A pair of last-place teams will try to find some positives when the Vancouver Canucks host the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night.
The Canucks haven’t won two straight since a four-game winning streak from Dec.14-20 and sit last in the Pacific Division.
Florida, the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions, is last in the Atlantic Division after going 4-5-0 since the Olympic break.
Both teams are also coming off one-sided losses against the Seattle Kraken.
The Canucks fell 5-2 to the visiting Kraken on Saturday night, and the Panthers lost 6-2 in Seattle on Sunday, ending their three-game winning streak.
“We’ve got to own it and deal with it because it was no good,” Florida coach Paul Maurice said of the latest loss. “The coach was lousy, the players were equal. So, we’ve got to be a better hockey team (at Vancouver on Tuesday).”
Vinnie Hinostroza scored, giving him two goals and an assist in three games with Florida since he was acquired from the Minnesota Wild at the deadline.
“I feel like he’s flying out there,” Florida forward Eetu Luostarinen said. “He’s a really good player and it looks like he’s having a lot of fun.”
Hinostroza is getting a longer look because the Panthers are without some key players.
Sam Reinhart, who leads Florida in goals (29), assists (32) and points (61), is not on the four-game road trip that began in Seattle.
“It’s more than one thing he’s been dealing with,” Maurice said.
The Panthers may also be without forward Sam Bennett, who has scored five goals in his last seven games. He’s day-to-day with an injury sustained during a 2-1 overtime victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday.
“Everybody’s dealing with something,” Maurice said. “We’re trying to get some guys back to feeling good. That’s all.”
The Canucks surrendered four straight goals in their loss to the Kraken on Saturday, including two by Bobby McMann, who was playing in his first game with Seattle after being acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs.
“Obviously, you have five goals (against), it’s never a recipe for success,” Vancouver forward Evander Kane said. “I thought we did some good things in the first period. Second period we had some chances as well. They got a few power plays, gave them some momentum late in the third. But ultimately, we’ve got to find a way to score a few more goals and keep a few more out of our net.”
The Canucks got caught on a poorly timed line change on one of McMann’s goals, but there are other areas Vancouver can clean up as well, Kane said.
“It’s absorbing the pressure, making plays under pressure, taking hits to make plays, those little details on the breakout,” Kane added. “And good support from all five guys on the ice makes a big difference.”
Vancouver defenseman Elias Pettersson left in the second period against Seattle with a lower-body injury and did not return, but he was back at practice on Sunday.
“Yeah, I got banged up,” Pettersson said. “I just smashed my knee into the board, so did a scan (Sunday) morning, and everything was fine.”
Florida hosted Vancouver on Nov. 17 and won 8-5.
