Manny Malhotra answers Canucks fans after another loss

Adam Kblat just posted Manny Malhotra's answer when asked if he has a message for Canucks fans after last night's loss.

The Vancouver coach was put on the spot after the Canucks fell 3-1 to the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday night. It's the kind of question that gets asked when a season is slipping away early.

Kblat noted that Malhotra was asked directly if he has a message for the fans.

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The words themselves aren't in the post, so the full answer is in the video. The Canucks also posted the complete postgame session with Malhotra, Drew O'Connor and Jonathan Lekkerimaki.

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Trevor Beegs put the start in perspective: at 3-16-1, the Canucks are tied for the worst 20-game start in the last 20 years. The only worse team was the 2017-18 Arizona Coyotes at 2-15-3, who were coached by Rick Tocchet. Yes, the same Rick Tocchet whose Flyers sank the Canucks on Monday.

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Jeff Paterson said Vancouver showed up for the final 20 minutes, but it wasn't enough. He also pointed to the number that defines the season: three wins in 20 games.

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Philadelphia got goals from Michael Bunting, Travis Konecny and Travis Sanheim, with Konecny's power-play goal standing as the game-winner. Joseph Woll stopped 18 of 19 shots in the Flyers' win.

Is there anything to build on in Vancouver?

Not much yet, and the numbers from before Monday's game explain why. The Canucks had scored 56 goals and allowed 90, and they were 1-9-0 over their last 10.

Lekkerimaki gave them one real moment. His power-play goal, his seventh of the season, cut the Flyers' lead to 2-1 and finished with 2 shots on goal in 18:59.

Elias Pettersson added an assist and played 24:35, the most of any Canucks skater in the box score. Malhotra's take on Elias Pettersson on Saturday was that the center is playing with joy again, and that's about the only encouraging storyline left in this lineup.

A coach can answer a question about the fans. A home record of 1-8-0 before Monday is what the fans are actually reacting to, and the Canucks host the Rangers on Friday.

Quick hits

SAN JOSE SHARKS: Ivar Stenberg ended the Sharks' five-game losing streak by scoring in the eighth round of the shootout, a 3-2 win over the Islanders. Marathon shootouts are rarely this much fun for the home crowd.

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NEW YORK ISLANDERS: Victor Eklund was called for a five-minute major in San Jose after running Sharks forward Kiefer Sherwood into the boards. The play is under review, so a call from the league could follow.

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CALGARY FLAMES: A stats account says the NHL website isn't crediting Connor McDavid with an assist on a play, which could end his 18-game streak to open the season. Scoring calls rarely matter this much.

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Also read on Markerzone.com:
Manny Malhotra shares honest take on Canucks center Elias Pettersson