Defensive-minded Canucks searching for offence with McDavid, Ovechkin on deck
VANCOUVER — After a perfect start to the regular season, a couple of familiar warts are starting to pop up on the Vancouver Canucks.
The club that finished 29th in goals in 2015-16 sits last in the NHL with just 14 through seven games, including two in overtime.
The offensively challenged Canucks were always going to rely on defensive structure and good goaltending to try and grind out wins, but they directed just three pucks on net in the third period of Tuesday’s 3-0 home loss to the Ottawa Senators, and sat 26th in even strength shot differential at 46.28 per cent heading into Thursday’s action.
“We’re not going to be a power offence team, that’s just the way it is,” said Vancouver captain Henrik Sedin. “That’s the way we have to win. We have to realize that.”