Vancouver Canucks takeaways: Power Play struggles continue, DeBrusk scores first goal, and more

The Vancouver Canucks improved to 5-2-3 through the first 10 games of the 2024-25 NHL season after defeating the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center in San Jose by a 3-2 final score. The Canucks win halted San Jose's modest three-game winning streak as the Sharks dropped to 3-7-2 after having initially lost their first nine games of the season.

San Jose's woes haven't been aided by the absence of first-overall selection Macklin Celebrini, who's been out since getting injured in his first NHL game last month.

While both teams were scoreless in the opening 20 minutes of play, the Sharks found the back of the net first in the second period thanks to Nico Sturm's second goal of the season less than three minutes into the middle frame.

The Vancouver Canucks responded by knotting the score thanks to Pius Suter's third goal of the year and first of two on the night.

Vancouver then took the lead in the third period thanks to Jake DeBrusk's first goal since signing with the Canucks as a free agent over the summer. San Jose tied the score with 1:17 remaining in the third period with Mikael Granlund's sixth goal, and it appeared the two teams were destined for overtime.

However, Suter had other ideas as he scored the game-winner with 26 seconds remaining in regulation by one-timing a pass past the glove hand of MacKenzie Blackwood from the right faceoff circle:

Blackwood finished with 25 saves, while Kevin Lankinen made 21 saves in the win.

Let's review the three biggest takeaways from Vancouver's performance at SAP Center on Saturday night.

3 biggest takeaways from Vancouver Canucks' 3-2 win over San Jose Sharks

#3. The power play continues to struggle despite the victory

The good news is that the Vancouver Canucks earned the win and the two points. The bad news is that they failed on both power-play chances they had during the game, and have now failed to score in each of their last 10 chances with the power-play.

Currently, the Canucks are ranked 22nd overall of the 32 NHL clubs with their power play operating at just 17.2% efficiency, a number they'll want to improve in short order.

#2. Kevin Lankinen has proven himself worthy of the full-time backup job

Signed as an insurance policy for the Canucks thanks to the injury to starter Thatcher Demko and the struggles of Arturs Silovs, Lankinen has blossomed with Vancouver.

He made several key stops against the Sharks, picking up yet another win and proving himself worthy of being named the full-time backup whenever Demko is healthy enough to return. He's also earned the bulk of playing time over Silovs.

#1. Jake DeBrusk finally tallied his first with the Canucks

Signed as a high-profile free agent over the summer after several years with the Boston Bruins, DeBrusk finally has his first goal as a member of the Vancouver Canucks.

Until Saturday night, DeBrusk had only registered four assists; he scored 50 and 40 points in the last two seasons with Boston, respectively.

Going forward, the Vancouver Canucks can only hope that having lit the lamp for the first time will serve as a major confidence booster for DeBrusk and that he can chip in more offensively.