As the Vancouver Canucks head towards the end of the 2025-26 season, a confusing trend has emerged. Despite Vancouver being eliminated from playoff contention, the team has elected to start goaltender Kevin Lankinen in six of the past seven games. That number will grow to seven of the last eight on Wednesday as he is the projected starter for the Canucks against the Colorado Avalanche [http://thn.com/colorado]. While having a starting goaltender play the majority of games during a stretch is not uncommon, it is perplexing considering where Vancouver sits in the standings. At this stage of the season, the Canucks should be giving young players opportunities, which includes 25-year-old goaltender Nikita Tolopilo. Instead, Tolopilo has played once over the past 16 days and did not even complete that game as he was pulled during the second period. Prior to the past two weeks, Vancouver was doing a good job of rotating their goaltenders. From February 2 to March 17, Lankinen received seven starts while Tolopilo was not far behind with five. That rotation plan, however, seems to have gone out the window based on the recent trend. The argument of win and you're in can't even be used, as both goaltenders have struggled to pick up victories this season. Since February 1, the Canucks have three wins in 18 games, with neither goaltender posting a save percentage over .866. While the goaltenders have not received much help over the past two months in terms of offensive production, there have also been nights when inconsistent goaltending has cost Vancouver on the scoresheet. Mar 4, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goalie Nikita Tolopilo (60) replaces goalie Kevin Lankinen (32) against the Carolina Hurricanes in the second at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/9c75db2d-3e34-4b45-a393-b18689ce8456.jpeg] Mar 4, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goalie Nikita Tolopilo (60) replaces goalie Kevin Lankinen (32) against the Carolina Hurricanes in the second at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images With nine games remaining, there is still some uncertainty about how Adam Foote and his staff will manage the goaltenders. There are two back-to-backs, which means, in theory, Tolopilo will get at least two more starts. While Lankinen is the starter, now may be the best time to give him some rest so the Canucks can get a larger sample size of Tolopilo's play. Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwr-DfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks]. Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks/]: The Canucks Have The Opportunity To Secure The Best Odds At Picking First-Overall Tonight [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks/latest-news/the-canucks-have-the-opportunity-to-secure-the-best-odds-at-picking-first-overall-tonight] Vancouver Canucks Podcast Rundown: Kane, Boeser, And Pettersson Milestones [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks/latest-news/vancouver-canucks-podcast-rundown-kane-boeser-and-pettersson-milestones] Canucks’ Evander Kane Plays In 1000th NHL Game Against The Golden Knights [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks/latest-news/canucks-evander-kane-plays-in-1000th-nhl-game-against-the-golden-knights] For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free [https://thehockeynews.store/products/print-subscription?_gl=1*if85lf*_ga*MjAzNzYwNzU2Ny4xNzczNDI1NzEw*_ga_ZET34ZFCGX*czE3NzM0MjU3MDkkbzEkZzEkdDE3NzM0MzA3MDIkajYwJGwwJGgw]. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here [http://eepurl.com/i7OC4I]. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum. The Hockey News [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/1c2c51fb-1020-426c-ba4a-21a819e8963c.jpeg] The Hockey News
