Canucks Need More Than Effort to Fix Their Special Teams

The Vancouver Canucks have plenty of things to worry about after losing 10 straight games, but one problem keeps showing up at the worst possible time. Their penalty kill is struggling, and Sunday’s 4–2 loss to the Minnesota Wild showed how quickly things can go wrong.

Vancouver gave up the opening goal late in the first period when Maxim Shabanov finished a pass from Kirill Kaprizov on the power play. The Canucks had played a pretty good first 20 minutes, outshooting Minnesota 10–5 and bringing some much-needed energy to Rogers Arena. Yet they went into the intermission behind.

That’s a tough way to convince a team that its hard work is paying off.

The Problem Goes Beyond One Bad Break

The Canucks’ penalty kill was reported at just 64.4 percent in the game coverage, leaving it among the league’s worst. Luke Schenn didn’t try to dress it up. He pointed to breakdowns, missed blocks, lost battles, and opponents finding passing lanes through the penalty-killing formation.

That’s a lot of things to fix, and it helps explain why this isn’t simply a matter of hoping the next shot misses the net. Head coach Manny Malhotra also identified structural issues. The Canucks need to recognize when to pressure the puck carrier, get their sticks into passing lanes, and clear the puck when they have the opportunity. Those are basic jobs, but basic jobs become awfully important when a team is struggling to win games.

Minnesota made the Canucks pay again in the second period, when Quinn Hughes scored on the power play to reach 500 career NHL points. Hughes knows how to find openings, of course, but Vancouver also gave him room to work.

What Comes Next for the Canucks?

The Canucks don’t have to fix every problem overnight, but the penalty kill needs to become a priority. When a team is losing this often, every special-teams goal against makes the climb a little steeper. There’s another reason to pay attention here. Vancouver showed in the first period that it can pressure opponents and compete physically. The challenge is carrying that same urgency into difficult situations, especially when the opposition has a man advantage.

The next game won’t magically tell us whether the penalty kill is fixed. But it should give us another clue about whether the coaching staff can get this group organized and confident again. Right now, the Canucks need fewer breakdowns and more shifts that end with the puck safely out of their zone.

Related: NHL Trade Talk Recap: Canadiens, Maple Leafs, Oilers & Hurricanes