilainen to split the next two starts.
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Canucks' Kevin Lankinen: Expected to start Thursday
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Lankinen is expected to start Thursday's home game against the Oilers, Ben Kuzma of Postmedia reports.
Lankinen drew the start during Tuesday's Opening Night matchup in Edmonton, and he allowed five goals on 37 shots during the overtime victory. He's slated to defend the crease once again during Thursday's home opener. Lankinen made 47 regular-season appearances last year, going 11-27-5 with a 3.70 GAA and .875 save percentage.
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Canucks' Kevin Lankinen: Escapes with win in opener
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Lankinen stopped 32 of 37 shots in Tuesday's 6-5 overtime win over the Oilers.
The Oilers were able to put together a third-period push after Lankinen did well in the first two frames. Evan Bouchard was Lankinen's main nemesis, as the Edmonton defenseman had a hat trick and two assists in the high-scoring opener. Lankinen is penciled in as the Canucks' No. 1 goalie, but outings like this one could be pretty common, making him a risky fantasy option in virtually all matchups. The Canucks have a rematch with the Oilers in Vancouver on Thursday.
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Canucks' Kevin Lankinen: Exits ice first
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Lankinen was the first goalie off the ice Tuesday, Thomas Drance of The Athletic reports, indicating he'll be in goal on the road against Edmonton.
Lankinen went 11-27-5 with a career-worst 3.70 GAA in 47 regular-season contests last year. With Thatcher Demko (hip) once again on the shelf, the 31-year-old Lankinen will continue to serve as the No. 1 option in Vancouver while the newly acquired Leevi Merilainen serves as the backup.
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Canucks' Kevin Lankinen: Slated starter Saturday
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Lankinen is expected to start at home against Seattle in Saturday's preseason game, per Canucks play-by-play announcer Brendan Batchelor.
Lankinen turned aside 27 of 30 shots in a 3-1 preseason loss to Calgary on Tuesday. Thatcher Demko (hip) isn't likely to be ready for Opening Night, so Lankinen and Leevi Merilainen will probably be competing for starts at the beginning of the campaign.
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Canucks' Kevin Lankinen: Loses Tuesday's preseason game
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Lankinen stopped 27 of 30 shots en route to a 3-1 preseason loss to Calgary on Tuesday.
Lankinen had an 11-27-5 record, 3.70 GAA and .875 save percentage in 47 regular-season appearances in 2025-26. It will be difficult for him to do much better this campaign as a member of the rebuilding Canucks. However, Lankinen could start 2026-27 as Vancouver's starting goaltender, while Thatcher Demko (hip) continues to recover from surgery.
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Canucks' Kevin Lankinen: Could establish more consistency in 2026-27
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Lankinen appears to be poised for more consistency during the 2026-27 season after a shaky performance last year, Thomas Drance of The Athletic reports Monday.
Lankinen made 47 regular-season appearances last year -- the second-highest mark of his career -- but went 11-27-5 with a career-worst 3.70 GAA and .875 save percentage. However, he was tending to some personal matters during the 2025-26 campaign, and with Thatcher Demko's (hip) status uncertain ahead of training camp this year, Lankinen could have the opportunity to emerge as part of a timeshare that would presumably allow him more time to rest and generate more consistent success. Lankinen has proven to be capable of performing well over a full season, as he went 25-15-10 with a 2.62 GAA and .902 save percentage across 51 regular-season appearances with Vancouver in the 2024-25 campaign.
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Canucks' Kevin Lankinen: Ends season with woeful showing
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Lankinen stopped 29 of 35 shots in Thursday's 6-1 loss to the Oilers.
It was a disastrous end to the season for Lankinen, who allowed four goals -- including a hat trick to Matt Savoie -- in the first period alone. The 30-year-old netminder ends a disappointing 2025-26 season having won three of his last four starts, but that shouldn't hide the fact that the Canucks were a disaster defensively throughout the campaign. Lankinen went 11-27-5 with a 3.70 GAA and an .875 save percentage across 47 appearances in 2025-26. Both the GAA and save percentage were career-worst marks for the 30-year-old netminder.
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Canucks' Kevin Lankinen: In goal against Oilers
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Lankinen will get the starting nod on the road versus Edmonton on Thursday, Brendan Batchelor of Sportsnet 650 reports.
Despite allowing three or more goals in each of his last three outings, Lankinen finds himself entering the season finale on a three-game winning streak. While the Finnish backstop has had some recent success, it's been a disappointing year overall, as he is sporting a career-worst 3.65 GAA and managed just 11 wins in 46 appearances.
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Canucks' Kevin Lankinen: Snags overtime win
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Lankinen stopped 31 of 34 shots in Tuesday's 4-3 overtime win over the Kings.
Lankinen couldn't protect a pair of one-goal leads during regulation, but he did his part to keep the game from getting out of hand. This was his third straight win, though he has allowed 12 goals on 96 shots in that span. For the season, the 30-year-old goalie is up to 11-26-5 with a 3.65 GAA and an .877 save percentage over 46 appearances. The Canucks' last game is Thursday versus the Oilers, and it's not yet clear if Lankinen will be between the pipes for that one.
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Canucks' Kevin Lankinen: First off at morning skate
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Lankinen is scheduled to guard the home net Tuesday against the Kings, per Brendan Batchelor of Sportsnet 650.
Lankinen is coming off a 29-save effort in a 4-3 shootout win in San Jose on Saturday. The Kings are on the second half of a back-to-back but have scored 19 goals during their current five-game winning streak, though seven of those markers came in a victory over Toronto on April 4. Los Angeles is 20-9-10 on the road this season.
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Canucks' Kevin Lankinen: Earns shootout win in return
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Lankinen stopped 28 of 31 shots in Saturday's 4-3 shootout win over the Sharks.
The Canucks never led in regulation, but Lankinen made sure the game didn't get out of hand. He then stepped up in the shootout, allowing just one goal on five attempts to collect his second win in a row. Lankinen had been out for the last three games due to an illness and an upper-body injury, but he appears to be healthy to finish the season. The 30-year-old netminder has gone 10-26-5 with a 3.67 GAA and an .876 save percentage over 45 appearances. He'll likely cede the crease to Nikita Tolopilo for Sunday's road game in Anaheim, but Lankinen could make another start or two before the season ends.
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Canucks' Kevin Lankinen: Facing Sharks
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Lankinen (upper body) will defend the road net against San Jose on Saturday, per Olivia McDonald of Canucks Insider.
Following a three-game absence, Lankinen will return to the crease. He has a 9-26-5 record during the 2025-26 campaign with a 3.69 GAA and an .875 save percentage through 44 appearances. San Jose is tied for 17th in the league with 3.01 goals per game this season.
