Despite how the past five weeks have played out, the Vancouver Canucks continue to see mild improvements.
The Canucks will try to turn those small advances into a much-needed victory when they host the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday night.
Vancouver has lost five in a row and 15 of 16 (1-14-1) dating back to Oct. 4, giving the Canucks the fewest points in the NHL (seven) through 19 games.
They most recently lost to the Edmonton Oilers 4-2 on Saturday. Canucks coach Manny Malhotra said afterward that there were a number of positives to emerge from the loss, especially during the first two periods, when the score was still tied 1-1.
“The attention to detail was there and, because of that, we were in a situation going into the third where we had an opportunity to win,” Malhotra said. “Again, it comes down to just those momentary lapses in detail and small missed assignments or missed puck battles. Those are the things that add up and, obviously, against a team as high-powered as Edmonton, when you give them those little looks, they’re going to make good on them.”
Max Sasson scored his fifth goal of the season for the Canucks on Saturday, putting the third-year center on course to better his 13-goal total over 66 games last season.
Sasson also said the Canucks created a lot of positive situations against the Oilers, which ought to carry over to the matchup against the Flyers.
“I thought our breakouts looked a lot cleaner, and I thought we were using the middle of the ice a lot better,” Sasson said. “We had some decent looks, but I think, including myself, we have to shoot the puck a little bit more. When it’s 1-1, it’s a race to two, so we had to get that next one.”
Guillaume Brisebois assisted on Sasson’s goal for his first NHL point since March 14, 2023.
The Flyers also got off to a dismal start to the season and haven’t done much to lift themselves out of last place in the Metropolitan Division.
Philadelphia is still looking for someone to cement the No. 1 goalie duties and this back-to-back set could play a factor.
Dan Vladar started in goal for the Flyers on Sunday evening and made 22 saves in a 4-3 overtime loss at the Calgary Flames, their sixth loss in the past seven games (1-4-2).
Joseph Woll will likely get the nod against Vancouver. He has dropped his past three starts and eight of nine this season (1-6-2).
Woll most recently gave up three goals in a 3-2 loss to the New York Rangers on Thursday, surrendering two in the final seven minutes
“I think there’s something to give a guy a couple games in a row, and then see where it goes,” Flyers coach Rick Tocchet said last week, indicating this back-to-back set could go a long way toward establishing which goalie is No. 1.
The Canucks and Flyers will meet again on Nov. 27 in Philadelphia.