The Vancouver Canucks have lost two straight games and have just one win in their last six outings, but they have plenty of confidence as they prepare to host the Calgary Flames on Sunday night.
The Canucks will return to action after suffering a 4-2 home loss to the Dallas Stars on Thursday, but they believe they will win many games with the effort they showed.
There was a tie game midway through the third period before the Stars pulled away.
“We deserved a better outcome,” Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers said. “The guys attacked hard. I thought we generated (chances). I thought we played fast and our gaps were better because of that. So we have to stick with it, go into the next game with the same mindset and keep moving forward. Lots of good things to take away, and that’s what we have to focus on.”
Vancouver will begin a four-game road trip after this outing, increasing the importance of this Pacific Division clash for the club with just three wins in the last 10 home games (3-5-2).
That said, coach Adam Foote just wants his team to worry about the process, not the need to end a brief home stay on a positive note.
“It’s about consistency,” Foote said. “We bring this game more often than not, we’re going to have good results.”
Heading into Sunday’s game, forward Elias Pettersson is riding a five-game point streak in which he has four goals and nine points. Captain Quinn Hughes was held off the scoresheet against Dallas, but he has 13 assists in his last seven outings.
The Flames arrive in Vancouver on the heels of a 3-2 shootout victory over the Stars on Saturday, a second straight victory that vaulted them out of last place in the league. Their 17 points in 23 games put them one point ahead of the Nashville Predators, who have played 21 games.
Calgary took a 2-0 lead early in the third period but saw it disappear before rallying to win on Nazem Kadri’s decisive goal in the fourth round of the shootout.
“It was one of our best games of the year,” said forward Jonathan Huberdeau. “Obviously, (the Stars) scored at the end, but we held on, and those were two big points.”
Calgary’s offensive woes are well documented, but there are signs of finding much-needed offense. Matt Coronato has goals in four consecutive games, while defenseman Rasmus Andersson has a streak of four consecutive games with at least one point (two goals, five assists).
“As a group, we’re playing with more confidence. We’re playing better,” Coronato said. “I think you have to stick to the same plan. … We knew if we stuck to it, the rebounds and the chances would start ticking.”
It would take a miracle for the Flames to qualify for a playoff spot, even with nearly three-quarters of the season left, but there are plenty of positives to build on.
Their special teams have reached the milestone. After going seven games without a power play goal, the Flames have scored four times with the man advantage in their last four games, including two against Dallas. Calgary has only conceded three power play goals in the last 10 games, killing 22 of 25 penalties. They even killed a Dallas chance at 5 on 3 at the end of regulation time.
Beating a strong Dallas team will boost the club’s confidence.
“It was a good night for a lot of guys,” Flames coach Ryan Huska said. “Now the challenge is to build on that in a tough road game.”
–Field level media
