Canucks' comeback win reinforces positivity built during pre-season

VANCOUVER – Three hours and 58 minutes into their pre-season schedule, the Vancouver Canucks took their first lead on Saturday. Two minutes later, they had their first win – and the pre-season was over.

The National Hockey League’s 84-game regular season has been described as a marathon. But the new pre-season is an absolute sprint.

In a span of 10 days, from the opening of training camp in Penticton until Saturday’s 4-3 win against the Seattle Kraken at Rogers Arena, rookie Canucks coach Manny Malhotra and his new staff implemented a playing system and the ideals surrounding it, incorporated a bunch of new players, played four pre-season games, added a goalie and set the trajectory for the most ambitious rebuild in franchise history.