Won a lost game in overtime, lost a winnable game in a three-minute span the third period. Now that's what we call a successful road trip!

California, We Hardly Knew Ya!

First, the bad news: the Canucks did really well for about 65 minutes of that road trip.

Now, the good news: They only got two points out of it, giving a division rival one on the way.

Really, though, Vancouver probably deserved better than the results they got. The score against the Ducks felt undeserved for most of it, and the loss against the Sharks felt the same. For an organization pushing the rebuild, that's about as good as it gets.

The extended losing streak sucked, sure; but it's gone, and most fans are going to want the next win to be against the incoming Leafs anyway. Zero pressure to break a losing streak, zero pressure to keep a win streak going. We can root for a win with clear consciences and uncomplicated feelings. And isn't that what beating the Leafs is all about?

The Fun Stuff

Tom Willander has been excellent of late. Not even kidding, despite his three assists in fifteen games so far.

The upper end for Willander is a few more points than that, but otherwise? Using his excellent four-way skating and his sense to break up plays and get pucks moving the other way. I want a second-pair guy who can move up if needed, and that looks like where he's headed.

After being sat, Jamie Oleksiak is coming around as Willander's partner. As the free agent signing with two years, that's a good thing, because it was a rough start for him. We need to see him standing up for his teammates a bit more and being more of a presence out there. The goal was great, showing good timing and awareness, but he's got to be a living vibe check. Luke Schenn can't do it all, especially from the press box.

And, of course, Elias Pettersson the Defenceman. Second in hits to Paul Cotter; three goals - tying last season - in fifteen games; and a +1 on the season, faulty though that stat may be. He hasn't been perfect this season, but no one else on the team has, either.

The story hasn't been as good up front, but there are still some positives.

Elias Pettersson the Forward has made his return after fifteen games. Five goals and sixteen points in fifteen games is the sort of numbers we've been hoping to see for a few seasons now. That he's also third in hits behind Cotter and Pettersson the Defenceman is just hilarious. He'll never have a large frame, so easing up on the physical play is probably for the best. Keep that offence coming, though!

Pettersson has a five- and a six-game point streak already this year, even through the losing. His defence remains strong, and, if this matters to you at all, he looks like he's enjoying the challenge again. Trade him or keep him, whichever camp you're in, his play has been a relief.

Brock Boeser isn't scoring the goals we want, but his point totals are still solid. Four goals and twelve points in fifteen games is just fine, though reversing them would be nice. He's also spoken out in frustration near the end of the losing streak, which is something to keep an eye on. That's a positive. We like that.

Then there's Jonathan Lekkerimäki. Six goals, twelve points, ripping the puck. He's all of 52 games into his NHL career and healthy again. No notes, keep the good times rolling!

Between the pipes, the pickup of Leevi Meriläinen was just what the fan club ordered. At a bargain price of "free" and costing just $1.1 million in cap hit, Meriläinen has stepped in as Kevin Lankinen faltered. It's funny to think of a goalie with two wins in ten games as "the good one" but that's just how this season has gone.

Merl has been, if you'll excuse it, an Absolute Unit in there. He has clearly taken the starting role from Lankinen for now, though I do think the veteran will bounce back as the year progresses. Lankinen will simply need to play his way out of his funk. Fortunately, this is the right year to do that in.

The Rumours

Two forwards look like they've caught Vancouver's attention: Washington's Ivan Miroshnichenko and Matthew Poitras on the Bruins.

There are some similarities between the players: they're turning 23 this season; can play either wing; and are high draft picks who can't get past the fourth line on their drafting team. Neither would come cheap, though both teams likely want to move their players out of the conference if they can get close to the price they want.

Miroshnichenko (not a name you can say quickly, that!) is the more physical of the two. In theory, he's got all the tools: hard shot, very good skating, heavy hitter. He wants to play by smashing through whoever's in front of him, and that's really, really hard to do in the NHL.

He's not particularly good on defence, either, which hasn't endeared him to Washington's coaching staff. The best approach may well be to keep him on a wall and tell him that it's his wall and he should treat it that way. It's hard to tell where he's going to end up playing the bulk of his career.

His other attributes make him a trade target, though. If the Capitals are looking to shore up their offence, then Jake DeBrusk would be a fine trade chip. If DeBrusk thinks of them as a possible contender, then he wouldn't block the move, either. There would need to be some cap moves to make it work, but the pieces are there.

DeBrusk would not work as a part of a Poitras trade, on the other hand. It's hard to picture him wanting to return to a Bruins team he requested a trade from. On the other hand, maybe that conflict is far enough in the past that their 9-4-1 record makes it easier to forget.

Poitras has improved gradually over the years, and has put up good numbers this season. He's got four goals and seven points in eleven games, but still sits between eight and ten minutes of ice time per night. He wasn't really a big scorer, piling up assists in the OHL rather than goals.

Poitras' strength is in his defensive play, though he's good at getting the puck out of his zone with possession. Lord knows, the Canucks could use that attribute! But there's also going to be a bidding war for his services, given his age and ability to play centre. He also plays quickly, which is another Canucks deficit.

It's tougher to see what Vancouver can give Boston. They are lacking in draft picks, and a veteran defenceman to shore up their squad wouldn't hurt. The Canucks have two second-round picks this year, neither theirs, to entice trade partners.

At the very least, it's good to hear that the Canucks are keeping feelers out to actively improve the team. Yes, they need patience, but they don't need too much.