Goals are fun but you won’t ever be able to outscore all your problems.
Published Oct 03, 2026 • 3 minute read
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Given a condensed preseason, a new coaching staff implementing a fresh system, and the typical unpredictability of October hockey, it’s unsurprising that the Vancouver Canucks’ opening two games have lacked cohesion.
In fact, the Canucks’ veterans have only played their third and fourth games of the season on Tuesday and Thursday—contests that, in previous years, would have occurred late in the preseason after extensive practice.
While high‑scoring games are entertaining, the Canucks’ chaotic 9‑7 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday offered little consolation for forward Drew O’Connor.
“We had a solid third period and responded well,” he said. “Nevertheless, leaving the game with that feeling isn’t positive, and we certainly don’t want to rely on high‑scoring affairs.”
Head coach Manny Malhotra recognized the same.
Malhotra remarked, “Obviously we want to be able to score that many goals—it’s great—but we need to capitalize on our opportunities. The fact that we must score so many goals is problematic; in this league it usually becomes a race to three.”
O’Connor added, “Sorting out our defensive responsibilities will take a few games—work that normally would have been addressed in preseason. We need to learn quickly, and we’ve already seen rapid progress. While there are clear areas for improvement, we’ve also picked up several positive habits fast.”
“Looking at the score, it appears we could have scored seven, yet we surrendered too many chances. It was a strange game, and certainly not the style we aim for.”
On Saturday, Vancouver opens a back‑to‑back set against Calgary, followed by a home game versus Vegas on Sunday.
Afterward, the team embarks on a two‑week road trip that includes stops in Carolina, New York, and Florida.
The buzz: Jake DeBrusk was listed as a spare forward on Friday, suggesting he could be scratched Saturday. He is dealing with a couple of minor injuries, including the after‑effects of a heavy shot to the ankle from Jonathan Lekkerimaki.
Malhotra offered no details after Friday’s practice, declining even to confirm that the team would play two games in two days. He noted that three players have yet to dress for the season’s first two games.
The history: While the Canucks managed 13 goals against the Oilers, the Flames were shut down 6‑1 by Seattle on Thursday.
The hope: Malhotra is focused on tightening the defence, while fans continue to crave goal‑scoring excitement.
The fear: The upcoming road trip looks challenging, and the squad appears under‑gunned. This could be the last win for a while.
The top guns: Paul Cotter and Marco Rossi each have three goals through two games, while Elias Pettersson has tallied four points. The sustainability of this production remains uncertain.
The wounded: Vancouver’s DeBrusk (ankle, day‑to‑day), Demko (hip surgery recovery, IR), and Chytil (shoulder, IR) are sidelined; Calgary’s Jonathan Huberdeau is also out with a hip injury (IR).
Malhotra said, “It would be nice to have built‑in excuses, but every team faces the same challenges, so it’s up to us to tidy things up and sharpen our play as quickly as possible.”
The projected lineup:
Rossi-Pettersson-Karlsson.
Öhgren-Cotter-Boeser.
Bains-Sasson-Lekkerimäki.
O’Connor-Raty-Gallagher.
Buium-Hronek.
Oleksiak-Willander.
Pettersson-Schenn.
Lankinen
pjohnston@postmedia.com
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