Laid-back Canucks must "push a little harder" against Blues

The Vancouver Canucks will try to get back on the attack Monday night when they return home to host the St. Louis Blues.

The Canucks were outshot 37-15 during their 3-1 road loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. Vancouver had to kill five power plays and won just 44.4 percent of its faceoffs.

The Canucks will seek more puck possession against the Blues at Rogers Arena.

"I think we sat back a little too much in the first two periods (against the Oilers)," said Canucks winger Brock Boeser, who has scored a goal in each of Vancouver's first two games. "And I thought when we tried to get some momentum going in the third, we took a couple penalties and that kind of made us take a step back. I thought we were in the box a lot. We've got to be a little more disciplined and push a little harder."

That's easier said than done facing high-scoring forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in Edmonton. The Canucks will try to rebound by sustaining pressure on the Blues, who are coming off a 4-2 victory Saturday at Calgary.

"Like, our forecheck is something that's part of our identity, and when we're not establishing that, it kind of trickles down. It probably starts with our passes," said Canucks winger Kiefer Sherwood. "I didn't think we made crisp passes and were throwing away too many pucks, and we just didn't sustain possession when we had the puck.

"And then we're kind of starting on the back foot, chasing it from the get-go."

Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko has enjoyed a strong start after struggling through an injury-marred 2024-25 season. He is 1-1-0 with a 1.54 goals-against average and a .944 save percentage.

After losing their opener at home to the Minnesota Wild 5-0 with Jordan Binnington in goal, the Blues got a strong performance from backup Joel Hofer at Calgary. That effort gave St. Louis coach Jim Montgomery an interesting decision on which netminder to start Monday.

Montgomery saw ample room for team improvement during the victory over the Flames.

"We have a lot more to get to," he said. "It's early in the year. But the emotion got us though this game (Saturday), I found. But execution and second and third effort on pucks are areas where we still have to get better."

After struggling to generate offense in their season opener, the Blues got a big lift from Jake Neighbours after he moved up to the top line alongside Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich.

Neighbours scored twice while playing before family and friends in his native Calgary.

"He was really tenacious," Montgomery said. "He's had a really good friend pass away, so it was an emotional moment for him. Not just because it's his hometown, but he's been dealing with a little bit of loss, and that's not easy.

"But he's a tremendous character kid, someone that I'm sure will wear a letter (for the Blues) one day."

--Field Level Media