The Canucks fell 6-3 to the Kings on Saturday night.
For the third time this season, the Vancouver Canucks (47-22-8) fell to the L.A. Kings (41-25-11), this time losing 6-3. Brock Boeser, Dakota Joshua and Teddy Blueger provided the offence for Vancouver, while Casey DeSmith stopped 23 of 29 shots in the loss. With the loss, the Canucks have now dropped four of their last six games, with their previous win against a playoff team coming on Mar. 9 against the Winnipeg Jets.
A combination of poor goaltending and missed coverages cost Vancouver tonight. While the Canucks did a good job limiting the Kings' shots, L.A. was able to take advantage of mistakes and blown coverage, scoring six on the night. This was also a good reminder of how much Vancouver needs a healthy Thatcher Demko, as DeSmith struggled throughout the game. Overall, the biggest takeaway from this game is that the Canucks need to hope they don't draw the Kings in the playoffs, as they have struggled mightily against L.A. all season.
Quotes:
J.T. Miller on the Canucks performance against the Kings:
"Kind of a hard one to evaluate. It's frustrating. We seemed to crack more than they did, and they won the special teams game. Each team got shorties, but they capitalized on their power play, and we didn't."
J.T. Miller on Vancouver having to play from behind:
"That shouldn't change anything about our game plan. We know they defend well but so do we. They make you earn everything, and it's an experienced group. We're certainly going to be in situations like this moving forward, so gotta find a way to not make as many big mistakes in games like that."
Rick Tocchet on falling behind early:
"The two power play goals early, little undisciplined, then you are chasing the game."
Rick Tocchet on the Canucks power play:
"We had nine or ten shots. It's just conversion. Yeah, it was better, but we gotta convert on some plays.
Facts and Stats
- Teddy Blueger scores his first goal in 40 games
- Nikita Zadorov records the first shorthanded point of his career
- J.T. Miller joins Henrik Sedin and Quinn Hughes as the only players in franchise history with multiple 62+ assist seasons
- Brock Boeser's 39 goals are tied for the 16th-most in a season by a Canucks player
Scoring Summary
1st Period
LAK: 2:48- Adrian Kempe (26th) from Anže Kopitar and Drew Doughty (PPG)
LAK: 5:45- Drew Doughty (15th) from Viktor Arvidsson and Adrian Kempe (PPG)
VAN: 10:48- Brock Boeser (39th) from Elias Pettersson and Ian Cole
2nd Period
LAK: 2:09- Alex Laferriere (12th) from Jordan Spence and Kevin Fiala
LAK: 8:49- Kevin Fiala (27th) from Anže Kopitar and Mikey Anderson
3rd Period
VAN: 7:23- Dakota Joshua (16th) from J.T. Miller and Filip Hronek
LAK: 10:35- Trevor Moore (30th) from Phillip Danault
VAN: 12:35- Teddy Blueger (6th) from Nikita Zadorov (SHG)
LAK: 17:16- Adrian Kempe (27th) (SHG)
Canucks Next Opponent
The Canucks will have a couple of days off before facing the Vegas Golden Knights at home on Monday. Vancouver will be looking for some revenge after falling to Vegas 6-3 last week. Game time is set for 7:00 pm PT from Rogers Arena.
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