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Merilainen is set to start on the road against the Devils on Saturday, per Mike Morreale of NHL.com.
Merilainen has a 1-0-0 record, 1.62 GAA and .941 save percentage across three appearances this season. That's in stark contrast to Vancouver's other goaltender, Kevin Lankinen, who is 1-3-0 with a 7.06 GAA and a .786 save percentage in four outings. With that in mind, there might be an opportunity here for Merilainen to earn a bigger share of Vancouver's starts. New Jersey has gotten off to a slow start offensively, averaging just 2.00 goals through three games.
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Canucks' Anthony Romani: Pops off in Friday's win
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Romani scored two goals and added an assist in Michigan State University's 6-2 win over Northern Michigan University.
Romani is off to a strong start this year with a three-point game. He had 14 goals and 14 assists over 37 appearances for the Spartans as a freshman last season. Romani's decent offense in college bodes well for his long-term development despite the Canucks scooping him up in the sixth round in 2024.
Canucks' Elias Pettersson: Two helpers in Carolina
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Pettersson picked up two assists in Thursday's 7-2 loss to the Hurricanes.
The 27-year-old center had a hand in Jake DeBrusk tallies in the second and third periods, although the Canucks were already in a 4-0 hole before they got on the board. Pettersson is turning back the clock to begin 2026-27 after a couple rough campaigns, putting together a five-game point streak that features two goals and eight points along with 21 hits, eight shots on net, six blocked shots and a plus-3 rating. The talent that allowed him to rack up 39 goals and 102 points in 80 regular-season contests back in 2022-23 may be re-awakening.
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Canucks' Jake DeBrusk: Lights lamp twice in ugly loss
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DeBrusk scored both of the Canucks' goals in Thursday's 7-2 loss to the Hurricanes.
The veteran winger got pucks past Pyotr Kochetkov in the second and third periods, both times jumping on rebounds and wiring them home, but Vancouver was in a 4-0 hole before DeBrusk even scored his first one. It was a strong return to the lineup after he'd missed the prior two games due to an illness, and through three contests to begin the season DeBrusk has two goals on eight shots and three points in total.
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Canucks' Leevi Merilainen: Needed in relief again
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Merilainen turned aside 15 of 16 shots after replacing Kevin Lankinen to begin the third period of Thursday's 7-2 loss to the Hurricanes.
It's already the second time this season that Lankinen has gotten an early hook, and Merilainen has looked sharp in a low-pressure relief situation. While Lankinen has faced the tougher assignments, the difference in their numbers so far couldn't be more stark -- Merilainen has won his only start while producing a 1.62 GAA and .941 save percentage in five periods of action, while Lankinen is 1-3-0 with a hideous 7.06 GAA and .786 save percentage. The Canucks play back-to-back games this weekend on the road against the Devils and Rangers as they continue an east coast swing, and if Merilainen outplays Lankinen once again, he could make a quick push to the top of the depth chart.
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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.
DeBrusk (illness) returned to practice Tuesday, per Jeff Paterson of CanucksArmy.com.
DeBrusk was sidelined for Vancouver's past two contests due to an illness. Prior to missing the weekend slate, the 29-year-old winger was off to a solid start in 2026-27, where he has an assist and four shots on net across two appearances. Expect the veteran left winger to return to a top-six role for the Canucks ahead of their next outing against the Hurricanes on Thursday.
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Canucks' Jonathan Lekkerimaki: Tallies in loss
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Lekkerimaki scored a goal in Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Golden Knights.
Lekkerimaki has two goals, one assist, four shots on net and a plus-2 rating over four games to begin the season. He's also been shuffled around the lineup for virtually every game. He's already matched his point total from 13 outings in 2025-26, so he's certainly trending well. Big minutes will be up for grabs as long as Lekkerimaki remains productive and rounds out his game as the year progresses.
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Canucks' Paul Cotter: Strikes on power play
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Cotter scored a power-play goal on two shots in Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Golden Knights.
Cotter has opened the season on a four-game point streak (four goals, two assists). His tally Sunday was his first power-play point since last November when he was with the Devils. The Canucks had Cotter on the fourth line to begin the year, but he's worked his way up to a second-line gig with the hot start. He's also logged 12 hits and a plus-4 rating. He's worth streaming in fantasy while his offense is clicking, but he's also never had more than 25 points in a campaign -- this start is unsustainable for the full year.
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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.
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' Jake DeBrusk: Ruled out for Sunday's game
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DeBrusk (illness) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Golden Knights, Ben Kuzma of Postmedia reports.
DeBrusk will be unavailable for a second consecutive matchup due to his illness, but he's slated to travel with the Canucks during their upcoming six-game road trip. He's recorded an assist and two PIM across two appearances this year.
Willander notched two assists and a plus-2 rating in Saturday's 4-1 win over the Flames.
Willander has opened the season in a top-four role and on the second power-play unit. The 21-year-old defenseman has earned three assists, three blocked shots and an even plus-minus rating over three contests. There's risk involved in rostering a Vancouver defenseman in fantasy, but Willander has some breakout potential after a 21-point campaign as a rookie in sheltered minutes last year.
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Canucks' Linus Karlsson: Records two assists
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Karlsson logged two assists, two shots on goal and a plus-3 rating in Saturday's 4-1 win over the Flames.
Karlsson was on the top line Saturday, which likely helped him break out for a multi-point game. He's earned three assists, five shots on net, two PIM and a minus-1 rating over three contests this season. The Canucks forward combinations are far from settled, so don't be surprised to see Karlsson bounce around the lineup, which could lead to swings in his production on offense.
