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Canucks’ scoring woes continue, now threat of injury emerges

Vancouver Canucks v Phoenix Coyotes

during the NHL game at Jobing.com Arena on November 5, 2013 in Glendale, Arizona.

Christian Petersen

The Vancouver Canucks thought their three-game road trip through California and Arizona got off to such a positive start, despite opening it with a loss in L.A.

But whatever moral victory - the popular phrase in Vancouver this week - the Canucks believed they earned in that physical confrontation with the Kings four days ago took a drastic turn in a negative direction. The road trip ended with a 1-0 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday night.

Hard to believe that a team lost twice by a score of 1-0 in a three-game span and still got outscored 11-1 overall. But it happened. Sandwiched in between was that embarrassing 9-1 loss to the red-hot Anaheim Ducks.

Over the last week, they’ve tried to be a more physical, aggressive team. A lot of fights and penalty minutes. But goals? Not so much, prompting the question: What’s going on with the Canucks?

Now, they face the threat of injuries to some key forwards. Mike Santorelli left the game after getting tangled up with Martin Hanzal on a faceoff in the third period. Brad Ziemer of the Vancouver Sun reported after the game that Santorelli was spotted with his right arm in a sling.

Henrik Sedin, Vancouver’s captain, and David Booth were also injured in the third period. Booth was on the receiving end of a high stick from Hanzal that landed the Coyotes forward a double-minor with less than five minutes remaining in the game.

But the Canucks couldn’t capitalize on the four-minute power play. In fact, they didn’t even really get set up. The Canucks finished the night a dreadful 0-for-7 with the man-advantage.

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