Started after the break in fantastic style.

The Vancouver Canucks dropped a 3-1 decision to the Vegas Golden Knights on the road. Rick Tocchet probably really missed having Connor McDavid, Nathan Mackinnon, and Sidney Crosby to throw over the boards at any given moment. While the reffing was questionable, the Canucks also didn’t put in a convincing effort to win this game. There wasn’t a moment where they looked particularly threatening, the momentum generally staying in Vegas’ favour. Really, it just felt tepid, and for Vancouver, that’s just not good enough.

Here’s the loss, by the numbers.

As always, you can find our glossary guide of advanced stats here.

With three powerplays in the first period for Vegas, neither team really managed to establish a foothold in the game during the limited 5v5 time. The stats marginally favoured the Golden Knights after the opening frame, but it was the second where it really took off. Vancouver was unable to take advantage of the opening goal and subsequent powerplay after, leading to Vegas getting into the lead thanks to a 55.56 CF% share and 74.82 xGF% in the second.

They racked up a huge 1.28 xGF in the frame compared to the Canucks’ 0.43, a difference that the Canucks simply couldn’t overcome. The third was a little better when it came to chance generation, Vancouver managing to accumulate 1.07 xGF in the frame. However, that’s less good when considering that they gave up 1.32 xGA to the Golden Knights to close out the game.

The heat map doesn’t look the most impressive last night for the Canucks either. While their raw chances generated did hit double digits, they weren’t nearly as good in relation to what Vegas was putting up. The Golden Knights accumulated a 31-24 lead in scoring chances with a 14-10 edge in high-danger chances. It shows in their hot spot being a little darker than the Canucks’ right in the slot area. Again, not a horrific difference, and Vancouver did get a good number of opportunities. But their opposition outplayed them and there really isn’t an argument to say that they deserved to win last night.

Corsi Champ: Brock Boeser might not be in a Canucks jersey for much longer, but that doesn’t seem to be impacting his performances. The winger put up Vancouver’s best CF% of 67.65, taking full advantage of the chance to be deployed against Vegas’s weaker middle 6 options. Vancouver was able to hold a 9-4 edge in shots while he was on the ice, and while Boeser didn’t put up points, he at least was able to keep some good momentum rolling for the Canucks in an otherwise uneventful affair.

Corsi Chump: As the Canucks’ best defensive defenceman, Marcus Pettersson was tasked with matching up against Vegas’s top guns. His numbers suffered as a result, coming in last with a 29.03 CF% while also bringing up the rear in xGF (0.25) and xGF% (16.88). However, for someone playing against the likes of Jack Eichel, and giving up a 3-10 scoring chance deficit with a 1-5 hole in high-danger chances, Pettersson only being on ice for one goal against is actually not too horrific. Coupling in that he was playing with Tyler Myers, and the numbers all fall into place.

xGF: Boeser finds himself leading the team again in this category, recording a 70.80 xGF% to lead the team thanks to a second-best 0.28 xGA and fourth-best xGF of 0.69. If those offensive numbers look a little underwhelming, it was because it kind of was. However, Boeser was still on ice for an 11-4 scoring chance difference, a further 5-1 high-danger chance edge as well, meaning that about half of the Canucks’ high-danger chances came while he was on the ice. It’s a great contribution, but unfortunately it simply didn’t lead to anything tangible. Filip Hronek picked up where he left off before the 4 Nations break, putting in work as the Canucks’ best defenceman with Quinn Hughes out by leading with 1.32 xGF on the night.

GSAx: Kevin Lankinen showed his worth fresh off inking that extension to stay in Vancouver. The Finn balled out, turning away all but two of the Golden Knights’ 4.03 xGF, meaning that he finished with a 2.03 GSAx. That’s a huge contribution and probably one of the only reasons why this game was within reach for the Canucks in the first place. Of the two goals against, Lankinen gave up two high-danger chances as goals. Really, that’s a massive performance and shows that the extension wasn’t without reason. But at the same time, it’s a shame that the Canucks couldn’t support their netminder better.

Where the first line didn’t play like the first line: It’s this whole song and dance again. Not to beat a dead horse, but the performance of Kiefer Sherwood – Elias Pettersson – Jake DeBrusk wasn’t good enough to warrant the deployment that they got. As a trio, their numbers were putrid, a team-low 33.33 CF% and 21.40 xGF% while giving up a team-high 1.38 xGA. This wasn’t even a case of the Golden Knights matching up against them specifically either – it looked like they just simply rolled their forward units against them with little to no regard. And sure, DeBrusk scored, but for the majority of the night they were a net negative. And when that’s Vancouver’s alleged “top” line, it’s not great.

In all honesty, this game was a sleepy affair. The Canucks didn’t play well – heck, they weren’t even close to pulling this one out. Vegas simply was the better team last night, and the result was honestly more flattering than it should’ve been thanks to Kevin Lankinen. If the Canucks are serious about trying to make the playoffs this year, these kinds of efforts and games are not going to cut it. But hey, it’s just the first game back from the break. Hopefully, they can shake this off.

Vancouver is right back in action against the Utah Hockey Club tonight.