Novotny’s three-point game powers Vancouver Canucks to 5-2 win over Seattle Kraken

Novotny’s three-point game powers Vancouver Canucks to 5-2 win over Seattle Kraken

Published 5:46 pm Sunday, September 13, 2026

A little bit of reflection after a 7-3 loss on Saturday (Sept. 12) went a long way for the Vancouver Canucks in game two of the Prospects Showcase inside Abbotsford’s Rogers Forum on Sunday (Sept. 13).

They regrouped, reviewed and skated away with a 5-2 win over the Seattle Kraken buoyed by a four-goal second period to put the game out of reach for the visitors.

Canucks head coach Ryan Papaioannou said Saturday’s game generated 71 clips for the coaching staff to review, but they cut it down to 30 and decided to keep the morning session more brief. He said what eventually resulted was a more focused and aware team.

Puck drop for game two of the 2026 Prospects Showcase at Abbotsford’s @RogersForum. @SeattleKraken beat @Canucks 7-3 yesterday evening #canucks pic.twitter.com/x1o1txdWVE

— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) September 13, 2026

“I thought structurally today that we were better,” he said. “And our competitiveness was high – but I thought that was there yesterday too.”

Papaioannou rolled with Braden Cootes, Adam Novotny and Brooks Rogowski as his top line and that trio impressed. The line generated three goals, with Cootes scoring twice and Novotny potting one.

“I think it was probably just something we all wanted to see,” he said, of the decision to put the line together. “And whether they had a successful game or not, I think it was fun to watch.”

The trio were on three different lines on Saturday and Papaioannou said it was another impressive game for 2026 first round pick Adam Novotny, who had a three-point night.

“I think in a good way he’s like a bull in a China shop,” he said. “Everything is going north for him, chipping pucks to areas, winning races and he’s really tough to knock off pucks.”

Some of that skill was on display to open the game when Novotny received a pass in the slot from Rogowski and wired a laser past Kraken goalie Nikke Kokko to open the scoring at 15:54. Vancouver led 1-0 after one, with both teams firing 12 shots. Vancouver starting goalie Ty Young was tested in the first, but came up with several key saves.

The Kraken tied the game at 5:23 of the second when Tyson Jugnauth connected on the power play, however the Canucks responded after a solo effort by Bennett Schimek about two minutes later re-took the lead. Just a few minutes after that saw Gabe Chiarot show off his skilled hands and feet in close quarters to put Vancouver up 3-1. Moments later it was Rogowski to Cootes and suddenly Vancouver had a 4-1 lead.

SHOOTER’S SHOOT.

Lethal shot from Adam Novotný. 🎯 pic.twitter.com/P5OIQVEJ2r

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) September 13, 2026

Seattle’s Jagger Firkus cut the lead to two at 11:33 with a shot that beat Canucks goalie Aku Koskenvuo, but more work down low by Novotny led to him setting up Alonso Gosselin at 16:24. Vancouver led 5-2 after two and had the 24-20 shots edge after 40 minutes.

The Kraken out shot the Canucks 13-7 in the third, but neither team managed to get on the scoreboard and Vancouver earned the 5-2 win.

Papaioannou had some praise for Rogowski, noting that he didn’t know a lot about the 2026 second round draft pick before these two games. He liked his offensive game and the entry he completed on the goal he set up for Cootes. Rogowski agreed with his coach that the adjustments worked.

“It was a good compete all-around and more structure – that benefited us,” he said.

Things we love to see:

Rogowski to Cootes 🫡 pic.twitter.com/EZNM0tsI6O

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) September 13, 2026

He said the line was a good fit, pointing out that he played with Novotny in the past at a prospects game and that Cootes is easy to play with.

“He’s got an elite shot release,” Rogowski said of Novotny. “You saw that on his first goal today, that’s pretty sick. With his speed too, he creates so well and it opens up the ice for everyone else.”

The next event on the calendar for the Canucks is training camp, which occurs at the South Okanagan Events Centre in Penticton from Sept. 17 to 20. The Canucks then open the preseason schedule with a rematch against the Kraken in Seattle on Sept. 19. The club then heads to Calgary to face the Flames on Sept. 22 and conclude the preseason with games in Vancouver on Sept. 24 and 26 against the Edmonton Oilers and Kraken respectively.

The Canucks kick off the regular season in Edmonton on Sept. 29.