Golden Knights 3, Canucks 1: Ablown lead, offence still fizzling

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In a bizarre season of up and downs, one thing the Vancouver Canucks have legitimately done well is defend.

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Just look at how well things have gone defensively in four of their last five games, including Thursday’s 1-1 win/loss against the Golden Knights.

Once again, the Canucks did lots of good things in their own end against Vegas.

But for the second night in a row, they couldn’t hold a lead and struggled to counter punch.

It’s the counter punching that’s become a concern.

In the month of December, the Canucks have struggled to generate much of anything at five on five. They’ve struggled to do so without J.T. Miller in the lineup and with Miller in the lineup.

This can’t be about Filip Hronek, can it? The Canucks have been without their No. 2 defenceman for three weeks now, so that tracks to a degree; they’ve been sound defensively but they’ve struggled to generate shots. He’s very good at getting the puck up the ice — but this really suggests bigger problems. Hronek usually plays with Quinn Hughes and Hughes hasn’t exactly struggled to get the puck up the ice, even if the burden on him is heavier.

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It’s about the rest of the defence corps, who are defensively competent but offensively mediocre.

There’s a reason why the Canucks are looking around for a higher-end defenceman who could help with the puck-moving question.

A great start

Slowly but surely, it seem the Canucks are getting their starts sorted out.

Teddy Blueger’s tally in the first was the 16th time in the season that they’ve scored first. Teams that score first have a pretty good winning percentage.

Roaring favourites

But look at how the Golden Knights surged in the second period onward.

They’re 12-3 at home now, the best home record in the NHL.

They’ve scored nearly four goals per game at home. That’s going to get you a lot of wins.

Zeros

It’s hard to miss that Elias Pettersson, who looked like he’d sorted himself out a few weeks ago, is back in a rut.

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How many long shots add up to a good scoring chance?

Zero.

Just like his shots on goal against Vegas.

Zero.

Just like his scoring record from the past five games.

Zero goals.

Zero assists.

You’re nothing without your best players.

More zeros

J.T. Miller had no shots on goal as well.

He hasn’t scored since returning to the lineup.

He did have 10 games away from the team, but did you know his last five on five goal was Oct. 26? (He has two empty netters since.)

This team is going nowhere if it can’t score.

Floater

Kevin Lankinen has been so good this season.

But he’s had some flaws. Long shots is one.

That goal scored by Alex Pietrangelo? That didn’t help. The Canucks didn’t lose because of it…but it didn’t help.

Ideally, of course, the Canucks would score their way past that.

pjohnston@postmedia.com

NEXT GAME

Saturday