Canucks Can't Sustain Third-Period Lead, Lose 3-2 In A Shootout To The Flyers
The Vancouver Canucks fall 3-2 in a shootout against the Philadephia Flyers.
Photo by Bob Frid-Imagn Images - Canucks Can't Sustain Third-Period Lead, Lose 3-2 In A Shootout To The FlyersThe Vancouver Canucks suffered their second straight loss, falling 3-2 in a shootout to the Philadelphia Flyers. Just like against the Calgary Flames, the Canucks entered the third period with a lead but left the game with only one point. Nils Höglander and Teddy Blueger provided the goals, while Kevin Lankinen was solid in his first start, stopping 30 of the 32 shots he faced.
Despite a strong first period, Vancouver continually lost momentum as the game went on. They were outshot 13-8 in the third period, and despite having the majority of possession in overtime, they only managed one shot on goal. If not for the play of Lankinen and the bottom six, this game most likely would have resulted in a regulation loss.
When asked about his first start of the season, Lankinen mentioned the fan support, saying, "I loved it. This building is electric. I felt like the fans were in it and gave us a lot of energy. I was excited to get the start and trying to do my best to earn more starts here and help the team win."
While Lankinen and the bottom six stepped up, Quinn Hughes was easily the Canucks best player on the ice. Vancouver's captain set a new career high in ice time and finished the night with a shot on goal and a blocked shot. He also had five shots blocked by the Flyers, with an additional two missing the net. It is clear that Hughes is trying to put the team on his back and has, unsurprisingly, been a standout during each of the first two games of the season.
As for Head Coach Rick Tocchet, he was pleased with the defensive effort from the team. When asked about limiting Philadephia's chances, he said, "Like I said to you guys, even last year, if we had a weird or a tough effort, maybe not a good effort, we always bounced back. So, I thought we did a good job in the D zone bouncing back. It's two overtime losses now we got, we need to make some big plays."
Lastly, Tocchet was unable to give an update on Tyler Myers, who left the game in the first period. Myers had to be helped off the ice and could not put any pressure on his leg after an awkward collision with Joel Farabee along the boards. The Canucks do have a few days before they leave on their four-game road trip, which leaves them plenty of time to evaluate Myers and decide if a call-up is needed.
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Facts and Stats:
- Kevin Lankinen becomes the first Finnish goaltender to start a game for the Canucks since Mika Noronen in 2006
- Derek Forbort records his first point since December 2, 2023
- Quinn Hughes sets a new career high in regular season ice time at 31:29
- Canucks fall in a shootout for the first time since January 15, 2024, against the Columbus Blue Jackets
Scoring Summary:
First Period:
12:55: VAN- Nils Höglander (1) from Conor Garland
17:25: PHI- Tyson Foerster (1) from Joel Farabee and Bobby Brink (PPG)
Second Period:
11:25: VAN- Teddy Blueger (1) from Derek Forbort and Pius Suter
Third Period:
2:48- PHI: Cam York (1) from Ryan Poehling and Garnet Hathaway
Overtime:
No Scoring
Shootout Winner:
PHI- Morgan Frost
Up Next:
With the two-game homestand now complete, Vancouver hits the road for four straight, starting in Tampa Bay on Tuesday. There are still questions surrounding if that game will be postponed or not, with more information being available closer to Tuesday. As of right now, puck drop is scheduled for 4:00 pm PT from Amalie Arena
