Dad strength is a common phrase heard around the sports world. In the past, players have put together standout performances right after either becoming a dad for the first time or adding to their family. That appears to be the case for Vancouver Canucks goaltender Nikita Tolopilo, who has put together two strong performances since the birth of his daughter. After picking up a 23-save victory in the AHL [http://thn.com/ahl] on Wednesday, Tolopilo helped snag the Canucks two points on Saturday against the Minnesota Wild [http://thn.com/minnesota]. The 25-year-old stopped 28 of the 30 shots he faced, which included a first-period breakaway on Kirill Kaprizov. Post-game on Saturday, Tolopilo spoke about his hectic week, which included flying home early from the road trip last Monday to be with his wife as she went into labour. "It's been fun and same time, tough week," said Tolopilo. "But yeah, I'm so happy to have my daughter now, and I'm so proud of my wife. She did a great job. She let me get some rest before the game so I can sleep at the hotel. So she takes care of the other, and I really appreciate it, because I know how hard it is to be alone right now for her." Tolopilo's performance on Saturday was once of the best of his NHL career. He stopped 13 of the 14 shots he faced in the third and arguably stole a victory for Vancouver. When asked if his new daughter was a good-luck charm, Tolopilo smiled and expressed how happy he is at the moment. "Now I have more to play for. It's great. It's huge. I feel so thankful." Apr 14, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goalie Nikita Tolopilo (60) makes a save against the San Jose Sharks in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/beabc455-eb75-49c2-84b9-54173cebb944.jpeg] Apr 14, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goalie Nikita Tolopilo (60) makes a save against the San Jose Sharks in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images Tolopilo is the perfect example of hard work paying off. After going undrafted, he has worked his way up the depth chart and has now become a reliable option at the NHL level. If Tolopilo keeps playing at this level, the Canucks are going to have a tough decision to make in the near future. 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/]: 3 Canucks Who Could Play At Center In Place Of Elias Pettersson [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks/latest-news/3-canucks-who-could-play-at-center-in-place-of-elias-pettersson] Vancouver Canucks Assign Jonathan Lekkerimäki To Abbotsford [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks/latest-news/vancouver-canucks-assign-jonathan-lekkerimaki-to-abbotsford] Must See: Canucks' Tom Willander Scores First Career NHL Goal Versus The Minnesota Wild [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks/game-day/must-see-canucks-tom-willander-scores-first-career-nhl-goal-versus-the-minnesota-wild] 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*twovkp*_ga*MTk0NDM0Mzk0OS4xNzQ2MjQ0ODA2*_ga_ZET34ZFCGX*czE3NjEyNTE0MDEkbzU3MCRnMSR0MTc2MTI1MjA1MyRqNjAkbDAkaDA.]. 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/b7b0ad6a-1329-44d6-a165-85c488f39368.jpeg] The Hockey News
