Canucks Drop 14th Game in 15 Outings During Winnipeg Loss
“Ultimately, it was a lack of effort and compete in certain. . .” Manny Malhotra said after Vancouver fell 6-2 to the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night.
The defeat marked the Canucks’ 14th loss in their last 15 games, pushing their record to 3-14-1 through 18 contests. According to The Province, that start represents the worst 18-game opening stretch in franchise history. Alex Iafallo capitalized on the power play, deflecting in a point shot from Hayden Fleury, and Cole Koepke scored 14 seconds later to make it 2-0 by the 4:03 mark of the opening period.
Just 14 seconds after Iafallo’s goal, Koepke put a shot through goaltender Leevi Merilainen from close range to stretch the lead to 2-0.
Matchup in Manitoba! 🛩️ 🆚 Winnipeg Jets ⏰ 5:00 PM PCT 📍 Winnipeg, MB 📺 Sportsnet Pacific | 📻 KiSS GAME NOTES | https://t.co/NKndJg5ZwW pic.twitter.com/vAnQVKHokl
Winnipeg Extends Dominance Over Visiting Vancouver
Liam Ohgren put the Canucks on the board at 6:51 of the first period by converting a gift goal presented by Winnipeg netminder Stuart Skinner, The Canadian Press reported via TSN. Any momentum vanished when Dawson Mercer scored his first goal in a Jets uniform at 14:04. Mercer stood unchecked in the low slot between puck-watching defenders and converted a centring pass from Cole Perfetti.
The victory gave the Jets their second straight win following their comeback win in Montreal, according to Global News. Winnipeg improved its home record against Vancouver to 7 wins, maintaining a long-standing regional advantage. Since the Jets returned to the National Hockey League in 2011, the Canucks hold a 5-18-1 record in Manitoba, with their last road win against Winnipeg occurring nearly five years ago.
The @NHLJets follow up their historical comeback with another W! ✈️ pic.twitter.com/hkGEpyDd9p
Malhotra criticized his team’s effort following the lopsided defeat. “Something you expect out of your group every night, that continued level of desperation and fight to get the result,” Malhotra said. “We want to be a physical team.”
Canucks Surrender Four Unanswered Goals
Trailing 3-1 to start the second period, the Canucks yielded further ground as Winnipeg capitalized on defensive coverage lapses down low. Neal Pionk scored on a rebound at 6:52 after Kyle Connor stickhandled past Vancouver defenders. Mark Scheifele deflected in a pass from Connor with one hand midway through the second period to give Winnipeg an insurmountable 5-1 lead heading into the final frame.
Mario Ferraro rounded out the scoring for Winnipeg with a third-period goal at 11:36, before Brock Boeser scored on a backhand for Vancouver with 4:51 remaining. Skinner stopped 24 shots for the Jets, while Merilainen turned aside 23 of 29 shots for the Canucks. The loss represents Vancouver’s sixth defeat this season by three or more goals.
Did you know? Elias Pettersson posted an expected-goals-for percentage of 11.64 at five-on-five during Thursday’s game.
Tonight's team taking on the Jets. 📺 Sportsnet Pacific | 📻 KiSS West Coast pic.twitter.com/j3OpuJ2hc6
Frequently Asked Questions About the Matchup
What milestones occurred during Thursday’s game?
Dawson Mercer recorded his first goal and point as a Winnipeg Jet after being acquired from New Jersey. Rookie Viggo Björck collected his first career NHL point with an assist on Mark Scheifele's second-period goal.
How did both teams finish statistically in discipline and puck management?
The Canucks recorded 22 giveaways against just 3 takeaways, while the Jets finished with 14 giveaways and 8 takeaways. Vancouver was also outhit 31-20.
Who do both teams play next in the schedule?
The Jets remain at Canada Life Centre to host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday. The Canucks travel to Alberta to face the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.
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