Canucks’ Road Woes Continue in Columbus as Skid Hits Nine
The Vancouver Canucks’ road trip went from bad to worse on Thursday night, falling 4-1 to the Columbus Blue Jackets and extending their winless streak to nine games (0-7-2). It was another night where the scoreboard told the story - one of missed opportunities, defensive breakdowns, and a team that just can’t seem to find its footing away from home.
Brock Boeser finally broke through with a power-play goal, but it was far from enough against a Blue Jackets squad that looked sharp in all three zones. Kevin Lankinen made 32 saves, but once again, he was left to weather a storm of defensive lapses and poor coverage in front of him. Vancouver’s issues weren’t just about effort - they were structural, and they’ve been recurring throughout this brutal stretch.
Let’s break down what’s going wrong - and what might still be salvageable.
Boeser Gets One Back - But It’s Been a Long Time Coming
Brock Boeser found the back of the net for the first time since November 28, snapping a 21-game goal drought with a clean wrister from the faceoff dot on the power play. It was a much-needed moment - not just for Boeser, but for a Canucks team desperate for something to build on.
It marked Boeser’s 10th goal of the season, but that number comes with context. Over those 21 games without a goal, he’s managed just five assists and carries a minus-20 rating. That stat line doesn’t fall squarely on his shoulders - it’s a reflection of a team that’s been out of sync offensively and leaky defensively.
Boeser’s still a key piece in Vancouver’s top-six, and when he gets time and space, the shot is still there. But the Canucks can’t afford to wait for individual sparks. They need consistent, collective production from their top forwards if they want to stop the bleeding and start climbing out of the NHL basement.
Lankinen Battles, But the Support Just Isn’t There
With Thatcher Demko still sidelined by a lower-body injury, Kevin Lankinen has been asked to carry the load in net - and it hasn’t been easy. Thursday night was another tough outing, with Lankinen turning aside 32 shots in a game where he was under siege far too often.
Two of Columbus’s goals came on the power play, and three were from close range - the kind of high-danger chances that no goalie can consistently stop without help. Lankinen’s numbers in January - a 3.20 GAA and .893 save percentage - don’t look great, but they don’t tell the full story. He’s been left to fend for himself far too often, with breakdowns in coverage and slow starts putting him in a hole early.
The Canucks’ goaltending hasn’t been the problem - it’s been the symptom. Until the defensive structure tightens up and the penalty kill starts holding its own, it won’t matter who’s in net.
Power Play Remains a Frustrating Puzzle
Yes, Vancouver did manage a power-play goal - Boeser’s tally broke up the shutout - but the overall picture remains bleak. The Canucks went 1-for-3 with the man advantage, but they struggled to generate sustained pressure, traffic in front of the net, or second-chance looks.
This isn’t a new issue. Over the course of their losing streak, the power play has been more of a missed opportunity than a momentum-changer. Head coach Adam Foote has tried to mix things up - moving pieces around, experimenting with cross-ice setups and different looks from the point - but the execution hasn’t followed.
The bigger issue may be confidence. The puck movement isn’t crisp, the decisions aren’t quick, and the chemistry just isn’t there. When a power play starts to feel more like a chore than a chance, it’s tough to flip the switch.
Where Do the Canucks Go From Here?
The Canucks are now 0-6 on this road trip and 1-9-2 in their last 12 overall. The numbers are ugly, and the eye test hasn’t been much kinder. With Demko still out, Lankinen will likely continue to carry the load in goal - and he’ll need more help in front of him if this team wants to stop the spiral.
Offensively, Boeser’s goal is a small step forward, but the top-six needs to find a rhythm. The talent is there - but the cohesion isn’t. If Vancouver can start stringing together clean zone exits, stabilize their defensive zone structure, and get more consistent contributions from their forwards, there’s still time to shift the narrative.
But the margin for error is razor-thin. This isn’t about flipping a switch - it’s about stacking small wins, cleaning up the details, and finding a way to play mistake-free hockey for longer stretches.
The Canucks aren’t broken - but they’re fragile. And until they start playing with the kind of urgency and structure that winning teams rely on, the road back is going to be a steep one.