Pettersson no-show, comeback fell short, and more: 3 reasons why Vancouver Canucks lost 5-4 in OT to Ottawa Senators

By Nestor Quixtan

Modified Dec 22, 2024 11:44 GMT

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The Vancouver Canucks lost a tough game on Saturday night at Rogers Arena. Jake Sanderson scored 15 seconds into overtime to lift the Senators past the Canucks 5-4. The loss extended the Canucks losing streak to three, pushing them further behind to fourth in the Pacific Division.

Brock Boeser had two goals for the Canucks, with Quinn Hughes and Jake DeBrusk getting the other tallies for the Vancouver Canucks. Shane Pinto had two goals for the Sens, with Claude Giroux, Josh Norris, and Sanderson adding the rest for the Sens.

So, here’s a look at the three key reasons why the Vancouver Canucks lost 5-4 in overtime to the Ottawa Senators.

3 reasons why Vancouver Canucks lost to Ottawa Senators

#3 Fatigue caught up to the Canucks

The Canucks were playing their third game in four nights. The club suffered losses to the Utah Hockey Club and Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday and Thursday nights, respectively. They got a brief respite on Friday before taking on the Sens on Saturday.

The hectic schedule showed as the Canucks fell behind 2-0 in the third, and then 4-3 by the second intermission.

Throughout the third period, the Canucks tried their best to stay in the game but seemingly struggled to keep up. Eventually, Boeser tied the game, and Vancouver had simply run out of gas by the time overtime rolled around.

The Senators capitalized on their first chance in overtime, ending the game 15 seconds in.

#2 The comeback fell short

The Canucks trailed the entire night, falling behind three times in the game. Yet, the Sens came back to tie the game on three separate occasions, eventually forcing the game into overtime.

However, Sanderson’s goal foiled the comeback bid. While the Canucks skated away with the loser point, the loss was a tough one to take. The Canucks have lost three straight after getting a convincing win over the Colorado Avalanche on December 16.

#1 Pettersson continues to struggle

Elias Pettersson continues to struggle. He’s been pointless over his last five games, with a minus-5 rating. Pettersson’s lack of production was a factor on Saturday night, especially with Boeser and Hughes stepping up.

Pettersson failed to get anything going in 19 minutes of ice time over 23 shifts. He ended the night with one shot on goal and nothing to show for it. The concerning trend has been part of the reason why the Canucks have struggled over their last 10 games, going 3-3-4.

The Vancouver Canucks will face the San Jose Sharks on Monday night at home before heading off on the Christmas break.