A game that started off with a bang with three goals in the first seven minutes too often felt like dribbling in the remaining 53.
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Regardless of what the 2021-22 Vancouver Canucks are going to be, they are still a work in progress.
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That’s the best conclusion after a 2-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers at Rogers Arena on Thursday night.
A game that started with a bang with three goals in the first seven minutes too often felt like dribbling for the remaining 53 minutes of the game.
Once again, Elias Pettersson struggled through much of the night to create a lot of offense. And Nils Höglander, who was described by head coach Travis Green after opening night as something of a Mr. Fix-It, is suddenly goalless in eight games.
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Against the weary Flyers (Philadelphia played Edmonton the night before), the Canucks were outmatched at work in the first period and were outshot 15-4.
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The Canucks reversed the flow of the game a bit in the second period, out-shooting the Flyers 16-5 and finally getting a few shots from the slot, but they really only annoyed Flyers goalkeeper Martin Jones (of North Vancouver, of course) once or twice. with his most notable point-blank stop on Juho Lammikko.
But in the third, even as Philadelphia’s tired legs seemed to be catching up, the Canucks struggled to generate a lot of offense.
They made just eight five-on-five shot attempts, which isn’t good enough for a team chasing the game.
The big picture shows the Canucks looking more cohesive on defense on the season, but their offense remains in a low gear. Pettersson and Höglander aren’t the only forwards fighting to make a real impact on the scoreboard: Brock Boeser, JT Miller, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Tanner Pearson and Vasily Podkolzin each have just one goal this season.
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The ever-spirited Sean Couturier opened the scoring just 22 seconds into the game at 2v1 after a pinch from Tyler Myers didn’t quite work. Quinn Hughes tied things less than two minutes later as he floated a shot through and past Jones.
James van Riemsdyk’s power play goal at 6:58 remained the winner, the veteran winger keeping his stick on the ice for Couturier to side on the puck. Couturier had picked up the puck on a clever set piece, Claude Giroux directed the puck at him from the end boards behind the net from the opposite side of the zone.
This is what we learned …
Flash that glove
Despite the early goal, Canucks goalkeeper Jaro Halák was a bright spot all night for the home team.
He prevented the doors from blowing up in the first, achieving a neat series of gloved lifeguards in open glances for the Flyers in the first.
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He made a big save on a power play late in the second period to keep him close, denying a chance to cross the fold for Couturier. And maybe he was a bit lucky when Travis Konecny’s shot hit the shaft of his stick and was swung out of play; but the veteran goalkeeper was in position before the shot, making it a difficult scoring opportunity for the winger.
Home cooking
Jones, whom the San Jose Sharks bought after a contract disaster, is largely a comeback project for the Flyers, who signed him to a one-year contract in the summer to back Carter Hart.
Jones didn’t look like the bust he was in San Jose, making every save look easy, even as the Canucks pushed late to find a tying goal.
Hughes’ goal was a bit of luck, as his shot initially hit the post and then slammed into the open cage of his foot.
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Jones’ best save of the night was over Lammikko, although he also slipped to the right late in the third.
He made 27 saves in the night.
Welcome back
It was a homecoming for Zack MacEwen, whom the Canucks lost on waivers to the Flyers on the eve of the season.
He went out of his way to make an impact in this game, getting into a spirited fight with Luke Schenn in the second period.
He also looked out of breath early in the game, taking a heavy hit on the side boards from Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
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