The Vancouver Canucks made history on Tuesday. Just not the good kind.
In losing to the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3 in overtime, the Canucks became the first NHL team to lose four consecutive games in which it held a multi-goal lead. When the Canucks jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period, the Blue Jackets had them right where they wanted them.
It’s never a good sign when a coach describes his team as being “afraid to win” and “mentally weak,” especially when he does it one week into the season. But that’s what Bruce Boudreau said after the Canucks blew a 4-2 lead in their 6-4 loss to the Washington Capitals on Monday. That was after they squandered a three-goal lead against the Edmonton Oilers on opening night and a two-goal lead against the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Canucks were already under tremendous pressure to deliver results, and it’s only gotten worse. So why can’t they close out games? Here are three main reasons:
TURNOVERS AND CHANCES ALLOWED OFF THE RUSH
When protecting a lead, teams tend to play it safe to minimize risk. Not the Canucks, whose 6.2 rush chances against per 60 minutes when leading rank 27th in the league.
All three rush goals allowed by the Canucks in that situation — scored by Edmonton’s Darnell Nurse, Philadelphia’s Scott Laughton and Columbus’ Johnny Gaudreau — were facilitated by Vancouver turnovers in the offensive zone.
PENALTY KILLING
After the loss to the Capitals, Boudreau made an interesting comment about his team’s porous penalty kill, which is operating at 57.1 per cent (8-for-14) -- 31st in the league.
“I must have the wrong guys out there, because (our opponents are) scoring in the first 15 seconds all the time,” he said.
Boudreau wasn’t far off in his assessment. Five of the six power-play goals allowed by the Canucks this season have come within the first 20 seconds of the man advantage.
A major reason for that is the Canucks’ inability to win a defensive-zone draw. They’ve lost 10 out of 13 shorthanded faceoffs in their own zone. Only one of the three wins has led directly to a clear.
Curtis Lazar is the primary culprit, going 0-for-6 in the faceoff circle.
GOALTENDING
It’s easy to point the finger at the goaltenders when things go sideways, but Thatcher Demko and Spencer Martin certainly haven’t helped. They sit 24th in the league with a combined .868 save percentage when the Canucks are ahead.
Vancouver has given up 2.55 goals above expected when leading on the scoreboard, the third-worst mark in the league, ahead of only the Ottawa Senators (2.76) and Los Angeles Kings (4.44). That reflects poorly on Demko and Martin.
Although the Canucks’ start to the season has been nightmarish, there’s a reason no team had blown this many games in a row until now.
If the Canucks can correct these issues, then their lead-protection problem shouldn’t last.
Data from Sportlogiq.
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