‘I wish I had an answer’: Home ice woes haunt struggling Vancouver Canucks

“I don’t know. I wish I had an answer,” winger Drew O’Connor said after Tuesday’s defeat. “We want to come in here and play well in front of our fans, and it’s frustrating for them, it’s frustrating for us when we don’t. So it’s something that we’re working on.

“We want to be better, because it’s important to have good home ice advantage. And we haven’t had that.”

Vancouver got off to a solid start against Philly, outshooting the visitors 10-0 across the first 10 minutes of the game.

O’Connor set up the first goal of the night, digging out a puck from behind the net and slicing it to linemate David Kampf, stationed above the crease. Under pressure, Kampf batted a shot in to give the Canucks a 1-0 lead 3:45 into the game.

The tide seemed to turn around a TV timeout midway through the opening frame, where former Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet — now the Flyers’ bench boss — was recognized on the big screen. Boisterous boos and a smattering of cheers emanated from the crowd.

On the bench, Philadelphia’s staff told Travis Konecny and his teammates to adjust their game.

“Honestly, it was more I think we were a little flat, and the staff was kind of telling us to go through some guys so I started looking for some hits,” said the winger.

His teammate, Noah Cates, got Philly on the board at the 12:02 mark of the first, and the visitors didn’t look back.

Cates, Bobby Brink and Travis Konecny each scored and notched an assist, while Christian Dvorak, Owen Tippet and Carl Grundstrom also had goals. Matvei Michkov and Trevor Zegras contributed two helpers apiece for the Flyers (20-11-7). Dan Vladar stopped 31 of the 34 shots he faced.

O’Connor and Kampf both had two-point nights, with each registering a goal and an assist, and Tom Willander added a late tally for the Canucks. Thatcher Demko made 27 saves.

The start to the game mirrored several other outings at Rogers Arena this year, said Canucks head coach Adam Foote.

The group will be rolling, and as soon as they experience some adversity, they fall off, he said.

“We’re trying, but we go a little bit rogue. I think they want it so bad that they hear the noise around them that they get a little frustrated and maybe do too much at times, or get off the structure,” Foote said.

“We’re playing against good hockey teams. They’re going to get a couple of good shifts. And we’ve got to stay balanced and stay in control of our emotions longer.”

The Canucks will have an opportunity to improve their home record Friday when they host the Seattle Kraken.

BACK IN LINE

Kampf and winger Jake DeBrusk returned to the lineup after being healthy scratches for Vancouver’s 3-2 shootout win over the Kraken in Seattle on Monday.

Foote appreciated what he saw from both players.

“Jake was flying, especially early. I think he hit the bar on one (shot). He was going,” the coach said. “Kampf played how Kampf can play. He helped that line, they were a good line tonight. They were forechecking hard, they were matched up against a tough line as we … It was nice to see him play without urgency.”

ON A ROLL

After toiling in the American Hockey League with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms to start the season, Grundstrom has found his footing in Philly.

The 28-year-old Swedish winger has seven goals on the season and has found the back of the net in four straight games.

“I think I’m an NHL player, so I just had to play well in Lehigh and be ready when I got my shot,” he said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 31, 2025.

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

‘I wish I had an answer’: Home ice woes haunt struggling Vancouver Canucks

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