The Canucks return to Rogers Arena in search of answers
The Vancouver Canucks have now lost five straight games and continue to slide in the standings of the Scotiabank North division. Thankfully, they’ve returned to Vancouver after a more than difficult road trip, and now they’re set to host three straight home games against the Calgary Flames.
Vancouver knows they need to get back on track, and they appeared to take baby steps in the right direction on Monday night. But despite putting in a full team effort in the final game of three straight against the Leafs, the Canucks were still swept.
They did, however, put their best foot forward in one of their better showings of the season. Outshooting their opponent 32-19 — the drive to win was there, but it still wasn’t enough. Auston Matthews turned on the jets in the third period and the Maple Leafs found a way to solve Braden Holtby and the Canucks’ defence. The loss stings, but at least it wasn’t just another blowout.
Now, for the first time this season, Vancouver has two days off. It’ll be a day of much-needed rest, but I can imagine that Travis Green will have his group of skaters right back out on the ice for practice the following day. In a season like no other, the days for practice are few and far between, and the Canucks can use all the practice they can get right now. They need to find answers. Fast.
The Canucks won’t have the cheers of thousands of fans to boost their morale as they try and dig themselves out of this 6-10 hole, but the pure magic that comes from sleeping in your own bed is enough of a home ice advantage in itself. That was a bit of a joke but in all seriousness, Vancouver will take what they can get, especially as the team with the highest travel milage in the NHL.
All the cogs in the machine that make this Canucks team work are starting to come together. Elias Pettersson is riding a four-game point streak, Quinn Hughes is still leading all NHL defencemen in points, and Alex Edler has turned up the physicality a couple of notches. It’s all a work in progress that just needs to start clicking.
The answers to the Canucks’ problems are there, but it’s up to the locker room personnel to find them. No one superstar is going to swoop in and save the day. It has to be all or nothing. It has to be a team game. It all starts with having a good practice. It all ends with a good team effort at home.
Next. The Canucks need to play more like Hoglander. dark
The Canucks clash with the Flames at 7 PM Pacific on Thursday night.