Vancouver Canucks: 3 takeaways from 3-2 loss to Minnesota Wild

So close, but nowhere near. The Vancouver Canucks played a good game, but they fell 3-2 to the Minnesota Wild at Rogers Arena on Tuesday evening. Here’s what we learned from their fourth straight loss.

The Vancouver Canucks probably deserved to win this game, but hockey is an unfair sport.

Despite a bundle of Grade-A scoring chances and a fine performance from goalie Anders Nilsson, the Canucks were unable to pick up a much-needed win on home ice. They’ve now lost four in a row and fall to 11-16-3 on the season.

Let’s look at three takeaways from their 3-2 home loss to their former Northwest Division enemies.

1. Josh Leivo arrives in style

Well, at least there’s one thing to smile about in this game. Josh Leivo scored the game’s first goal in his Vancouver debut. Acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday in exchange for Michael Carcone, Leivo looked like a comfortable and natural fit with his new team. For one game, at least.

Leivo played 16:53 and played 5:34 on the power play. He produced some quality scoring chances and looked like a good fit with Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson. Don’t be surprised if head coach Travis Green gives Leivo more top-six minutes and power play time going forward.

He also deserves another game or two on the Pettersson line. Maybe it was just one flashy game from Leivo, but he sure made the most of his playing time with the Swedish sensation on Tuesday night.

2. Special teams are the difference…again

The Wild simply love going on the power play against the Canucks, and they made Vancouver pay for its careless penalties again. Minnesota scored on all three of its man advantage situations, and the Canucks just didn’t know how to defend against it.

Jason Zucker was left wide open for a one timer from the right circle numerous times, and he finally scored the eventual game-winner at 16:31 of the second period. Perhaps the Canucks should have seen what Minny was trying to do and thwart Zucker from getting open in his sweet spot.

Meanwhile, the Canucks failed to score on any of their three power play opportunities. It was the same old song and dance for this team on Tuesday: Golden opportunities presented to them, but the Canucks just didn’t take advantage.

And that is why Minnesota left the west coast with the season series, while the Canucks were handed a fourth straight loss.

3. Draft lottery watch time

I’ve seen a good deal of folks make fun of me for somewhat buying Vancouver’s hot start to the season, believing they could actually stay competitive in the playoff race. Well, I’m sorry for getting excited about a 10-6-1 start to the season.

Maybe I was silly for thinking this team would hang around in the playoff hunt for a bit. But did any of you expect them to lose 12 of 13? Especially with the way most of their players were producing? With Elias Pettersson in the fold, Vancouver wasn’t supposed to unravel like this.

But the Canucks have done just that, and they now sit sixth-last in the NHL. But oh, the 27th-placed Philadelphia Flyers are a point behind with five games in hand. The St. Louis Blues have played five less games and are just four points behind Vancouver.

So yeah, it’s safe to say this will be another year of watching the draft lottery in Vancouver. Who knows? Maybe they’ll get lucky and land a top-three selection in 2019. Other than that, I’m out of words.