Monday night in Las Vegas comes with a bit of a twist. The Vegas Golden Knights aren’t just trying to stop a slide — they’re doing it with a brand-new voice behind the bench. Out goes Bruce Cassidy, and in comes John Tortorella. If you’re the Vancouver Canucks, that’s not exactly ideal timing.
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Vegas hasn’t been good lately. Six losses in their last seven, a habit of falling behind early, and just an overall lack of sharpness. But here’s the catch — their schedule lightens up, and it includes two games against Vancouver. That’s where things get uncomfortable for the Canucks, who are coming in on a five-game losing streak and have been outscored 25-9 over that stretch. The 7-3 loss to the Calgary Flames wasn’t just another loss; it was more of the same problem showing up again.
For Tortorella, this is about as clean a landing spot as you can get. A team still in the playoff mix, a sense of urgency, and an opponent that’s struggling to defend. For Vancouver, it’s the opposite. They’re walking into a building where the other team is desperate, a little embarrassed, and now has a coach who isn’t exactly known for easing into things. That’s a tough combination.
is still finding ways to get on the scoresheet. Two assists against Calgary, one on the power play, and now five helpers over his last four games. On the surface, that looks like a player starting to heat up.
But if you’ve watched closely, it still feels a little uneven. Most of that production is coming with the man advantage, where he’s always been dangerous. At even strength, though, it hasn’t been nearly as consistent. And for a player in his role — top-line centre, offensive driver — that matters.
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The bigger issue is that his overall numbers haven’t really moved. Through 64 games, he’s sitting at 15 goals and 45 points, which is basically a copy of where he was last season. That’s not the jump this team needed. It doesn’t mean he’s playing poorly, but it does mean he hasn’t been able to lift the group the way elite players usually do. Right now, he’s contributing. He’s just not changing games often enough.
Item Two: Mancini Gets His First, Focus Stays on the Details
Victor Mancini finally got his first point of the season, picking up an assist in that same loss to Calgary. It won’t make headlines, but for a young defenceman trying to stick, it matters.
His night was actually a pretty good snapshot of where he’s at. Three shots, a couple of hits, a couple of blocks — nothing flashy, but involved. That’s really the job right now. He’s not out there to run the power play or put up numbers. He’s out there to show he can be steady, make the simple play, and not get overwhelmed.
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With the way the Canucks’ defence has looked, there’s an opportunity there. Not easy minutes, but an opportunity. Mancini’s been around enough now to know what the league looks like, and these last few games are about whether he can turn that into something more permanent. It’s less about the stat sheet and more about trust.
Item Three: The Defensive Issues Aren’t Going Away
At some point, you stop calling it a rough stretch. The Canucks have allowed 271 goals this season, and it’s not just one thing you can fix with a tweak. It’s everywhere; it’s coverage, puck decisions, missed reads. It adds up fast, and it shows up every night.
(Sergei Belski-Imagn Images)
You could hear it after the Calgary game. The offence wasn’t terrible. They created chances, moved the puck okay at times. But it doesn’t matter if every mistake ends up behind you. That’s where it becomes frustrating, because it’s not about systems anymore — it’s about habits. And right now, those habits just aren’t consistent enough.
What’s Next for the Canucks?
At this point, the standings aren’t really the story anymore. This is about how the team responds. Can they tighten things up even a little? Can they get through a first period without chasing the game? Can they handle a team that’s about to get a very loud wake-up call behind the bench?
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Because if they can’t, this one could get away from them quickly. And if it does, it’s going to feel very familiar — a team searching for answers, showing flashes here and there, but never quite putting it together. That’s been the pattern, and until it changes, nights like this are going to keep looking the same.
