"Wasting talent of Quinn Hughes": Vancouver Canucks fans livid after 10th OT loss of the season from 2-1 defeat to Washington Capitals 

The Vancouver Canucks' struggles continued as they lost their third consecutive game, falling 2-1 to the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on Wednesday. This was the Canucks' second consecutive overtime loss and their 10th overall this season. Their previous loss came against the Montreal Canadiens on Monday, also in overtime.

The Canucks, who have been plagued by injuries this season, including captain Quinn Hughes' four-game absence due to an upper-body injury, welcomed him back to the lineup before their five-game road trip. However, they have lost two consecutive games despite his return.

Center Pierre-Luc Dubois scored both goals for the Capitals, with the first coming with 33 seconds left in the first period to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. Canucks right-winger Conor Garland leveled the score at the end of the second period, but neither team scored in the third, sending the game to overtime. Dubois scored his second with 41 seconds remaining in OT, sealing the win for the Capitals.

The Canucks' back-to-back overtime collapses have sparked widespread frustration among fans, with many taking to social media to express their disappointment and criticize the team's lackluster overtime performance.

"Not sure they could win in OT vs an Empty net," wrote one fan.

"DUBOIS I REPEAT DUBOIS JUST ENDED YOUR FRANCHISE," reacted another fan.

"OVERTIME POINT MERCHANTS," one fan added.

"Another loser point for the worst team in the league," wrote another fan.

The Vancouver Canucks' recent struggles have sparked a pressing question: Is Quinn Hughes wasting his prime with the team? Despite his impressive individual performance, the Canucks' 1-2-3 record in their past six games has raised concerns about the franchise's direction. Hughes, the Norris Trophy winner, has been a driving force behind the team's success this season.

With 11 points (one goal, 10 assists) in his past seven games, Hughes has demonstrated his exceptional skill and dedication. However, as he recently played his 400th game for the franchise, fans can't help but wonder if the Canucks are utilizing his talents effectively.

"I’ve seen enough. The Vancouver Canucks are wasting the talent of Quinn Hughes. Trade him immediately to the Washington Capitals for future considerations and give a great player like him a real chance to compete," wrote one fan.

"Not only people will go to max money on gms; it’s predictable hockey.. very disappointing for Hughes that plays his heart out; besides that we don’t have game breaker," another fan said.

"I really want to see us winning OT games. Hughes performed spectacular though," a fan added.

Ovechkin stays stuck, but Dubois saves the day in Capitals' 2-1 OT win over Vancouver Canucks

Vancouver Canucks v Washington Capitals - Source: Getty

Pierre-Luc Dubois was the hero for the Washington Capitals on the night, scoring twice in a 2-1 OT win against the Vancouver Canucks. Dubois sealed the victory with his second goal, coming with just 40.3 seconds left in the 3-on-3 overtime period. He had also opened the scoring at the end of the first period.

With Wednesday's performance, 26-year-old Dubois marked his seventh goal of the season and is currently riding a five-game point streak, with six points (two goals, four assists) during that span.

The Canucks, meanwhile, have struggled mightily, losing eight of their last 10 games. One bright spot, however, was their ability to contain Alex Ovechkin, preventing the legendary Russian left-winger from scoring.

Ovechkin remains stuck at 872 goals, just 23 shy of breaking Wayne Gretzky's 25-year-old NHL career record of 894 goals.