Canucks: 3 takeaways from 4-2 loss to Maple Leafs

Bo Horvat and the Vancouver Canucks slotted into Hockey Night in Canada’s main time slot on Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Here’s what we learned.

The clouds grow dark over the pacific west coast as the Vancouver Canucks were bested by the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday evening.

After a disappointing loss on Thursday against the nation’s capital Ottawa Senators, Vancouver really needed a bounce-back win in order to keep things in check in the tightly packed Pacific Division. Thatcher Demko got the nod from coach, Travis Green, and you knew he would be eager to turn things around and get back on track.

Both teams looking to be in very similar situations. The two Canadian clubs each building a young core, but trying to make the next step with a playoff berth in 2020. Each team very offensively gifted with a fairly balanced defensive match-up, but ultimately Toronto with the advantage in goal.

Demko would need to step his game up and be equal to Toronto’s Frederik Andersen if Canucks were going to find a win. He let in a few soft goals early on, but the Canucks, with all the momentum late, failed to tie the game and force 3-on-3 puck in overtime. No points in the playoff race for the Canucks, but let’s dive into three takeaways from the Saturday night bout.