Vancouver Canucks: Takeaways from 4-3 loss to Nashville Predators

The Vancouver Canucks gave it their everything and fell just short of toppling the Nashville Predators for the second time in one week. Here’s what we learned from their 4-3 overtime loss.

It’s not very often where Vancouver Canucks fans and players can feel satisfied in a losing effort, especially when they have their chances to win it.

But Thursday night in the Music City was an exception. The Canucks really pushed the Western Conference-leading Nashville Predators to the limit, erasing a late 3-1 deficit to force overtime. Vancouver fell in the extra frame by a score of 4-3, but this is certainly one of those rare feel-good losses.

The Canucks managed to get at least one big point out of it, and their point streak extends to four games. They’re coming back to the west coast, having gathered five of an available six points on the road trip.

Vancouver begins a five-game homestand against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday. There’s time to gain ground in the standings, thanks to their impressive showing away from home this week.

Now, let’s examine three takeaways from the loss.

1. Brock Boeser stays hot

Brock Boeser began the rally by scoring with just over four minutes to go, helping the Canucks stay in the game. They wound up forcing overtime and got a point out of it. That doesn’t happen without Boeser.

The second-year sniper is now up to four goals in his last three games. He didn’t score a point against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday, but that was still one of Boeser’s best outings of the season.

He’s now up to 10 goals and 18 points on the season. And wouldn’t you have it? The Canucks have gone 3-0-1 in their last four games now. A healthy and productive Boeser makes a huge difference on this team. If he stays healthy, the Canucks will surely avoid such another brutal slump that hurt them big in November.

It’s good to have The Flow back.

2. Anders Nilsson still looks off

Anders Nilsson made just his 10th game appearance of the season on Thursday, and it was his first start since last Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild. Well, Nilsson certainly looked rusty in his return to the crease.

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The first goal Nilsson gave up was one that simply cannot happen. Ryan Hartman took an innocent shot from the high slot which beat Nilsson glove side. Shades of Dan Cloutier, anybody?

Former Canuck Nick Bonino had the second goal of the game — a shot from the left circle. Nilsson didn’t come out far enough to challenge him. That too should have been a routine save for the 28-year-old as well.

The last two goals weren’t on Nilsson by any means. But the Canucks didn’t get the big saves from him when they needed it.

And you can’t give up two porous goals that early into a hockey game. On the road. Against one of the NHL’s elite teams.

Nilsson hasn’t been sharp for a while, and if this doesn’t change, you have to wonder if the front office will consider moving him and make Thatcher Demko the backup.

3. These Canucks are resilient

Their record isn’t going to impress may, but nobody can deny how resilient this young Vancouver team is, and it couldn’t be more evident than these past two games. It started with that incredible comeback win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday, where they erased a 2-1 deficit and won 3-2 after a pair of late goals.

Two days later, the Canucks had to visit the top top team in the Western Conference, a club that simply doesn’t blow multi-goal leads — especially on their own ice.

But Brock Boeser scored with just over four minutes left to get it within one, and then Bo Horvat‘s hard work paid off as he banged in a loose puck to tie the game with 44 seconds left. They lost in overtime, sure. But the Canucks got a much-needed point out of this, when it looked like they were going home empty-handed.

And let’s not forget that Nov. 2 home game against the Colorado Avalanche, where the Canucks scored with 36 seconds left to force overtime, after allowing a late goal. Vancouver wound up winning 7-6 in overtime, just when they looked destined for a regulation loss.

This Vancouver team simply won’t give up. They won’t hand teams easy points. For a team that’s in rebuilding mode, the Canucks are sure displaying the resiliency that you usually only see from real contenders.