Rossi's impressive rise a positive during Canucks' demise

Vancouver Canucks' Brock Boeser, from left to right, Filip Hronek, Marco Rossi and Elias Pettersson celebrate Hronek's goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the St. Louis Blues, in Vancouver, on Saturday, March 21, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

VANCOUVER — On a night they suffered another ugly loss, centre Marco Rossi said the Vancouver Canucks are trying to be too pretty.

Pius Suter and Pavel Buchnevich scored goals 79 seconds apart in the second period as the St. Louis Blues downed the Canucks 3-1 Saturday to snap a two-game NHL losing streak.

Jordan Kyrou salted the game away for the Blues by scoring into an empty net on a power play with 48 seconds left in the third period.

Defenceman Filip Hronek scored the lone goal for Vancouver (21-40-8).

It was the 23rd regulation loss at home for the Canucks. That breaks the franchise record of 22 set in 1997-98. Vancouver, which is last in the league and 13 points behind the Calgary Flames, still has five home games remaining.

It was also the fifth time in the last seven games the Canucks have scored two or less goals. They are 2-5-0 during that stretch.

“I think we play too cute,” said Rossi, who earned an assist on Hronek’s goal. “We play too much on the outside. We’re not going enough to the inside, the dirty areas. I think that’s missing in our game.”

The Canucks started slow. The first period was 5:48 old before Vancouver generated a shot on net and that came on a power play.

“In the first period we didn’t start on time,” said head coach Adam Foote.

The Canucks had just four shots in the first period and five in the third, when they were pressing for the tying goal.

Hronek, who scored his eighth goal of the season, said it’s no secret the Canucks need to generate more chances.

“More shots, then have more chances, right?” he said. “We have to put more pucks on net and try to create chaos.”

The Blues (28-30-11) also had two goals disallowed.

Foote said the Canucks are spending too much time in their own end. Too often they make bad changes, which allows the other team to bring the puck back into their end.

“It’s hard to generate offence when you’re in your end and you’re having these changes,” he said.

When the Canucks do get into the opposition end, they are looking for the perfect play that often isn’t there.

“We have to get the right shots,” said Foote. “We’re looking for clean plays that aren’t there. Get pucks down and jam the net.”

Rossi has been a bright spot in a dark few months for the Canucks. He was obtained in the Dec. 14 trade that send captain Quinn Hughes to Minnesota. The 24-year-old native of Feldkirch, Austria, missed 18 games with an injury.

Since returning, Rossi has found his legs. His assist extended his points streak to three goals and seven assists in five games while centring a line with Brock Boeser and Liam Ohgren.

“I just try to play my game,” said Rossi, who has nine goals and 28 points in 37 games. “Play with a lot of confidence and try to help my teammates and the team to win a game.”

Hronek said Rossi is trying to make a difference.

“He’s playing amazing right now,” he said. “He’s making plays all over the ice. I think overall that line is working pretty good.”

Foote likes what Rossi is doing but thinks he can contribute even more.

“He’s been pretty good on the offensive side of the puck,” said the coach. “We want him to pay more attention to the defensive side. That line was pretty hot lately as far as generating offensive chances.”

Rossi said while the present has been bleak, the Canucks are focusing on the future.

“Our locker room is good, we stay positive,” he said. “We try to work as much as we can, practise and try to learn. When you lose the game it’s not fun. We all want to win but it’s important we learn from all the mistakes and that we build something here.”

This report by Jim Morris, The Canadian Press, was first published March 22, 2026.