No team has left more points on the table than the Vancouver Canucks have this season.
And it’s not even close.
Not even a quarter of the way into the schedule, the Canucks have already blown five third-period leads.
They’ve also lost a whopping six times in three-on-three overtime.
“It could be a big part of defining our season,” Vancouver GM Jim Benning told The Province. “Because last year, in games that went to overtime and the shootout we were (12-5). That’s the difference between making the playoffs and not making the playoffs.”
One problem for the Canucks is that their two best forwards -- Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin -- are neither fast nor have particularly dangerous shots. The early evidence suggests that that’s not the greatest fit for three-on-three, and Benning conceded that coach Willie Desjardins should consider playing his younger, faster players more in overtime.
Vancouver’s seven-game road trip comes to an end tonight in Winnipeg. The Canucks went 1-3-2 in the first six games. They’re still in a playoff spot in the Pacific Division, but only barely now.
A tale of two seasons
Canucks when leading after two periods
2015-16: 5-1-4
2014-15: 30-1-3
Canucks in one-goal games
2015-16: 2-5-6
2014-15: 22-4-5