Three takeaways from Canucks 4-2 loss to Tampa Bay Lightning

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 13: Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning stops a shot from Jason Dickinson #18 of the Vancouver Canucks during a game at Amalie Arena on January 13, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 13: Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning stops a shot from Jason Dickinson #18 of the Vancouver Canucks during a game at Amalie Arena on January 13, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
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After losing 5-2 to the Florida Panthers, the Vancouver Canucks headed upstate for the second game of their five-game road trip. Standing in their way were the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champions: The Tampa Bay Lightning.

Canucks head coach Bruce Boudreau made some changes to the lineup. Elias Pettersson was moved to the wing with Bo Horvat and Conor Garland. Jason Dickinson was moved back to centre.

Pettersson has played wing before but has not started on the wing in his career until now.

“He wanted to try left wing in the past and I thought I was putting our top six forwards together and our bottom six forwards together,” said Boudreau on putting Pettersson on the wing per Farhan Lalji of TSN.

Luke Schenn also made his return to Tampa Bay for the first time since signing with Vancouver in the offseason. Schenn won two Stanley Cups with the Lightning and received his second Stanley Cup ring and reunited with his former teammates on Thursday morning.

https://twitter.com/Canucks/status/1481678525845454851

Schenn even received a video tribute from the Lightning in the first period.

The Canucks did play well in this game. They battled hard for a full 60 minutes. The Canucks were getting some good scoring chances and got plenty of zone time. Unfortunately, the Lightning showed them why they are one of the elite teams in the league.

Despite getting out 26-21, the Lightning capitalized on their scoring chances and their best players showed up. Lightning struck three times past Thatcher Demko. Speaking of Demko, he had a better performance than the last game in Sunrise and was named a Pacific Division representative for this year’s All-Star game.

“It’s not a victory and I’m not happy about not winning the game, but if you’re looking for points for us playing well, there was a lot of good there tonight,” said Boudreau.

Moral victories won’t be the tickets to the playoffs.

Here are three takeaways from the Canucks 4-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.