‘It’s embarrassing’: Vancouver Canucks’ offence sputtering in extended skid

VANCOUVER — Sarcastic cheers rang out through Rogers Arena on Thursday night when, midway through the third period, the Vancouver Canucks logged their sixth shot on net.

The struggling NHL team had gone nearly two periods without testing a goalie.

“It’s well deserved for us,” forward Drew O’Connor said of the home fans’ snark. “We didn’t give them anything to cheer for.”

There hasn’t been much for the Canucks’ faithful to root for this season.

Thursday’s 5-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings stretched Vancouver’s losing skid to nine games, with the team earning a single point across the stretch.

“It’s the same stuff game after game,” said veteran winger Brock Boeser. “I don’t know where the disconnect is, if guys in here aren’t listening to what the coaches are preaching on our style of play or some of our structure is not working or what it is. But it’s embarrassing.”

After going down 2-0 just over six minutes into the first period, the Canucks showed signs of life when Elias Pettersson sent a one-timer soaring in past Red Wings’ netminder John Gibson on a power play.

It took the visitors just one minute and 54 seconds to reply with a power play tally of their own and Vancouver couldn’t rally again.

“There were a couple fits and (starts) where we had some life and some momentum,” said head coach Manny Malhotra. “But for the most part it was inability to sustain momentum, come out pucks, win puck battles, kill plays in the d-zone.

“It was just a lot of effort-based things that just weren’t there.”

Pettersson’s goal marked Vancouver’s last shot of the first period. The Canucks didn’t register another until the 6:16 mark of the third when Jake DeBrusk snapped a puck at Detroit’s backup goalie Michal Postava.

Generating offence has appeared difficult for the Canucks for much of the season.

Vancouver has been outshot in all but one game (a 4-1 victory over the Calgary Flames on Oct. 3) and outscored 56-35 in its first 12 outings.

The home team also chalked up 17 giveaways in Thursday’s loss, a statistic that Malhotra said highlights the team’s inability to control pucks and control play.

Boeser, one of the team’s associate captains, said he’s spoken to players when they make mistakes, but continues to see a disconnected group on the ice.

“I don’t know if guys don’t listen or there’s something in the structure we need to fix or what it is,” he said. “But we definitely have a lot better in this room.”

The effort level in Thursday’s loss to Detroit was “a little disappointing,” Malhotra said.

“There has to be a level of concern by the players to know that it’s not good enough, and it’s only going to get harder,” the coach said.

“And the identity that we have as a team is very much a reflection of their attitude and what they’re putting forth. So there has to be an acknowledgment at some point that it has to come from within. And it just needs to be better.”

POSITIVE POSTAVA

Postava was one player who appreciated the third-period cheers.

The 24-year-old Czech netminder came in to start the final frame after Gibson got something in his eye.

“I’m just thinking they’re grading my save,” he said of the crowd noise. “I know it’s been, like, five shots after two periods, so they just cheering about shots on net. I just get in my mind, like, they’re cheering for me and just feel good.”

Postava was called up from the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins on Thursday morning after Daniil Tarasov was hurt in practice.

He caught a 6 a.m. flight in Michigan, changed planes in Minneapolis and arrived in Vancouver around noon.

Going into the game, there were no plans to have the six-foot-one, 222-pound goalie make his NHL debut, said Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan.

“I didn’t find out until about 10 minutes left in the intermission that this was going on, (Gibson) had something in his eye,” McLellan said.

“They’re still looking at it, and so the (emergency backup goalie) is dressing, Michal’s told he’s going to play, and away he goes. Did a real good job, happy for him, and congratulations, you’re in the NHL now.”

Going from sitting on the bench to playing was “crazy,” Postava said.

“I think it’s the reward for me for all the work I do, like last year and this year also,” he said. “I’m so happy now, and hope I be working more and more and have more games.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2026.

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press