Rogers Arena has suddenly turned into a House of Horrors for the Vancouver Canucks.
The Canucks got spanked 5-1 by the Boston Bruins on Saturday night at home. They have just five wins in 16 games at Rogers Arena, with a 5-7-4 home-ice record. That puts them tied with the Anaheim Ducks, Nashville Predators, and St. Louis Blues for the fewest home-ice wins in the NHL.
Last year, the Canucks finished the year with a 27-9-5 record at home. They didn’t suffer their seventh regulation home loss until March 16th.
“We have some adjustments to make obviously, they’re fixable, but we better fix them quick because you can’t be a playoff team with a record like we have at home,” Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford said on After Hours.
Right now, the Canucks are on pace for just 13 home wins, which would be their fewest in a full season since 1989-90.
It’s been a completely different vibe for Canucks fans visiting Rogers Arena this season, and head coach Rick Tocchet suggested that there are a handful of players to blame.
“Let’s face facts. For four or five guys, they’re struggling,” Tocchet told reporters post-game. “They’re struggling to get emotionally invested in the game.”
“It’s the NHL. You have to be jacked up to play the game. You have to be emotionally in the game. Sometimes the guys are taking like, 30 minutes to get in the game, for whatever reason.”
Canucks have one of the NHL’s worst offences
The Canucks have continuously struggled to start on time this season, especially on home ice.
In this contest, the Canucks went down 2-0 to the Bruins in the first period. At even strength the high-danger chances were 12-0 in favour of Boston. The Bruins finished the period with a 16-4 shot advantage.
“We talked about a certain way we wanted to play against Boston and we didn’t do it until maybe the third,” Tocchet said.
“I think that pisses the staff off, because we had a good game plan.”
“When you chase the game and you’ve got the puck, it’s like a hot potato, so what do you do? You just get rid of it. We don’t have to just dump the puck in. We don’t have to throw it off the glass. There are plays to be made.”
Tocchet’s comments highlight the Canucks’ immense offensive struggles. At even strength this season, the Canucks have generated the second-fewest scoring chances per 60 minutes. Only the Chicago Blackhawks have been worse.
At least the Canucks’ power play had found their groove of late, but on their two opportunities against Boston, they were outshot and outchanced by the team with fewer players on the ice.
“When things don’t go our way [on the power play], we start becoming individuals,” Tocchet said. “That happened last year. You can’t be individuals, even when you’re down 3-0.
Sasson scores first goal
There were a couple of bright spots for the Canucks despite a dreadful evening overall.
Thatcher Demko looked like his old self. Even though five goals got past him, it could have been much worse. The Canucks gave up a number of odd-man rushes, and Demko bailed them out, especially in the first period.
Canucks rookie Max Sasson also continued his hot streak by picking up his first career NHL goal.
Max Sasson scores the first goal of his NHL career! 👏 pic.twitter.com/ZJ0gS4LP0P
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 15, 2024
Sasson now has five points in 10 games for the Canucks.
Do you know who also has five points? Winger Nils Höglander, who has played 29 games for the Canucks this season.