Thrown jerseys and blown leads: Canucks' early struggles test fans' patience

Seven games into their season, the Vancouver Canucksremainthe only National Hockey League team without a win, and somefanshave not been shy about expressing their disappointment.

The team started the season with a disastrous five-game road trip that saw them lose their first four games while blowing multi-goal leads. They also squandered a lead in their fifth game, a 43overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild.

Fans and players hoped the team'sfortunes, the worst start in franchise history, would start to turn around during Saturday'shome opener at Rogers Arena.

Instead, the Canucks dropped a 51 decision to the Buffalo Sabres, a gamewhere the home team never held the lead.

With just minutes left on the clock, three Canucksjerseys were tossed onto the ice and others in the disgruntled crowd expressed their displeasure with jeers.

Harpreet Pandher, an analyst on Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi Edition, said Saturday's loss was a tough one.

"No fans or teams like jerseys being thrown onto the ice," he said. "That's almost like the ultimate disrespect."

More losing, he said,could lead to fans calling on the team to make changes.

"A rebuild might be in play here if this continues," he said.

WATCH | Fans were optimistic in advance of last Saturday's home opener:

Canucks fans still waiting for a win after worst start in franchise history

2 years ago

Duration 0:28

The Vancouver Canucks remain winless after a 5-1 loss Saturday, extending a six-game losing streak that marks the team's worst season opening in franchise history. Outside Rogers Arena, fans remain optimistic for the team's future.

Supportive fans

Nancy Kearney, aCanucks fan for 40 years, said Saturday's game was disappointing not because the team lost, but because she felt like there was "something off" about some of the players and they weren't playingup to their potential.

"Maybe not all the players, but quite a few of them just seem like there's no wind in their sails," Kearney told CBC News. "I actually turned it off and didn't even watch 'tilthe very end."

She said she expected more from the Canucks,who were playing in front of a home crowd for the first time this season.

"Even their faces didn't look like they were in it," she said of the team's performance on Saturday night. "There was no excitement or anything and it seems strange."

Despite theloss, she said, shewill always remain a Canucks fan.

Another rough start

Weathering a rough start to the season is nothing new for the Canucks.

Last season, the team went 8-15-2 to start the campaign, prompting the dismissal of then-head coach Travis Green, general manager Jim Benning and several coaching and front-office staff.

Vancouver went 32-15-10 under Boudreau to close out the year and finished five points out of a playoff spot.

Clay Imoo, a self-described Canucks super-fan and YouTuber, said he hopes the team can have a similar turnaround this year, one that comes soon enough for them to qualify for the post-season.

He said if the team continues to struggle, it wouldn't be surprising ifpresident of hockey operations JimRutherford and general manager Patrik Allvin lookto move key players.

"Everyone's frustrated.Everyone's looking for a solution," he said.

He said he's heard from some fans who want the Canucks to keep losing so they can improve their odds of winning theNHLdraft lottery and a chance to land consensus toppickConnor Bedard.

Imoo, however, said he'san eternal optimist and he hopedthe team couldturn it around during their next home game againstthe Carolina Hurricanes on Monday night.

"I can understand why people are frustrated, why people are disappointed, butI have no right to judge how anyone is a fan," he said. "Rather [I]just worry about how I'm going to support them. I'm going to be cheering like crazy. I'm not going to throw any jerseys on the ice or anything like that."

Imoo's optimism wasn't rewarded. The Canucks fell32 to the Hurricanes,their seventh loss in a row.

WATCH | Fast delivers blow to Canucks:

Canes' Jesper Fast pushes Canucks winless streak to 7 games

2 years ago

Duration 0:47

Carolina defeated Vancouver 3-2 Monday as the Canucks still remain winless.