Vancouver Canucks offense fails to deliver in 2-1 loss to Florida Panthers - NHL Update
Just when it looked like the Vancouver Canucks had started to build a winning streak, they come crashing right back down, losing 2-1, to the Florida Panthers at the Bank Atlantic Centre in Sunrise, Florida, United States, on Monday night, January 9, 2012.
Canucks were on a two game winning streak before their defeat and even though they remain atop the Northwest Division, this defeat showcased some of their shortcomings as the team's record now stands at 26-14-3.
Florida Panthers snapped a two game losing streak which included a big, 5-2, defeat at the hands of the New Jersey Devils in their previous game.
Panthers' 2-1 victory keeps them atop the Southeast division with a 21-13-8 record.
In a low scoring affair, Canucks were leading by a single goal before Panthers equalised in the second period.
Canucks' goaltender, Roberto Luongo, then found himself under a Panthers’ barrage, and ended up on his back with Panthers’ Marcel Goc, putting in the winner.
"It wasn't a pretty one. It wasn't anything fancy, but it worked," Goc said. "Right now it's a good test for us. We're playing the top teams in the standings. We want to do well and stay with the pack up top."
Canucks' captain, Henrik Sedin, was less than impressed with the defeat and panned his team's lack of shots in the second period.
"We got two shots in the second and that's not good enough. I think we came out really strong, but if you're off three or four percent in a league like this, against a team that's surprising a lot of guys this year, you need to play well.”
Vancouver Canucks took the lead in the first period through Dale Wiese at 3:11.
Wiese took a pass from Manny Malhotra to slot the puck past Panthers' goalie, Scott Clemmenson, who finished with 25 saves on the night.
Canucks however, were completely outshot in the second with just two shots in response to Florida’s fourteen, and paid dearly when Panthers got the equaliser through Dmitry Kulikov at the 5:00 mark in the second period.
Just five minutes later, Panthers scored the game-winner as Luongo was under fire from the Panthers, who on the power play, fired shot after shot at the veteran goalie before finally breaking through as Marcel Goc made the decider.
Luongo ended the game with 20 saves during the game.
Panthers will now look to build a winning run as they take on the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday.
Canucks meanwhile, will have to work on their offense and hope to get back to winning ways when they face-off Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday.
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