Canucks Player Grades: Effort was there in tough 5-3 loss to Ducks

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The numbers have been so numbing for the Vancouver Canucks, it was hard to comprehend they were actually trending in their favour Tuesday.

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Yes, the NHL’s last-place team won two previous meetings against the Pacific Division leading Anaheim Ducks this season. And the Canucks also prevailed in nine of the previous 10 meetings and won four of the past five.

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However, most of that success came before the retooled Ducks took flight this season.

Regardless, a chance to play spoiler was there for the Canucks and it was a danger game for the Ducks, if they let down their guard on a 6-3-1 run. What transpired was another night where the Canucks showed flashes of the kind of consistency that’s going to win games.

And in a tough 5-3 setback, there was more bad than good. Even another second-period slide where the Canucks allowed two goals in a span of 2:24, it didn’t deter the drive. And that’s all fans want to witness in this rebuild. It’s called hope.

“Even though we didn’t catch the win tonight, our guys are starting to play with better structure,” lauded Canucks head coach Adam Foote. “Ninety per cent of the time we were good in all zones and playing connected, especially at the end there.

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“We made a hard push and played with a lot of confidence. And we didn’t lose momentum when we put it (puck) over the glass (penalty) and the guys were calm. I really liked our leadership group.”

They killed off a Ducks 5-on-3 advantage for 1:35 that spilled into the third and gave them a chance at a rare home-ice victory. However, when Mikael Granlund buried his own rebound with 16 seconds left in the man advantage, that sinking feeling didn’t last long.

Just 1:21 later, Drew O’Connor pounced on an Evander Kane rebound and ripped home his career-high 17th goal to even the count again at 3-3. And then Kevin Lankinen denied Cutter Gauthier on a breakaway and finished with 29 saves. The Canucks were outshot 34-30.

There were many good take-aways, even though Mason McTavish would bag the winner and an empty-netter sealed the deal. And for O’Connor, his goal was a reward for constant hustle, drive and presence.

“I thought we had a pretty good effort overall, a lot of good looks and chances,” said O’Connor. “The focus was getting in on them and playing around the net. We win and lose as a team and it’s nice when you can score. And if we play like that, we’ll give ourselves a chance to win more often than not.

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“We we were sharp tonight and it helps when you score early. It kind of motivates our group.”

Jake DeBrusk also struck for his 12th power-play goal of the season and had a glorious chance to make it 4-4 in the third period. Liam Ohgren was then denied on a breakaway.

Elias Pettersson set up a pair of goals to hit 300 career assists and 500 points. He’s the second fastest player in franchise history to record 500 points at 533 games. Thomas Gradin accomplished the feat in 529 games.

“I thought we fought well,” said Pettersson. “We’re going to play until the final whistle, put up a good battle against the first-place team and could have won it. We moved the puck well on the power play (2-for-3) and it was cool numbers for me to hit.

“I’m always trying to play a good two-way game and some games it goes better and I will block a shot.”

For the record, losses hurt to core

History can be kind or cruel.

Either way, there are lessons to be learned from success or failure, and the lack of impact the Canucks are enduring where it matters most, hurts to the core.

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The club remains at just eight wins on home ice this torturous season. The franchise record for fewest home triumphs in one campaign is 10, but it comes with a caveat and lets the 1994-95 club off the hook.

That was the lockout shortened 48-game season, so surely with a 10-8-6 home mark in the final season at the Pacific Coliseumthat 18-18-12 club was capable of many more wins in a full campaign. A memorable home mark for futility in a full-pull season could have gone to the 1998-99 edition that was just 14-21-6 on home ice.

However, there were also 13-win teams here in 1976-77 and 1977-78.

So, with just four home games remaining, these Canucks will set the full-season franchise record for fewest wins here. And those meetings are against teams in playoff contention — Los Angeles, Utah, Vegas — so a win will be tough, even if there’s incentive to play spoiler.

However, none of those past struggles seem as sufferable as this sorry slog to end a dreadful season for a club that has so many self-inflicted wounds. The collective fight Tuesday was encouraging, but the Canucks have scored the second-fewest goals, allowed the most, rank 21st on the power play and last on the penalty kill. Getting better in all those critical categories is imperative to consistently turn a competitive corner.

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And with the Canucks raising ticket price next season in a roster rebuild requiring years to reach potential, it seems like the final injustice for fans who have bucked up to back the product.

REPORT CARDS

Forwards

Evander Kane (C+)

Back with EP40, wrap chance in first, four shots, seven attempts.

Elias Pettersson (B-)

Early holding penalty in D-zone, set up two goals, solid in draws.

Drew O’Connor (B)

Memorable night with big goal. Four shots, six attempts. Solid.

Liam Ohgren (B-)

Denied on big breakaway in third. Strong stride caused havoc.

Marco Rossi (C+)

More feisty than usual. Three hits to go with 60% on draws.

Brock Boeser (B-)

Very strong PP shift. Grade A slot, snipe from side. Three shots.

Max Sasson (C)

Plenty of good speed but not much push in the offensive zone.

Teddy Blueger (C+)

Strong night in the faceoff circle with 67 per cent efficiency.

Linus Karlsson (C+)

Defending was the name of his game. Drew tough matchups.

Curtis Douglas (C+)

Good chance down low, bad D-zone trip, three shots, two hits.

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Aatu Raty (C)

Fourth-liner good in faceoff circle at 64 per cent, two hits.

Jake DeBrusk (B)

Swept home PP feed, ended seven-game drought, four shots.

Defence

Zeev Buium (C+)

Confidence grew in top pairing with Hronek, lots of jump, pace push.

Filip Hronek (B-)

Beat wide on Killorn goal, set up two goals, five shots, eight attempts.

Marcus Pettersson (C+)

More steady in own zone, picks his spots to get involved offensively.

Tom Willander (C+)

Motor running for easy zone exits, jumped into play, defended better.

Elias Pettersson (C+)

Flipping puck over glass late in second period gave Ducks 5-on-3 PP.

Pierre-Olivier Joseph (C)

Returned from upper-body injury, played simple, didn’t chase game.

GOAL

Kevin Lankinen (C+)

Twice denied Carlsson in tight in first frame. Kept club in tough tilt.

bkuzma@postmedia.com

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