The Vancouver Canucks faced a shocking turn of events in their recent game against the Seattle Kraken, leading 4-1 late in the third period before collapsing to a 5-4 overtime defeat. This remarkable comeback by the Kraken not only ended their five-game losing streak but also marked a historic moment in the NHL, as it was the first time in Canucks history that a team lost after holding a three-goal lead with under five minutes remaining in regulation.
Canucks forward Jake DeBrusk expressed the team's devastation following the loss, emphasizing the need for focus regardless of the score. The team played without key players, including Norris Trophy winner Quinn Hughes and center Elias Pettersson, both sidelined with undisclosed injuries. Head coach Rick Tocchet acknowledged the challenge of filling the gaps left by these absences and urged his players to embrace increased responsibilities on the ice.
Seattle's Jaden Schwartz played a pivotal role in the comeback, scoring two crucial goals in the final minutes, while Vince Dunn netted the game-winner in overtime. Tocchet critiqued his team's performance in the final moments, pointing out missed opportunities and a lack of defensive execution. Despite the disappointment, he noted that the Canucks had played well for the majority of the game, and emphasized the importance of learning from the experience to prevent similar collapses in the future.
