VANCOUVER — With three first-period goals in a span of 4:04, the San Jose Sharks handed the Vancouver Canucks a 5-2 loss on Tuesday at Rogers Arena.
Macklin Celebrini, Adam Gaudette, Tyler Toffoli, Will Smith and John Klingberg had goals for the Sharks (27-21-3). Celebrini also added three assists, climbing to 78 points in 51 games this season.
Tom Willander scored the game’s first goal for Vancouver (17-31-5) at 1:15 of the first period, with the teams playing 4-on-4. Filip Hronek added his team’s first power-play tally in six games in the third.
In net, Yaroslav Askarov improved to 17-13-1 thanks to a 23-save night. After the Canucks announced on Tuesday that Thatcher Demko is set to undergo hip surgery and will be out for the rest of the year, Kevin Lankinen was pulled after giving up three goals on six shots over 5:55 in his fifth-straight start, falling to 7-17-4. In relief, Nikita Tolopilo gave up two goals on 27 shots.
The Sharks were 2-for-4 on the power play, with Klingberg’s goal coming at 5-on-3. The Canucks were 1-for-4.
TAKEAWAYS
Canucks: In addition to Demko, who has been sidelined since Jan. 10, the Canucks were missing forward Brock Boeser and defenceman Zeev Buium. Both were injured in Vancouver’s 3-2 home loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins last Sunday. Forward Jonathan Lekkerimaki and defenceman Victor Mancini were called up from AHL Abbotsford on Monday as replacements.
Sharks: Left-winger Kiefer Sherwood took Monday’s morning skate but did not draw into the lineup for his first game with his new team. He was traded from Vancouver to San Jose on Jan. 19, but has now missed eight games with a hand injury.
KEY MOMENT
After Conor Garland and Dmitry Orlov took roughing minors just 44 seconds into the game, Willander beat Askarov with a long shot from the blue line to open the scoring at 1:15. But the home lead was short-lived, as Celebrini logged his 27th of the year just 36 seconds later to kick off the Sharks’ scoring barrage.
KEY STAT
Celebrini’s four-point night is the best yet for the North Vancouver native at Rogers Arena. He’s now up to nine points in four career games in the building where his father Rick once worked as the director of rehabilitation for the Canucks.
UP NEXT
Sharks: Visit the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday.
Canucks: Host the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 27, 2026.
Carol Schram, The Canadian Press
