Despite 3-2 Loss to Golden Knights: Canucks Show Early Promise
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By Doug Hirdle
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- Proof-checked
Summary:
- The Vancouver Canucks finished their first four games 2-2, despite facing three Stanley Cup contenders.
- Paul Cotter scored for the fourth straight game, while Jonathan Lekkerimaki also scored as the Canucks twice tied Vegas before falling 3-2.
- The Canucks now face a difficult six-game road trip, beginning Thursday against the defending champion.
The Vancouver Canucks entered the new NHL season with anything but hip hopes and expectations, but their opening week came to prove that the team could be more competitive than many expected.
Vancouver fell 3-2 to the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday at Rogers Arena, finishing a demanding stretch of four games in six nights with a 2-2 record. Three of those games came against teams viewed as Stanley Cup contenders.
They Stayed Within One Goal
The Canucks were outplayed for long period of time against their opponents in Vegas, only accomplishing 11 shots during the first two periods. At the opposite end, Golden Knights managed a total of 26 shots.
Nonetheless, Vancouver remained within one goal and further pushed for an equalizer late in the third period.
“It was a close one tonight and we played hard,” winger Drew O’Connor said, while acknowledging that the Canucks need better starts.
Vancouver actually took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission, with Paul Cotter scoring his fourth goal in four games. The 26-year-old forward redirected a Filip Hronek shot on the power play with just over a minute remaining in the opening period.
Vegas eventually tied the game, but rookie Jonathan Lekkerimaki restored Vancouver’s momentum in the second when he scored from a sharp angle to make it 2-2.
The tie lasted only moments. Marc Gatcomb put Vegas back ahead at 18:28 of the second period after Vancouver gave the puck away in its own zone.
Coach Malhotra: “We’re Definitely Seeing Progress”
That goal proved decisive as the Canucks could not find another equalizer despite creating pressure late in the game.
“We’re definitely seeing progress in different areas of the game”, head coach Manny Malhotra said. He pointed to the team’s ability to withstand Vegas’ pressure and still leave the first period with a lead as a positive.
Goaltender Kevin Lankinen also played a major role in keeping Vancouver in the game, making 25 saves.
The Canucks entered the season after finishing as the NHL’s worst team last year, but the mood inside the locker room has changed. Players have stressed that they are not satisfied simply with staying competitive.
Centre Max Sasson said,
We think we’re a good NHL hockey team that isn’t an easy out by any means. I think this was a very winnable game.
The schedule will become even more demanding. Vancouver begins a six-game Eastern Conference road trip Thursday against the defending champion Carolina Hurricanes before facing the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning.
For a rebuilding team still learning a new system under Malhotra, the opening 2-2 record provides some encouragement. The bigger test will be whether the Canucks can maintain that level of competition over a full season.
Lankinen said
We’ve got something good cooking here. We’re building a new system, building a new culture, and we’re showing some glimpses of that.
Doug Hirdle
Author
betting.ca
