Canucks shut out for third consecutive game

WINNIPEG -- The Vancouver Canucks were shut out for the third consecutive game, a 2-0 loss to the Winnipeg Jets at MTS Centre on Tuesday.
Adam Lowry put Winnipeg ahead 2:30 into the third period, Mark Scheifele scored into an empty net and Ondrej Pavelec made 28 saves to help the Jets end their three-game losing streak.

The Canucks (27-33-12) have been shut out for the past 228:00. They have not scored since 12:00 of the first period in a 3-1 loss against the Colorado Avalanche on March 16. Vancouver has scored three goals during a five-game losing streak.
"We didn't have a lot of chances tonight," Vancouver coach Willie Desjardins said, "but we have to capitalize on the ones we do get."
After allowing a season-high 50 shots in a 3-0 home loss to the St. Louis Blues on Saturday, the Canucks allowed 49 against Winnipeg.

Canucks goaltender Jacob Markstrom stopped Chris Thorburn's chance early in the third period, but Lowry picked up the rebound, wheeled behind the net and stuffed his sixth goal past Markstrom on a backhanded wraparound to put Winnipeg ahead 1-0.
"It was a rebound on my part," said Markstrom, who finished with a career-high 47 saves. "If I can hold it, [the goal] doesn't happen at all."
Desjardins feels Markstrom's development has been one of the Canucks' biggest positives.
"Going into the start of the [season], we really didn't know what he had," he said of the 26-year-old goalie. "But this whole [season] he has played well."
Scheifele hit the empty net at 19:37.
It was Pavelec's 17th NHL shutout and his first since April 9, 2015.
"They had some chances, but I think we played [well] defensively," Pavelec said. "We didn't give them much, so I'm happy for a win."

The Jets (30-37-6) have won five of their past 20 home games (5-13-2). Their 49 shots were a season-high.
With each team missing nine players because of injuries, Jets coach Paul Maurice tempered his enthusiasm.
"Every team brings a set of circumstances to the rink," Maurice said. "We had to do certain things to be a good hockey team tonight. We did those. We were good."
"To say that if we just play our game [each] night, it should look like that, that's not realistic. They've got half of a hockey team out, and the meat of their team other than [Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin] is out of their lineup, and you saw that."
Winnipeg held Vancouver to 11 shots through the first 30 minutes. Nic Petan and Thorburn hit the post on shots midway through the second period, and Petan also had an unsuccessful in-close chance. Winnipeg held a 30-15 lead in shots near the end of the second period.

The Canucks visit the Nashville Predators on Thursday in the second of a three-game road trip. Captain Henrik Sedin said the game will offer another opportunity to set a tone for next season.
"It's tough to go through," he said. "We're all disappointed, there's no question about that, but we still have to look at it as a process. It's not going to change overnight. We have to keep doing the same things over and over, and the right things over and over, and it's going to change."
"We're trying to build something that's going to be good for the future, but it's tough."
Markstrom called on his teammates to stick together.

"Not winning hockey games is very frustrating, especially the way we do it," Markstrom said. "I feel like we've got to stick together here. It's really important for us as a group to not just count [down] the games. We've got to stick to it here."
"That's why we play this game. It's fun to win. Everybody know how fun it is to win, especially at this level. You've almost got to hate losing more than you love winning."
The Jets limited the Canucks to two power-play opportunities.
"Any time you're going against a team that is missing as many regulars as they are, it's important that you don't give them any easy opportunities and don't give them any life," said Lowry, who plays on the penalty kill.