The ice hockey fans and NHL fraternity saw a major upset on April Fools night as the Vancouver Canucks defeated the Colorado Avalanche 8–6 in a wild, back-and-forth contest.

Despite facing the Avalanche on the back of a six-game losing streak, Canucks put on a strong display to grab a shocking win.

The victory on the date itself added to its symbolic significance. On the occasion of April Fools' Day, the Cannucks would have thought they would be on the receiving end of a Denver onslaught, but they had a shocker waiting for them.

Canucks wasted little time setting the tone. They jumped out to an early lead with aggressive forechecking and quick puck movement.

Max Sasson’s snapshot started the proceedings for Vancouver. He scored the first goal of the match at 00:29 in the first period. 

Nathan MacKinnon scored an equalizer for the Avalanche at 01:22, but the Canucks continued to catch Colorado off guard.

At one stage, the Vancouver were leading 6-2. But Avalanche did not give up easily and started the counterpunch for the next 19 minutes and a half (including the 2nd and 3rd period).

Avalanche Came Back, But Vancouver Canucks Got Over The Line

The Avalanche put up a great fight with Sam Malinski scoring two goals, Parker Kelly and Brent Burns also scoring a goal each to make it 6-6 with 6 minutes of game play remaining. 

It looked like another breakdown from the Canucks defense. They were already short on confidence in the season, and the Avalanche were playing some really good hockey. 

But the Canucks held their nerves and showed character. Marcus Pettersson scored a match-winning goal for the team at 14:21, reducing the score to 7-6. It was his 2nd goal of the season. 

Later, Brock Boeser sealed the victory with an empty-net goal, completing his hat trick and ensuring the upset was complete. He was the star of the game with a hat-trick and an assist. 

Teddy Blueger also scored two goals, while Marcus Pettersson, Jake DeBrusk, and Max Sasson had one goal each. Pettersson had 3 assists, while Rossi and O’Connor had two assists each. 

While the Avalanche remain firmly positioned as a Stanley Cup contender, the loss served as a reminder that no opponent can be taken lightly. And for one memorable night, the Canucks proved that even the biggest underdogs can deliver the ultimate surprise.

The game perfectly matched the chaos of April Fool’s Night. Now, the Canucks will play their next game on April 02, 2026, against the Minnesota Wild. A win there would be great for them, as their fans have not had much to cheer about all season.

Read more at NHL Fan Central!

Written by

Kapil Manghnani