Kevin Lankinen has made a point of focusing on whatB次元官网网址檚 in front of him B次元官网网址� whether itB次元官网网址檚 a puck or an opportunity.

The goalie stuck to that ideal Friday as he made his debut for the Vancouver Canucks (0-0-2).

B次元官网网址淟iving day by day has kind of been my motto the last few years,B次元官网网址� he said after the Canucks dropped a 3-2 shootout decision to the Philadelphia Flyers (1-0-0).

B次元官网网址淣ot look too far ahead, not look too far behind, and just put my best foot forward every day. And with those habits every day, kind of build that long term success, if you will. So, that was a good first one, but a lot to build on, too.B次元官网网址�

Lankinen stopped 29 of the 31 shots he faced Friday before Morgan Frost put a shot past him glove side in the fifth round of the shootout.

Some of his biggest saves of the night came midway through the third period when PhillyB次元官网网址檚 highly touted prospect Matvei Michkov fired the puck from the slot, hitting the Finnish netminderB次元官网网址檚 pad. The rebound popped out to rookie Jett Luchanko, whose shot sent Lankinen diving backward and to his right for a save as bodies crashed into the crease.

B次元官网网址淚 think that was a little bit of desperation mode there. But I think thatB次元官网网址檚 part of the game, too,B次元官网网址� Lankinen said. B次元官网网址淚 got the bounce, and I think I got some help from the guys, too, along the goal line there. So thatB次元官网网址檚 a team effort.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 trying to do my best, and I know the guys have got my back. And likewise. So itB次元官网网址檚 fun to play behind this team.B次元官网网址�

Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet was impressed with LankinenB次元官网网址檚 performance.

B次元官网网址淩eally good,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 been good the whole camp and every game heB次元官网网址檚 played a solid game. Really solid.B次元官网网址�

Lankinen was a late addition for the Canucks.

The 29-year-old goalie inked a one-year, US$875,000 contract with Vancouver on Sept. 21 when the team was already in Penticton, B.C., for training camp.

Now in his fifth NHL season, Lankinen went undrafted before signing with the Chicago Blackhawks as a free agent in May 2018. He spent two seasons with the club before joining the Nashville Predators ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.

The six-foot-two, 190-pound netminder has 45-43-15 career record with a .905 save percentage, a 3.06 goals-against average and three shutouts.

He joins a Vancouver goalie squadron led by all-star Thatcher Demko, who is out indefinitely with a knee injury.

The Canucks are B次元官网网址渁 great group, from top to bottom,B次元官网网址� Lankinen said.

B次元官网网址淪olid (defence) core, exceptional talent up front. Obviously, goaltending has been really strong here, too. And even the coaching staff, starting from the head coach to the goalie coach, and everything is top-notch,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淪o, IB次元官网网址檓 just proud of being part of this.B次元官网网址�

VancouverB次元官网网址檚 defence was tested Friday when Tyler Myers went down less than two minutes into the game after hitting Joel Farabee along the boards.

Myers spent several minutes on the ice being looked at by trainers before he was helped up and went directly to the locker room, favouring his right leg. He did not return.

Making adjustments when a defenceman leaves the game isnB次元官网网址檛 easy, admitted Vancouver blue liner Derek Forbort.

B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檝e just got to be smart with your changes. You donB次元官网网址檛 want to over extend,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t sucks, but everyoneB次元官网网址檚 just got to pick up the slack.B次元官网网址�

The Canucks defenders logged big minutes Friday, including captain Quinn Hughes, whoB次元官网网址檚 ice time totalled 31:29.

Lankinen liked the team in front of him rallied.

B次元官网网址淭hat was huge, obviously, playing with five (defencemen) throughout the whole game,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淓specially a game like that, a lot of grinding and battling. They did a tremendous job. IB次元官网网址檓 really proud of the d-core.B次元官网网址�