Elias Pettersson clears his mind after 4-1 loss to Utah Mammoth

The Vancouver CanucksThe season-worst streak extended to four games Friday night as they lost 4-1 to the Utah Mammoth at Rogers Arena in a game that once again highlighted their growing struggles to finish opportunities.

Vancouver generated long periods of zone time from their top line and outshot Utah 32–27, but it didn’t matter. The Mammoth scored in every period, including a pair in the third, while the Canucks didn’t get on the board until Arshdeep Bains’ early third-period score. By then, the margin for error was gone.

After the game, go ahead Elias Pettersson He spoke with a visible mix of frustration and disbelief insisting the team created enough to win but just couldn’t convert.

“Yeah, it’s tough. I think we definitely created a lot, enough to win the game,” Pettersson said. “We had good looks, but yes… the goals were missing.”

Vancouver’s power play, once a bright spot during a recent stretch, went cold on the night missing two opportunities. When asked what changed, Pettersson admitted that even the players don’t have a clear answer right now.

“I don’t know … whether we’re trying to find the perfect game or not winning pucks after pitches, I don’t know. But we’ve just got to come together as a five and be better.”

The Canucks have now gone 1-for-10 with the man advantage in their last four losses.

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Elias Pettersson praises Linus Karlsson

Pettersson, who centered one of Vancouver’s few dangerous lines on the night, pointed to strong sequences that didn’t turn into goals.

“We worked well, we had a good appearance in the breakdowns, good in the neutral zone, good in the cycle. But yes, the goals were lacking.”

He also praised winger Linus Karlsson, who has quietly been one of Vancouver’s best forwards this fall.

“He’s looked good. Strong on the puck, protects it well, wins a lot of battles that creates great scoring opportunities,” Pettersson said.

Despite the ranking and losing streak, Pettersson didn’t hesitate when asked about the mentality inside the room.

“We think we can win every game. Obviously the record doesn’t look good, but we’re putting in the effort in every game and the bounces aren’t helping us.”

In fact, Vancouver has been in nearly every game during this skid where three of the four losses have been within one goal in the final minutes, but an inability to finish has buried them.

The Canucks won’t have time to dwell on another disappointing result with a back-to-back matchup against the Minnesota Wild on Saturday