For most of Thursday night, the Canucks looked like a team that had finally shaken off the weight of a long losing streak.
They skated, they defended, and they carried a 2-0 lead into the third period against the San Jose Sharks, with goals from Drew O’Connor and Liam Oghren giving them a firm grip on the game. It all pointed toward Vancouver’s first two-game win streak of the season.
Instead, the night flipped in a hurry.
The Sharks erased the deficit and then some, scoring twice in 11 seconds on their way to a 3-2 win, a finish that left the Canucks empty-handed after they spent much of the evening hanging with a quick and skilled opponent. Vancouver was still pushing for the tying goal in the final minute, but the comeback bid came up short.
The result landed especially hard because it followed Tuesday’s wild overtime win in Anaheim that ended a draining 10-game losing streak. For a while, this one looked like the start of something more stable. Then the third period happened.
A major reason the Canucks had that early edge was their penalty kill, which held up impressively against a Sharks power play operating at 25 per cent efficiency. Vancouver’s second-worst penalty kill, helped by the steady work of Leevi Meriläinen, shut down San Jose on its first four man-advantage chances.
That didn’t last forever. Macklin Celebrini hit the post on one power play and created three good looks on another, finishing with six shots.
Will Smith then cut the lead to one in the third period with a shot to the far side on San Jose’s fifth power play. He scored again off a drop pass from Celebrini, and Mason Marchment finished the job on the next rush.
“One of the biggest problems with our group is a lack of attention to details in key moments,” said Canucks head coach Manny Malhotra. “Face-off details once gain plagued us and we couldn’t get a clear on the PK. We’ve done a good job establishing what we’re good at when we’re simple and direct.”
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Canucks Let A Winnable Game Slip Away In One Brutal Period
For two periods, the Canucks looked in control against the Sharks, riding a tidy defensive effort and a couple of timely finishes into a 2-0 lead. Elias Pettersson opened the scoring after Jamie Oleksiak made a strong play in the defensive end, and Liam hgren added another in the second period while Leevi Merilinen kept things quiet with several important saves.
Merilinens best work came while Vancouver was killing penalties, where he turned aside multiple looks that could have shifted the game earlier. The night still carried a jolt, though, when Brock Boeser left after taking a shot off his foot, forcing Arshdeep Bains onto the first line and adding another layer of uncertainty to a game the Canucks already let get away in a rough third period. [Read more 🡒]
Canucks Suddenly Have A New Lineup Question Up Front
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Filip Chytil was also moved to injured reserve with an upper-body injury, adding another layer of uncertainty to Vancouvers forward group. Chytil has been dealing with injuries, and while he is eligible to return next Thursday, the Canucks now have to navigate the meantime with a fresh look at their depth options. [Read more 🡒]
Canucks May Like This Young Winger More Than His Trade Cost
Ivan Miroshnichenko is the kind of young winger who can intrigue a team looking for upside, and the Canucks have reportedly been among the clubs with interest. The 20-year-old has not yet carved out a full-time NHL role with Washington, but his blend of youth and pedigree makes him a player worth tracking for a Vancouver team always weighing present need against future value.
The challenge, of course, is the price tag. Washington is believed to be asking for at least a first-round pick, which turns a potential buy-low swing into a much bigger decision for Vancouvers front office. If the Canucks are serious, they will have to decide whether Miroshnichenkos long-term promise is worth paying for before he has fully established himself at the NHL level. [Read more 🡒]