Canadian Teams Morning Review - Dec. 30: Sens, Jets, Oilers, Flames & Canucks
Monday night offered a snapshot of where Canada’s teams actually are—not where they hope to be by April, but where the ground is firm and where it’s starting to give way. There were wins earned the hard way, losses that felt heavier than the score, and a familiar reminder that structure and goaltending still travel better than confidence and reputation.
The common thread wasn’t drama so much as definition. Edmonton leaned on depth and goaltending. Calgary continues to win tight games without apology. Vancouver survived a night that could’ve slipped. Ottawa, meanwhile, is still searching for traction, and the longer that search goes on, the louder the questions become.
Senators vs. Blue Jackets (4–1 Columbus): Slippage, Not Bad Luck
This Senators’ loss wasn’t about the delayed start or bad bounces. It was about Ottawa failing to tilt the ice against a team they should be able to pressure. Columbus dictated the pace early, got timely saves from Jet Greaves, and never looked uncomfortable protecting a lead.
Jake Sanderson’s goal briefly hinted at pushback, but it never turned into sustained pressure. The defining moment came quietly: Ottawa didn’t respond after falling behind 2–1. Greaves didn’t have to steal the game—he just had to be steady, and that was enough.
Three straight losses now, and the issue isn’t effort so much as coherence. Ottawa looks like a team still deciding what kind of night it wants to have after the puck drops.
Oilers vs. Jets (3–1 Edmonton): Pickard Buys Time, Depth Pays Off
This game tilted on one thing: Calvin Pickard’s calm. Forty-one saves don’t happen by accident, and it doesn’t happen without structure in front of it. Winnipeg pushed early on, but Edmonton absorbed it without panicking.
Max Jones and Jack Roslovic's scoring mattered more than the empty-netter. Those goals told you Edmonton didn’t need its stars to force the issue. Connor McDavid’s assist extended his streak, yes—but this was a night where the Oilers won by not leaning too hard on him.
For Winnipeg, Adam Lowry’s milestone deserved better. The team now has seven games without a win, and the margin for error is shrinking.
Flames vs. Bruins (2–1 Calgary, OT): Winning the Small Moments
Calgary continues to live comfortably in one-goal games, and that’s not an accident anymore. Blake Coleman’s net-front work forced the overtime power play. Connor Zary finished it. Dustin Wolf handled the rest.
The defining moment wasn’t the goal—it was Calgary staying patient when Boston pushed late. The Flames didn’t chase the game. They waited for it to come back to them.
Four wins in five now, and Calgary looks like a team that knows exactly what kind of game it wants to play, even if it isn’t always pretty.
Canucks vs. Kraken (3–2 Vancouver, SO): Lankinen Holds the Line
This could have gone sideways. Seattle carried long stretches of play, emotions ran hot early, and Vancouver needed Kevin Lankinen to be sharp from the start. He was.
The key moment came after the Garland–McCann fight. Vancouver responded immediately, tied the game, and steadied itself. Elias Pettersson’s goal mattered not just for the score, but for the reset it provided.
Winning in a shootout on the road isn’t ideal, but it counts. Vancouver didn’t dominate—they survived.
Final Thought: Different Paths, Same Calendar
Edmonton and Calgary are building habits. Vancouver is managing nights that could become problems. Ottawa is still searching for answers it hoped to have by now. It’s early—but not that early anymore.