The Vancouver Canucks' season of misery reached a new historic low on Monday night at Rogers Arena. A 4-3 loss to the New York Islanders extended the team's losing skid to 11 consecutive games, tying a franchise record set nearly five decades ago.
A Night of Unwanted History
The struggling club entered the contest looking to avoid matching the mark of the 1977-78 Canucks, who lost 11 straight from October 23 to November 11. That team, despite featuring five 20-goal scorers, finished with a dismal 20-43-17-0 record and missed the playoffs—a fate mirroring the current campaign.
The game itself offered fleeting hope. The Canucks opened the scoring and held a 2-1 lead at one point, but ultimately succumbed to the Islanders despite a late, desperate push to force overtime. The loss also extended their home-ice slide to eight straight setbacks.
Trade Day Distraction
The on-ice drama was preceded by off-ice news, as the Canucks traded rugged winger Kiefer Sherwood to the San Jose Sharks earlier in the day. The move underscored the state of the franchise, a point not lost on veteran forward Conor Garland.
"This year feels a lot different," Garland admitted. "I've never been in last place and never been on a losing streak like this, but when you're struggling, good players get moved out."
The fourth line of Max Sasson, Nils Hoglander, and Linus Karlsson showed a strong offensive-zone presence, perhaps playing with an edge in tribute to the departed Sherwood's hard-nosed style.
Defensive Experiments and Costly Mistakes
The game also featured continued evaluation of the team's young defensive prospects. Rookie blueliner Elias Pettersson (often called D-Petey) was promoted to a top-pairing role alongside Filip Hronek after a stint in the AHL. While his gaps improved to disrupt zone entries, he was partially at fault on a first-period Islanders goal.
The game turned on a pair of needless third-period penalties that gave the Islanders a two-man advantage for 1:36. Goaltender Kevin Lankinen was sharp during the 5-on-3, making a series of saves to keep Vancouver within reach, but the momentum had shifted.
The defensive pairings saw veteran Marcus Pettersson dropped to the third unit alongside rookie Tom Willander, a sign of his declining play, while Zeev Buium slotted into the second pairing with Tyler Myers.
The Canucks now own sole possession of the NHL's last-place standing. The 11-game skid ties a piece of unwanted franchise history and solidifies this season as one of profound disappointment for players and fans alike. The focus now shifts to whether management will make more moves before the trade deadline as the team looks to an uncertain future.
