Rick Tocchet’s glass of optimism is usually half full, but it’s showing some cracks. The Vancouver Canucks head coach was searching for positives Monday — especially after winger Dakota Joshua was placed on injury reserve with a suspected leg issue suffered Friday in a game collision — and with Elias Pettersson and Thatcher Demko sidelined but closer to playing on a defining five-game road trip.

The intrigue about Canucks centers J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson continues, while the Sabres' Dylan Cozens and Islanders' Brock Nelson remain in the rumor mill.

Miller started the most recent road trip with his best performance of the season, recording four points against the Montreal Canadiens. However, he didn’t get another point for the rest of the trip, and his ice time took a nosedive.

The Vancouver Canucks were on the verge of trading J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers on Saturday, only for the deal to fall apart in the final moments.

J.T. Miller is almost a poster boy of sorts for the Canucks, with his struggles indicative of a team which now has just five wins in their past 19 games.

The Canucks get their five-game road tip off to a frustrating start, as they give up a 3-1 lead and ultimately lose 5-4 in overtime to the streaking Canadiens.

The Vancouver Canucks started their five-game road trip with a 5–4 overtime loss to the Montréal Canadiens. J.T. Miller (2), Jonathan Lekkerimäki, and Jake DeBrusk scored for Vancouver. Cole Caufield,

The Vancouver Canucks dropped a disappointing 5-4 game in overtime against the Montreal Canadiens on Monday night at Bell Centre.

Nothing like an overtime loss to kick off the road trip. The Vancouver Canucks dropped a 5-4 decision in overtime to the Montreal Canadiens to kick off their eastern road trip.

The Montreal Canadiens opened the year at the Bell Centre by taking on the Vancouver Canucks tonight and they signed a thrilling 5-4 win.

Nick Suzuki scored the overtime winner and added two assists as the Montreal Canadiens stayed hot with a 5-4 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Monday night.

(Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP) Vancouver Canucks center J.T. Miller (9) scores the second goal against Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) during second-period NHL hockey game action in Montreal, Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. (Ryan ...