Kiefer Sherwood Steps Up as Canucks Silence Avalanche in Denver
Last night’s matchup between the Vancouver Canucks and Colorado Avalanche might have been the last home game of the regular season for the Avs, but it was Kiefer Sherwood’s moment to shine — and he delivered.
In what was a gritty and determined performance from a Canucks team already out of playoff contention, Sherwood teamed up with Dakota Joshua to help power Vancouver to a 4-1 win in Denver. Both players notched a goal and an assist, making a clear statement that the Canucks still have plenty of fight, even if the postseason is out of reach.
The Avs, who were without superstar Nathan MacKinnon due to rest and an undisclosed injury, clearly missed his presence. His absence snapped a 209-game streak, and he might also sit out the final two games of the season. That’s a tough pill to swallow for Colorado fans, especially with MacKinnon tied at 116 points for the league lead with Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov.
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Sherwood, who slotted into the third line alongside Dakota Joshua and Aatu Räty, showed chemistry and energy right from the first drop of the puck. His goal was a product of smart positioning and relentless pressure, a play that showed why he deserves to be talked about more. With 13:46 left in the game, Joshua pounced on a loose puck in front of the net and pushed the lead to 3-1, effectively sealing the game. Nils Höglander later added an empty-netter to close it out.
Credit also goes to Kevin Lankinen between the pipes. The Canucks goalie was rock solid, stopping 31 shots and keeping the Avalanche from generating any serious momentum, especially in the second and third periods.
Jake DeBrusk also found the back of the net for Vancouver, giving them their third win against Colorado this season — a clean sweep for the first time since 2016-17. That’s no small feat, considering the Avalanche are heading into the playoffs as the Central Division’s No. 3 seed.
On the Colorado side, Devon Toews scored the lone goal, and Mackenzie Blackwood did what he could, turning aside 26 shots. But the Avalanche were missing key names beyond MacKinnon. Defensemen Ryan Lindgren and Josh Manson, along with forwards Jonathan Drouin and Ross Colton, were all sidelined due to various injuries.
This win won’t change the Canucks’ playoff fate, but performances like this — especially from role players like Sherwood — are what coaches and fans love to see. It shows depth, resilience, and hunger. And for Sherwood, it’s a reminder that even late in a season, with nothing to “play for” on paper, there are always opportunities to prove your worth.
The Canucks head back to Vancouver to close out the season against the Minnesota Wild, while the Avalanche will finish their regular season on the road with a back-to-back beginning in Los Angeles. But in this final home stand, it wasn’t Colorado’s playoff-bound stars who made the noise — it was Kiefer Sherwood and the Canucks who stole the spotlight.
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