Roberto Luongo may be gone, but Vancouver’s biggest problem recently – a lack of goals – remains.
The Canucks were shutout 1-0 by the Phoenix Coyotes tonight, putting them in a further hole in the race for the eight and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Antoine Vermette scored the only goal of the game at 17:04 of the first period for the Coyotes, who outshot Vancouver 32-23.
But the focus in Phoenix was off the ice, as Roberto Luongo was suddenly traded to the Florida Panthers for Jakob Markstrom and Shawn Matthias hours before the game, ending a successful if controversial eight-year run in Canucks colours.
WATCH: Global News takes a look back at Roberto Luongo’s eight-year tenure in Vancouver
In his first game as the no. 1 starter for Vancouver, Eddie Lack played well, making a number of number of big saves to keep Vancouver competitive in the second and third period.
However, the Canucks were listless for much of the game, “a team distracted” in the words of announcer John Shorthouse. It was the sixth time in eight games Vancouver scored one goal or less, and their 10th loss in 11 games.
The Canucks, who are now 28-26-10 on the year, are now 11th in the Western Conference with 66 points, trailing Winnipeg (66 points, but ahead in wins), Phoenix (67 points), and Dalls (68 points) – all of whom have played fewer games – for the final playoff spot.
Their next game may be on Thursday against the Dallas Stars, but fans will focus on tomorrow, when the Canucks are expected to be active on the trade front before the deadline falls at noon Pacific time.
WATCH: Is this the beginning of a rebuild? Squire Barnes talks to Jill Krop on Unfiltered about what the trade deadline might hold for Vancouver.
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