With the 4-0 loss to the Red Wings, the Canucks strengthened their hold on last place in the Pacific Division standings. They’re next-to-last overall in the Western Conference, one point ahead of the idle Nashville Predators from the Central Division.
Meanwhile, with their victory, the Red Wings hopped over the other top teams in the Atlantic Division and into first place with 35 points.
The score wasn’t indicative of the overall play. Vancouver continued to generate chances, similar to their efforts against the Avalanche, Mammoth, and Wild. This time around they ran into a red hot netminder. The Canucks finished with 37 shots to Detroit’s 20, but simply couldn’t solve Red Wings goalie John Gibson. He made a handful of ten-bell saves.
Gibson’s first ever win in the NHL was a shut-out of the Canucks in the same building back in 2014. It’s his fourth blanking of Vancouver in his career, and his 14th victory head-to-head against just five defeats.
Vancouver’s starter Kevin Lankinen played two periods and was replaced by Nikita Tolopilo for the third.
Detroit came in with an edge in special teams play this season, but it really didn’t play a part in the outcome. The Canucks went 0-for-3 with the man advantage, one lasting only ten seconds at the end of the game, while the Red Wings’ only power play chances came in the final five minutes of regulation when they were already up 4-nothing.
Detroit essentially played the perfect road game. They took the crowd out of it by scoring first, they simplified their game and took advantage of the opportunities presented, and they got great goaltending. The complete buzz kill for the Rogers Arena crowd came in the second period when the Red Wings scored twice, just 37-seconds apart, to put the game out of reach.
The Canucks continue to play with a limited line-up. It’s a faux pas in the NHL to use injuries as an excuse, but let’s face it, it should be one for Vancouver. Top line centre Elias Pettersson missed his second consecutive game, joining five others out of the line-up, including four on injured reserve.
There’s an strong AHL feel to part of the active roster.
Nevertheless, it’s another Canucks loss in a season that’s quickly slipping away.
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