There may have been a new coach behind the bench, but the Vancouver Canucks’ 2013-2014 season began the same way last season ended – with a loss to the San Jose Sharks.
In John Tortorella’s debut as coach, the Canucks lost 4-1 to the Sharks in San Jose Thursday evening, squandering a 1-0 lead after one period that came courtesy of a Jason Garrison powerplay shot from the point.
But the Sharks were the better team the entire game, outshooting the Canucks 16-7 in the first period, and 35-22 for the game. They have now won eight straight games against the Canucks, including last year’s sweep in the first round of the playoffs.
The Canucks were within striking distance down 2-1 for most of the third period, but failed to capitalize on two straight powerplays. The Sharks then put it out of reach when Patrick Marleau and Tommy Wingels scored 78 seconds apart with under six minutes left.
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Logan Couture led San Jose with two assists.
Tortorella arrived and preached toughness and tighter defensive play and got results on an improved penalty-kill unit that kept the Sharks off the score sheet on seven chances, including a two-man advantage for 2 minutes. The Canucks allowed seven power-play goals in the four playoff games last season.
But Vancouver still wound up on the short end as San Jose got the better of the even strength play and did not let the blown 5-on-3 chance tilt the momentum in the second period.
Luongo was sharp early in his first game back as the No. 1 goalie in Vancouver after the off-season trade of Cory Schneider to New Jersey. He stopped all 16 shots in the opening period as the Canucks took a 1-0 lead on Garrison’s power-play goal after the first of two penalties on Brent Burns.
– With files from The Canadian Press
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