Professor’s Press Box Morning Review – November 9: Canucks, Oilers, Leafs, Habs & Sens

It was a busy night for Canada’s hockey clubs, with every storyline imaginable packed into one Saturday slate—redemption, collapse, grit, and grace under pressure. From Vancouver’s timely bounce-back to Edmonton’s sobering reality check, the evening offered a snapshot of where each team truly stands as autumn turns to the long grind of November. The theme? Identity. Some clubs found theirs, others lost it, and a few are still searching.

Across the country, the games carried their own distinct tones: the Canucks clawed out a win that felt earned, not gifted; the Oilers were humbled on home ice by a ruthless Avalanche squad; the Maple Leafs stumbled against their oldest nemesis; Ottawa flirted with disaster before Tim Stützle’s brilliance saved the night; and Montreal kept rolling with another confident, complete performance. In short, it was a night that told five very different Canadian stories—but all worth the read.

Game One: Canucks Find Their Spark – Vancouver 4, Columbus 3

For the Vancouver Canucks, Saturday night’s 4–3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets wasn’t just another game—it was a much-needed statement that this team can grind out wins when things get tight. Brock Boeser’s late go-ahead goal was classic Boeser—calm, skilled, and opportunistic—and it couldn’t have come at a better time. After weeks of inconsistency, his finish off a broken play reminded fans just how lethal his release still is. Jake DeBrusk, meanwhile, continues to settle into his new surroundings, showing chemistry with Drew O’Connor and finally getting rewarded at even strength. It wasn’t perfect hockey, but it was solid hockey, and that’s a step forward.

This was a game where the Canucks bent but didn’t break—a theme that’s starting to define their identity under pressure. With Thatcher Demko resting and Kevin Lankinen holding the fort, Vancouver’s depth came through, from Quinn Hughes generating chaos at the blue line to Conor Garland capitalizing on second chances. The win puts the Canucks back at .500 and gives them a chance to string together their first back-to-back victories in nearly a month. But the real test comes Sunday against the high-flying Avalanche. If the Canucks can channel this same resilience against Colorado, it might just signal that this group is learning how to win the tough ones.

Game Two: Avalanche Bury Oilers – Colorado 9, Edmonton 1

Saturday night at Rogers Place was a humbling one for the Edmonton Oilers, who were steamrolled 9–1 by the Colorado Avalanche in what might be their most lopsided loss in recent memory. Nathan MacKinnon put on a show—two goals, two assists, and total control of the ice—exposing every weakness in an Oilers team that looked disconnected and dispirited from the drop of the puck. Edmonton’s defensive structure completely fell apart, leaving Stuart Skinner to face a firing squad before being pulled in the second period. Connor McDavid managed the lone Oilers goal on the power play, but by then, the game had long since slipped away.

For head coach Kris Knoblauch, this one will sting because it wasn’t just about effort—it was about identity. The Oilers looked like a team waiting for someone else to solve their problems. MacKinnon and the Avalanche, meanwhile, played like a group that already knows who they are: fast, ruthless, and relentless. Edmonton’s veterans admitted it felt like “rock bottom,” and it’s hard to disagree. The question now isn’t whether the Oilers can rebound—it’s whether they can rediscover the cohesion and urgency that once made them contenders.

Game Three: Maple Leafs Outworked by Bruins – Boston 5, Toronto 3

The Toronto Maple Leafs ran straight into a well-oiled machine Saturday night, falling 5–3 to the Boston Bruins in a game that exposed old habits and missed chances. Toronto’s offense showed flashes—Nick Robertson, Matias Maccelli, and John Tavares all found the back of the net—but the defensive lapses and shaky goaltending that have haunted this team before resurfaced at the worst times. Anthony Stolarz struggled early, allowing four goals on 19 shots before being replaced by Dennis Hildeby, who steadied things but couldn’t undo the damage. Morgan Rielly’s two assists were a bright spot, yet too often the Maple Leafs chased the game instead of dictating it.

From Boston’s sharp puck movement to Fraser Minten’s goal against his former club, this one carried a sting of both irony and warning. The Maple Leafs had won three straight coming in, but were clearly second-best against a disciplined Bruins team missing one of its top defenders. Craig Berube’s group can score, no question—but Saturday underscored that until Toronto learns to manage momentum and clean up its defensive detail, it’ll keep paying for the same mistakes.

Game Four: Stützle Saves the Senators – Ottawa 3, Philadelphia 2 (OT)

For the Ottawa Senators, Saturday’s 3–2 overtime win over the Philadelphia Flyers was equal parts relief and reminder. Relief because Tim Stützle’s overtime winner salvaged a game the Senators nearly threw away, and reminder because their third-period collapse showed how fragile a one-goal lead can be when a team stops skating. Ottawa started brilliantly—veterans David Perron and Claude Giroux each setting up early goals that gave the team a 2–0 cushion—but by the final frame, that spark had vanished. The Senators went more than 22 minutes without a shot on goal, and it nearly cost them the night entirely.

Still, Stützle’s finish in extra time bailed them out and may have saved the mood in the dressing room. Linus Ullmark was steady under siege, and while Ottawa’s defense bent, it didn’t completely break. What’s clear, though, is that this team can’t afford to slip into “protect mode” so early—especially against a hardworking Flyers squad that thrives on pressure. The Senators have the skill to build leads; now they need the composure to hold them.

Game Five: Caufield Leads the Charge – Montreal 6, Utah 2

The Montreal Canadiens turned a shaky start into a statement win Saturday night, storming back from a 2–1 deficit to crush the Utah Mammoth 6–2 at the Bell Centre. Cole Caufield was once again the spark, scoring twice to match Nathan MacKinnon for the league lead in goals and showing why he’s becoming one of hockey’s most dynamic finishers. Montreal’s offense utilized all four lines. Alex Newhook and Oliver Kapanen each scored a goal and added an assist. In the crease, Sam Montembeault stood tall with 25 saves.

Just as impressive was how the Canadiens closed the game. They dominated the third period, outworking Utah in every zone and capitalizing on turnovers instead of forcing plays. Nick Suzuki continued his steady rise as captain, picking up his 20th point in just 15 games—the fastest Canadiens player to hit that mark since Saku Koivu in 1996–97. Rookie Ivan Demidov also made a bit of history, becoming the first Montreal freshman since 1985–86 to record 13 points through his first 15 games. This win wasn’t just about scoring depth—it was about maturity. Montreal didn’t just react to adversity; it dictated the pace.