Canucks player grades: Close just not good enough in 4-1 loss to Mammoth

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Canucks can’t bury the puck and lose fourth-straight game to sink to bottom of the NHL

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Published Dec 05, 2025 • Last updated 35 minutes ago • 4 minute read

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Kevin Stenlund #82 of the Utah Mammoth is congratulated after scoring a goal on Kevin Lankinen during the third period at Rogers Arena on Friday night. Utah won 4-1. Photo by Derek Cain /Getty ImagesArticle content

Adam Foote remains upbeat, he insists.

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But he also knows he can’t keep saying how close his team is to finding the wins they think they deserve.

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“We’ve got to score goals,” he said flatly Friday night, after his Vancouver Canucks dropped a 4-1 loss to the Utah Mammoth, a fourth-straight loss for a team that’s now sitting at the bottom of the NHL.

After the game, one where his team could easily have been up after two periods but instead was trailing 2-0, he went into his office and reviewed all his team’s scoring chances, he said.

” I can’t get upset for what we’re doing,” he said. His team does deserve better. And on this night, he really wasn’t wrong. His team did a lot of good.

But they just couldn’t bury the puck. And that’s the problem.

“We’ve just got to come together,” Elias Pettersson said after the game. Pettersson, his coach, any player you’ll talk to will say the same thing. They know the problem, they know we can see the problem, they know they have to fix it.

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Karel Vejmelka #70 of the Utah Mammoth makes a save on Jake DeBrusk #74 during the first period Photo by Derek Cain /Getty ImagesWhither Kane

Evander Kane was one of several Canucks battling the flu this week, Foote revealed on Thursday.

But you do have to wonder if the arm injury he suffered against Colorado, which Foote said wasn’t a big issue, might still be bothering him.

Meagre crowd

The crowd for this game was the smallest we’ve seen in awhile and it’s starting to feel like this could snowball away.

You are starting to hear stories of how season ticket holders with really good seats, like centre ice, 10 rows up, basically can’t give their tickets away.

There’s no buzz. Fans aren’t buying much of what they’re seeing.

The game closed with a smattering of boos, ironic given the team was clearly trying this game. There was no reaction to a much more mediocre effort two weeks ago in a 5-2 home loss to Calgary.

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The mood is tough

With management openly talking about trades plus the team just not winning, this is a big motivational challenge for the coach.

“You know what we’re going through,” Foote said. “I’m not gonna say up here, you know what’s going on. So it’s for me I want to stay positive and keep showing them and teaching them.”

JJ Peterka #77 of the Utah Mammoth is checked by Elias Pettersson and Tyler Myers during the second period Photo by Derek Cain /Getty Images

FORWARDS

Elias Pettersson B Great early chance he’ll want back. Great block in second to launch 2-on-1 DeBrusk can’t bury.

Jake DeBrusk C+ Tough chance in the first but can’t make it work. Gets a 2-on-1 but can’t bury the shot. Was pretty downtrodden post-game. He feels personal responsibility for the team’s lack of success, he said.

Linus Karlsson B+ Nice early play to set up Pettersson, missed a chance on same shift. Great pass to Hughes on doorstep. He’s in good form, but he’s also frustrated by the results.

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David Kampf C He’s so hard defensively you can see why he’s in the NHL. Still miscast with two scoring wingers.

Brock Boeser C+ Missed a top chance in the second after Garland feeds him on a 2-on-1. Had a bunch of other chances. Needs to bury one.

Conor Garland B Back at his thing, making things happen with puck on his stick.

Max Sasson C+ Had a nice early scoring chance but was quiet otherwise.

Drew O’Connor C+ His usual workmanlike self.

Kiefer Sherwood B Lots of shots. Lots of hits. Trade buzz has lessened a little but there are teams that do want him.

Aatu Raty C+ Not much ice time but attacked the zone well for Bains’ goal.

Arshdeep Bains A Quietly competent game until his goal — which is what you want from him in a fourth line role.

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Jonathan Lekkerimaki C+ Really nice breakout pass to launch Raty rush that ended with Bains goal. Quiet otherwise.

DEFENCE

Quinn Hughes B. Created lots on offence. Took a late penalty but it was a tough defensive play. A tough finish to the game.

Filip Hronek B+ Absolutely dominant night in his own end. He’s been so good this season.

Elias Junior Pettersson C+ His pairing with Tyler Myers has real potential for chaos because he’s so aggressive.

Tyler Myers B Best game in a while for the Giraffe.

Marcus Pettersson C+ Steady. Quiet. Haven’t said that in a while.

Tom Willander C+ Poor read in second on a scoring chance, should have passed but shot. Then crunched on side wall. But like his mates a nice calm night overall.

GOALIE

Kevin Lankinen B Didn’t get much help on first goal, a deflected point shot he never say. Second goal also he didn’t have a chance on. This one is not on the goalie.

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Canucks player grades: Close just not good enough in 4-1 loss to Mammoth

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