Canucks Schedule: ‘Not ready to play’ at home is tiresome tale of poor preparation
‘Sometimes, you just have to get pucks behind guys and do that all night. We were turning for pucks a lot (Saturday). It gets tough when you’re doing it all game.’ — Canucks defenceman Tyler Myers.
By Ben Kuzma
Last updated 5 hours ago
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You knew there was going to be some significant rust Saturday. More than normal.
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You knew it would take some time to find the legs, especially following a four-day break that messes with normal game preparation. And deep down, you probably knew all this would contribute in some way to another disturbing Vancouver Canucks loss on home ice.
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Canucks Schedule: ‘Not ready to play’ at home is tiresome tale of poor preparation Back to video
No matter the opposition — whether the young, skilled and speedy San Jose Sharks, or any other team looking to gain NHL traction — Rogers Arena has become an easy place to play. It’s the antithesis of what’s supposed to occur on home ice and a league-worst 4-11-1 record is the startling reality of poor preparation and execution.
It’s not just the losing, it’s how the Canucks lose.
After a spirited road trip in which they won four of five games following the Quinn Hughes trade, there was feeling that maybe the best was yet to come. Maybe the addition of three new players was the spark to ignite more drive, consistency and commitment. That spark went out in a hurry against the Sharks and Thatcher Demko had a rare off night.
And when you consider the Sharks flew to Vancouver on Saturday morning, as per NHL holiday break rules, and then left that night for Anaheim, a slow start by the Canucks was puzzling. The Sharks were aggressive. The Canucks coughed up a pair of early 2-on-1 breaks with ill-timed neutral-zone pinches, and the visitors were off to the races in a 6-3 win.
The irony is the Sharks are vulnerable defensively, and if you sustain offensive-zone pressure, they will make mistakes and cough up pucks. You’d like to think that was the game plan. Not chasing the game and letting North Vancouver phenom Macklin Celebrini look like he was playing on a pond with two points (1-1), eight shots and 16 attempts.
Celebrini was allowed to do his thing to gain further comparisons to a budding Sidney Crosby clone with his speed, skill and strength. He sits third in NHL scoring with 57 points (20-37).
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“He’s a good hockey player — we know that,” Canucks head coach Adam Foote said of the Winter Olympics-bound centre. “He played good. He found open spaces up high and got to the net. They were digging and he was working hard.
“We weren’t ready to play early. We got outworked. You saw the first goal (jamming home a loose puck) and then we have that big 5-on-3 kill and we think we’re going to come back. You can’t cruise into a game.”
If anything, the Canucks’ veterans should have followed the efforts by Conor Garland and Kiefer Sherwood. Garland set up two goals and Sherwood had five shots, six attempts, five hits and just missed a shorthanded chance.
“Garland was digging and he never quits,” added Foote. “He’s been going through some things and a couple of injuries, but he’s always there to play for you.”
Meanwhile, Brock Boeser hasn’t scored in 12 games and has one goal in his last 19. Jake DeBrusk has one goal in his last 16. DeBrusk practised as an extra Sunday and will be a healthy scratch for Monday in Seattle.
That will grab the collective attention. And maybe have a trickle-down effect on the poor home record
“It’s something we have to change,” veteran defenceman Tyler Myers stressed Sunday. “With the passionate fan base that we have, and as big and as good of a barn we have, we have to make this is a tough place to play. We need to address it and start figuring out a way to bring the fans good hockey — what we play on the road a lot more.”
“We weren’t very good in any parts of the game last night (Saturday). Those are the details I’m talking about. Sometimes, the intentions are good and you want to make plays. Sometimes, you just have to get pucks behind guys and do that all night. San Jose executed and we were turning for pucks a lot. It gets tough when you’re doing it all game.
“We have to realize what wears teams down and show some maturity.”
Here’s what awaits the Canucks this week: I went 2-1-0 last week:
Canucks at Kraken
When and where: Monday, 7 p.m. | Climate Pledge Arena
TV: Sportsnet Pacific. Radio: Sportsnet 650
What to watch: The Kraken strung together some pre-Christmas promise with road victories in San Jose, Anaheim and Los Angeles — the first time the franchise accomplished the California sweep — but what becomes of it all? The Kraken are scrambling for consistency and offence. They’re 14-4-3 when scoring at least three goals and 1-10-3 when netting two or less. A second worst 2.54 goals per game won’t cut it.
Who to watch: Winger Jordan Eberle
It says something about the injury crush of a condensed season when a 35-year-old is leading your club in scoring with 23 points (13-10) through 35 games including three on the power play and three game-winners. He’s the only sniper in double-digit goals, and with Jaden Schwartz among five on the ailing list, goals have been hard to manufacture.
Prediction: The Kraken got a chance to shake off the rust Sunday against Philadelphia and back-to-backs are always a challenge to muster up the resolve. Seattle is 7-7-3 at home and Canucks play better on the road. They prevail 4-2.
Canucks vs. Flyers
When and where: Tuesday, 7 p.m. | Rogers Arena
TV: Sportsnet Pacific. Radio: Sportsnet 650
What to watch: A failure to show up against the Flyers after being pummelled in Philly 5-2 to cap the five-game, pre-Christmas trip won’t play out well for the Canucks or their patrons. Especially with a former Vancouver bench boss at the Flyers’ helm. They hounded pucks and pressured the Canucks into bad passes, bad positioning and bad defence. You’d like to think this is the night the Canucks would like to get it right.
Who to watch: Winger Trevor Zegras
A change of scenery can be the elixir. For Zegras, shipped from Anaheim to Philadelphia in June, it unlocked his potential. The ninth-overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft has already passed the disappointing 12 goals he scored last season. His 37 points (15-22) through 36 games leads the Flyers and his quick-pass chemistry with linemate Travis Konecny often leaves defenders grasping at air to stop the dynamic duo.
Prediction: The Flyers are flirting with the Metropolitan Division lead and you know Tocchet will have his club jacked up to win this one. And as much as the Canucks should be prepared, hope will turn to fear of another home-ice loss. Philly prevails 4-3.
Canucks vs. Kraken
When and where: Friday, 7:30 p.m. | Rogers Arena
TV: Amazon Prime. Radio: Sportsnet 650
What to watch: Much like the Canucks, the Kraken are looking at what can be down the road to build a contender and not a pretender. With a healthy Berkly Catton, eighth-overall pick in 2024, joining Matty Beniers (23), Shane Wright (21), Ryker Evans (24), Ryan Winterton (22), Jani Nyman (21) and Jacob Melanson (22), the Kraken are encouraged and of the belief that their future is brighter than the recent past.
Who to watch: Winger Drew O’Connor
The big left winger, who can also fill in at centre, scored his ninth goal of the season Saturday off a shorthanded odd-man rush in the third period to pull the Canucks to within a goal of the Sharks. His previous NHL high was 16 goals with Pittsburgh in 2023-24 and he’s on pace to score 20. That’s pretty good value for a player who can move up and down the lineup. Effort has never been a problem.
Prediction: Maybe this is the night that everything goes right on home ice. Both clubs are struggling to score — the Canucks are 24th and the Kraken are 29th — so this one will come down to more will than skill. Gut feeling says the Canucks find a way and win 4-1.
Canucks vs. Bruins
When and where: Saturday, 7 p.m. | Rogers Arena
TV: Hockey Night In Canada, SNP. Radio: Sportsnet 650
What to watch: Losing to the Sabres by a 4-1 count was often considered the low of lows for Boston. Not now. The rejuvenated club won its eighth-straight game Saturday by beating the Bruins on home ice to send a message. Boston hast lost five of its last six. “Start to probably the finish, not a good day that we wanted,” said Bruins head coach Marco Sturm of his club being outshot 34-22. “It’s not going to get easier.”
Who to watch: Winger Morgan Geekie
Geekie, 27, had a career-high 33 goals last season and something has really clicked in Boston since he left Seattle. The big pivot has scored 72 goals in his last three seasons with the Bruins and has 25 goals in 39 games this campaign. He’s on pace for 52 goals, six behind league leader Nathan MacKinnon, and has an NHL best 26 per cent shooting accuracy.
Prediction: The Bruins will be looking for revenge. Liam Ohgren scored the lone goal of the shootout in the seventh round on Dec. 20 in a 5-4 win, and Kevin Lankinen made 38 saves and has stopped 45 of 51 shots in shootouts over 181 career NHL games. He’s the difference in a 3-2 win.
