Rick Tocchet addresses the Canucks' loss: Proud despite the result

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Cooper Godin
October 1, 2024 (8:34)

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Rick Tocchet says he's proud of how the Canucks played in Monday's shootout loss to the Edmonton Oilers.

The Vancouver Canucks headed to Edmonton on Monday for their penultimate game of the preseason. The Oilers dressed several of their big guns including Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, while Stuart Skinner got the start in goal.

As for the Canucks, they sent a relatively inexperienced roster for the game, but fans were able to get their second look at Kevin Lankinen, who signed with the club back on September 21st.

Lankinen was pretty solid in between the pipes on Monday, making 24 saves on 26 shots as the Canucks fell to the Oilers in a shootout. Arshdeep Bains and Nathan Smith got the Canucks on the board, with the latter scoring in the third period to tie the game up at 2-2.

After the game, Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet met with reporters and said that he was proud of his team for how they played and thought they did a great job against an Oilers team who had McDavid and Draisaitl in the lineup.

"Yeah, it's not about the wins and losses, the group did a really good job. I'm proud of the way they played. I just like the way that they stuck with it. It's a good hockey club over there and I think we did a nice job." Tocchet said.

Tocchet was also asked for his thoughts on Kevin Lankinen after making his second start in a Canucks uniform. The Canucks head coach said that he thought the Finnish netminder played very well and praised how well he was able to handling the puck on dump-ins.

"Very well. Solid. He was really good at handling the puck for us too on dump-ins, that really helps. Think he helped our D a lot. He made some great saves when we needed and I think the guys in front of him, when we did give them stuff, it was usually on the outside." Tocchet said.

The Canucks will now head back to Vancouver and gear up for their final game of the preseason which is set for Friday night at 7 pm PT against the Edmonton Oilers. Fans can watch the game nationally on Sportsnet.