Thank goodness I didn’t pay $179 to go to this game.
The Vancouver Canucks outdid themselves in all the worst ways last night, losing in embarrassing 5-1 fashion to the Los Angeles Kings at home. Once again, the team found themselves down early and had no fight back. In fact, they looked quite limp and disinterested, overall unengaged in winning this contest. And for Canuck fans, that has to be frustrating to watch. It wasn’t good hockey – really, it felt like the Canucks were simply skating around for the sake of it last night.
Here’s the loss, by the numbers.
As always, you can find our glossary guide of advanced stats here.

Game Flow

It probably comes as a surprise that the Canucks weren’t thoroughly played off the map for the entirety of this game. Unfortunately for them, their best period and stats came after going down 3-0 in the first 10 minutes. Vancouver managed to finish the first period with 70.97 CF% and 61.01 xGF%, which doesn’t look bad on paper. But looking at the trendline, it was clear that they were late to get going, and the stats didn’t result in anything. Unfortunately, the intermission killed any possible momentum that the team generated, with the Kings holding handy shares in Corsi and expected goals in both the second and third. Most frustrating of all is that the Canucks got five cracks at the power play with nothing to show for them.

Heat Map

What a surprise, the Canucks failed to get high-danger chances. The scoring chances were an even 19-19 at 5v5 play, but LA had a slight 8-6 advantage in high-danger chances. Just those two were noticeable with the hot spot right in tight in the crease, while the Canucks failed to get something similar on their own end. Most notably, however, is that across five power plays, the Canucks only had one shot on net and two high-danger chances for. Simply put, that isn’t good enough, especially when there were plenty of chances on the man advantage to claw back into the game.

Individual Advanced Stats

Corsi Champ: Filip Hronek had one of the better outings statistically for the Canucks and that should be a bit of a concern. Leading the way with 64.71 CF%, the Czech posted a respectable 69.85 xGF% while maintaining a 4-2 advantage in high-danger chances. Unfortunately for the defender, Hronek was also on ice for two goals against in what was a tire fire of a game. He still needs to shake off some rust after coming back from injury, but at least the numbers were pretty solid in this one.
Corsi Chump: Another defenceman here as Derek Forbort finished bottom of the team with his 35.00 CF%. Also on ice for two goals against, his xGF% was a putrid 3.16% on the night. Yes, that’s right, 3%. Forbort put up a barely noticeable 0.02 xGF which contributed to a large part of that share metric being as bad as it was, and being on ice for a 2-9 deficit in scoring chances and 0-4 high-danger chance differential would only compound to that. Again, like in the previous 30-40 games of the season, Vancouver needs to address the glaring holes on the back end.
xGF: Leading the way in xGF% was Pius Suter’s 92.47%. That’s a pretty impressive margin to be holding, as while he didn’t find himself on the scoresheet, Suter contributed to keeping a 7-1 scoring chance edge and 3-0 high-danger chance advantage, leading to a leam-best 0.05 xGA. The Swiss’ 0.62 xGF was also the fourth-best mark on the team too, which can be good or bad depending on the perspective. Suter did a pretty good job in taking on his opposition too, playing the majority of the night against LA’s top six as well. Quinn Hughes again led the Canucks in xGF with a 0.96, which is pretty much all that needs to be said about this team on any given night.
GSAx: It was definitely not Thatcher Demko’s night. Not that the team in front of him did any favours to his numbers, but the American netminder clearly isn’t at his best self. The Kings recorded a 2.24 xGF on the night, meaning that Demko’s GSAx was a pretty bad -2.76. Four of the goals were registered from high-danger chances, while the remaining goal came from a middle-danger chance. Not the worst types to be giving up, but the sheer amount definitely isn’t helpful. Demko hasn’t put together a string of consistent performances between the pipes that we’re used to seeing, and it is probably symbolic of the team as a whole.

Statistical Musings

Miller: Probably the thing that made the most headlines last night was JT Miller’s terrible performance. The numbers back it up wholeheartedly – Miller’s 0.04 xGF was the second-lowest on the team behind Forbort, and his 7.05 xGF% was also the second-worst while facing six scoring chances against and three high-danger chances against. His possession numbers weren’t awful, but that’s way too low of a bar to be holding him to. Miller should be one of the offensive leaders of the team, and yet last night he was more akin to Forbort and Teddy Blueger. That is unacceptable at every level, and Tocchet benching him last night was definitely well-deserved.
One-line team: That still can’t score. But hey, at least the numbers aren’t terrible. Jake DeBrusk – Elias Pettersson – Jonathan Lekkerimäki were the only trio that managed to get anything good going last night, putting up a team-high 63.16 CF% and second-best 81.17 xGF%. Their team-best 0.55 xGF was more than double the contribution that second place made, with Heinen-Suter-Garland recording 0.26. It’s nice to see it, but what would be even nicer is if they would find the back of the net, something that the Canucks desperately need more of. And, for the rest of the team to not even come close to their mark, is concerning.

As a team

CF% – 54.55% HDCF% – 47.06% xGF% – 49.27%
The numbers flatter the kind of effort the Canucks put in last night. They weren’t up to the task and got behind the 8-ball early, then lacked consistent effort to dig themselves back into the game. It wasn’t good, and really, the quality of the game was just so poor overall. Outside of Hughes trying to carry this team on his back, none of the team’s best players are playing up to their standards. Something needs to give, sooner rather than later.
Vancouver hosts the Edmonton Oilers tomorrow night for their next matchup.
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