Kings 2, Canucks 1 (OT): Kevin Lankinen nearly saves the day in return to net

The Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen made his return to the crease Saturday in Los Angeles, playing after missing two games for personal reasons. His comeback performance provided the team with much-needed steadiness in a tightly contested matchup that ended in a 2–1 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Kings.

Close game with narrow margin

Lankinen faced heavy pressure throughout the game but managed to keep the Canucks within striking distance. Despite the defeat, his strong saves and composure gave his team a chance to fight back. The Canucks’ lone goal came in regulation before the Kings sealed the victory in extra time.

Lankinen’s return and impact

Having missed recent games due to personal matters, Lankinen’s return brought a measure of calm to the Vancouver defense. His outstanding reflexes and positioning prevented multiple high-danger scoring chances from the Kings’ top forwards. The overtime outcome was disappointing, but teammates and coaches credited him for giving them a chance to secure at least one point.

“He really battled and gave us everything in net tonight,” said a Canucks assistant coach postgame.

Author’s summary

Kevin Lankinen’s resilient performance in his return kept Vancouver competitive, but the Canucks ultimately fell to the Kings 2–1 in overtime.

The Province — 2025-11-30