Adam Novotný, Braeden Cootes and Brooks Rogowski combined for three of Vancouver’s five goals as the Canucks beat Seattle 5-2 in Game 2 of the Prospects Showcase.
The Story
The Vancouver Canucks used balanced production and timely execution to defeat the Seattle Kraken 5-2 in Game 2 of the Prospects Showcase at Rogers Forum, following a need to respond after their previous showing. Vancouver’s top line of Adam Novotný, Braeden Cootes and Brooks Rogowski drove much of the offence, with each player directly credited among the game’s three stars.
Novotný led the way with a three-point performance, recording a goal and two assists to earn the first star. Rogowski added two assists for the second star, while Cootes contributed with a goal that completed the trio’s collective impact on the score sheet.
The Canucks’ coaching staff highlighted structure as a key difference in the win. Abbotsford Canucks head coach Ryan Papaioannou said he liked how his group played with more structure in Game 2, and he pointed to a carryover of competitive intensity from Vancouver’s outing on Saturday.
In explaining what has made Novotný’s game effective, Papaioannou described his approach as consistently aggressive and disruptive: winning races, getting pucks to dangerous areas and being difficult to knock off the puck. The coach also noted that Novotný’s mobility and ability to make plays were part of what he believes stands out, even for a big forward.
Papaioannou also praised Rogowski, saying the forward’s stick work and playmaking become more noticeable when he has teammates around him. Rogowski, for his part, said it feels natural to play with Novotný and Cootes, pointing to the shared speed and offensive threat that helps open ice for him to generate plays for his line-mates.
Both line-mates tied their readiness to recent summer competition. Rogowski credited the 2026 World Junior Summer Showcase and the Hlinka Gretzky Cup for helping him stay game-ready, and said he played 10 high-quality games over the summer before arriving at the Prospect Showcase.
Goaltending also shifted during the contest, with both teams rotating starters. For Vancouver, Ty Young began and made 14 saves on 15 shots, then Aku Koskenvuo took over midway through the second period and stopped 17 of 18 shots. Seattle used Nikke Kokko for the first period, and Maks Corovic for the remainder, after Kokko completed Game 1 earlier.
Vancouver opened the scoring in the first period on a rush. Brooks Rogowski fired a pass to Adam Novotný, who beat Seattle’s Alexis Bernier with a deke and finished top shelf to give the Canucks a 1-0 lead at the first intermission.
The second period began with Seattle tying the game on a power play when defenceman Tyson Jugnauth scored. Vancouver quickly regained control, scoring three straight goals to take a commanding lead, including a finish by Bennett Schimek after he drove down the left side and found the net, followed by a play in front where Carson Cameron’s pass set up a quick backhand from Gabe Chiarot.
Vancouver extended its advantage through continued pressure and odd-man-rush execution, with Braeden Cootes scoring after receiving a precise pass from Rogowski net-front. Seattle answered later when Jagger Firkus scored off the rush, but Vancouver produced the closing goal as Novotný kept the puck alive along the boards, leading to a shot from the point by Alonso Gosselin that restored the five-goal total and sealed the 5-2 final.
For Vancouver, the win matters as a showcase-style test of how quickly young players can turn structure and chemistry into tangible outcomes. The three-star impact from the top line, the ability to respond after a special-teams goal from Seattle, and the controlled transitions into the second half of the matchup all provide a clear snapshot of what the Canucks want from their prospects in a high-competition setting at Rogers Forum.
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