Canucks: 3 takeaways from the 2-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators

It wasn’t a great start to the week for the Vancouver Canucks.

After wrapping up their four-game homestand with a 4-2 victory on Saturday night, the team headed East to continue their mini-series against the basement-dwelling Ottawa Senators. This contest not only marked the first time that the Canucks hit the road since their team-wide COVID-19 outbreak, but it also marked the start of their final Ontario tour of the season, which would present the team with four games in six nights.

As expected, the Canucks came out flat to start the first period, with players undoubtedly battling both travel and respiratory fatigue throughout the evening. They were able to find their legs again towards the end of the tilt, but it was ultimately too little, too late. The team would end up falling to the Senators by a final score of 2-1.

Yes, this game did bring the team’s current belief-o-meter down a peg,  but not all is lost.

The Canucks are set to face off against the Senators on Wednesday afternoon for the final time this year, and they have the chance to close out their four-game series with a .500 record. Plus, the team still has games in hand compared to their divisional foes, setting the stage for a playoff push that could come down to the numerical wire.

Are the current numbers in the Canucks’ favour? A few might shake their head in agreement, but, in all likelihood, that sentiment probably won’t land with the rest of the fanbase.

Nonetheless, the team has not been mathematically eliminated by the hockey gods just yet, so we might as well enjoy the heart and soul ride as long as we can.

Here are three takeaways from last night’s loss to the Senators:

1. Braden Holtby is playing his best hockey of the year

In other words, Braden Holtby is dialled in.

The former Washington Capitals netminder entered Monday night’s contest on a personal three-game winning streak, and he appeared poised to continue his success.

He was once again the team’s best player throughout 60 minutes of play, stopping 25 of 27 shots. His rebound control and puck management were solid, and he was a big reason that the players in front of him still had a fighting chance to win for the majority of the game.

Holtby hasn’t shown any signs of fatigue lately, and he continues to come up with timely saves in all situations, including robbing rookie Tim Stützle late in the second period on a delayed penalty, as well as back-to-back denials in the final few minutes of the third period.

Over the last four games, Holtby has sported a .933 SV% and 2.26 GAA, and has, more importantly, provided his team with Vezina-quality goaltending at just the right time. And if the Canucks want any hope of capturing the fourth and final spot in the Scotia North Division, they’ll need to hope and pray that Holtby can continue to put up consistently solid performances on a nightly basis.