Canucks: 3 takeaways from 5-3 loss to Edmonton (October 12th)

Special teams not so special

Unfortunately for the Canucks, the first period dominance didn’t carry over, large in part to their special teams.

The team surrendered three powerplay goals on four chances in the final 40 minutes of the game, while also giving up a shorthanded, game-tying tally late in the second period to swing all of the momentum in Edmonton’s favour.

To make matters worse, the Canucks came out even more flat on their own powerplays, notching one lone goal on eight chances.

Of course, Edmonton’s first powerplay goal shouldn’t have even been allowed in the first place, with the referees failing to call a blatant high-stick on Quinn Hughes, who was on all fours with a bloody face during Edmonton’s opening goal sequence.

It’s also hard to blame the penalty kill unit for the second man advantage tally, given that the Oilers executed their tic-tac-toe passing play to absolute perfection.

But, at the end of the day, the Canucks’ special teams cost them two points that they essentially had in the bag following the opening frame.

Moving forward, there’s no doubt that they need tighten up on their penalty kill, while also taking advantage of their powerplay opportunities; otherwise, we’ll be in for another historically-low output for the remaining 81 games.