LAS VEGAS — By definition, any National Hockey League game on Saturday night was going to feel small compared to the sport’s generational moment on Thursday when Canada beat the United States in the Four Nations final. But the Vancouver Canucks squandered a sizable opportunity Saturday against the Vegas Golden Knights . On a 6-1-1 tear heading into the NHL’s two-week schedule break, the Canucks were finally at least in the Knights’ rearview window as they chase a playoff spot in the Pacific Division.
A regulation victory would have moved Vancouver within seven points of Vegas, with a game in hand. Despite a sloppy and sluggish opening two periods for the Canucks, they were getting another brilliant goaltending performance from Kevin Lankinen . And they were tied going into the third period on the road against an excellent opponent.
And then they surrendered a gift goal to the Knights 18 seconds into the final period, before dominating much of the last 15 minutes without scoring. They lost 3-1 and fell 11 points behind the Knights, which, with 26 games remaining, looks like an insurmountable deficit. This was a far bigger game for Vancouver than it felt.
“In the first two periods. . .
we wouldn't make plays when they were there, and we tried to make plays when they weren't there,” Canucks defenceman Marcus Pettersson said. “It cost us momentum. A lot of sloppy play from us, really.
I thought they saw our best in the third, so that's encouraging that we could have.
