Canucks Goalie Lankinen Ends Disappointing Season on Sour Note

30-year-old netminder struggled with career-worst stats in 2025-26

Apr. 17, 2026 at 6:23pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey goaltender making a save, with the player's form broken down into overlapping planes of muted blue, grey, and green hues.Lankinen's disappointing season finale encapsulates the Canucks' defensive struggles, raising questions about the team's goaltending future.San Jose Today

Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen wrapped up a difficult 2025-26 season, allowing four goals in the first period of Thursday's 6-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. The 30-year-old Finnish netminder finished the year with an 11-27-5 record, 3.70 goals-against average, and .875 save percentage - all career-worst marks for the veteran goalie.

Why it matters

Lankinen's struggles were emblematic of the Canucks' defensive woes throughout the season, as the team failed to provide consistent support in front of their goaltenders. The poor performance raises questions about Lankinen's future with the organization and whether the Canucks will look to upgrade the position in the offseason.

The details

In Thursday's season finale, Lankinen was pulled after allowing four goals on 12 shots in the opening period, including a hat trick by Oilers forward Matt Savoie. The veteran goalie had won three of his previous four starts, but that late-season success couldn't mask an overall disappointing campaign marked by career-worst numbers.

  • Lankinen stopped 29 of 35 shots in Thursday's 6-1 loss to the Oilers.
  • Lankinen went 11-27-5 with a 3.70 GAA and an .875 save percentage across 47 regular-season appearances in 2025-26.

The players

Kevin Lankinen

A 30-year-old Finnish goaltender who has played five NHL seasons, the last two with the Vancouver Canucks.

Matt Savoie

A forward for the Edmonton Oilers who scored a hat trick against Lankinen in Thursday's game.

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The takeaway

Lankinen's dismal 2025-26 campaign raises serious questions about his future with the Canucks, as the team will likely need to address the goaltending position in the offseason to improve their defensive performance and competitiveness.