Hughes, Pettersson absence felt; epic third-period collapse, and more: 3 reasons why Vancouver Canucks lost 5-4 in OT to Seattle Kraken

The Vancouver Canucks squandered a 4-1 lead in the third period in a frustrating 5-4 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Saturday afternoon at Rogers Arena. The Canucks held a three-goal lead at the three-minute mark of the third but gave up the equalizer with less than a minute to go.

Brock Boeser had two goals for the Canucks, with Conor Garland and Jake DeBrusk getting the others. Jaden Schwartz and Vince Dunn had two goals apiece, with Matty Beniers adding the other for the Kraken.

So, here’s a look at the three key reasons why the Vancouver Canucks lost to the Seattle Kraken:

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Three reasons why the Vancouver Canucks lost to the Seattle Kraken in overtime

#3 No Pettersson or Hughes

The Vancouver Canucks played without two of their biggest stars in center Elias Pettersson and captain Quinn Hughes. Their absence due to injury was noticeable, as the Canucks struggled to hold down the lead in the third period.

While Vancouver managed four goals, Pettersson’s absence was noticeable during overtime. Had he been on the ice, the Canucks might have been created more chances. Moreover, missing Hughes was crucial, as the blue line crumbled in the third period.

According to Elliotte Friedman during Saturday Headlines, the injuries to Hughes and Pettersson aren't considered serious. So, it seems that It will only be a matter of time before the duo are back on the ice.

#2 Demko faltered amid pressure

Thatcher Demko had his first poor game of the season after returning from injury. Demko played well for the first 40 minutes or so but struggled to keep up with the pressure down the stretch, giving up three goals in the third.

However, it was the overtime winner that made Demko look bad. Vince Dunn beat Demko on a breakaway opportunity after the Vancouver Canucks had failed to corral a puck that went around the boards.

Dunn skated alone without any pressure, beating Demko stick side on a blistering shot. The replay showed that Demko was far too slow to react, allowing the shot to easily beat him. Of course, Dunn deserves credit for firing a rocket.

It’s worth pointing out that the Canucks gave up on the play, as they failed to pressure Dunn as he got away with the puck.

#1 Canucks' epic third-period collapse

The most evident reason for the Vancouver Canucks’ loss was their epic collapse in the third period. They seemingly stopped skating, ceding all the momentum to the Kraken. Seattle outshot the Canucks 12-6 in the final frame.

However, the Canucks crumbled in the final two minutes, as Dunn scored at 18:48 of the third before Schwartz tied the game less than a minute later. The collapse in the final two minutes underscored just how much the Canucks ran out of gas down the stretch.

The Canucks will get a break on Sunday and Monday before taking on the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night.