VANCOUVER, British Columbia — In a commanding performance, the Vancouver Canucks triumphed over the Florida Panthers with a score of 4-0 on Thursday evening. Carson Soucy and Danton Heinen put points on the board during the first period, while Kevin Lankinen impressed in goal, stopping 27 shots to secure his third shutout of the season, marking the sixth of his NHL career.

Jake DeBrusk and Brock Boeser added goals for the Canucks, while teammates Max Sasson, Teddy Blueger, Quinn Hughes, and J.T. Miller each contributed two assists. The victory for Vancouver was especially meaningful as it halted the Panthers’ impressive streak of 6-0-1 in their last seven outings and marked the first time Florida has been held without a goal this season.

Miller made a significant return to the Canucks’ lineup after an almost month-long absence due to personal matters. Additionally, defenseman Derek Forbort was back on the ice for Vancouver, which has been dealing with multiple injuries as of late. Star goaltender Thatcher Demko had made his season debut on Tuesday, leaving only Filip Hronek, who is recovering from a lower-body injury, on the injured-reserve list.

For the Panthers, the night was uncharacteristic, as their offense, typically high-scoring, faltered. Entering this game, Florida was ranked fifth in the league for goals scored, averaging 3.66 per game, and boasted the fifth-best power play unit at 27.4%. However, they struggled to capitalize on two power play opportunities during this match.

A critical moment occurred mid-second period when Lankinen faced a strong challenge during a Panthers power play. Sam Bennett took a shot that Lankinen skillfully caught, helping him maintain his shutout as he displayed remarkable composure under pressure.

Despite outshooting the Canucks 27-19, the Panthers faced difficulties maintaining possession, leading to a total of 19 turnovers throughout the game.

Looking ahead, the Panthers will be in Calgary on Saturday night, while the Canucks are set to host the Boston Bruins.