Canucks set franchise record losing streak with loss to Islanders

The Vancouver Canucks have had some dark years in their 55 seasons without a Stanley Cup, but they’ve never had a losing streak like this. 

After dropping a 4-3 loss to the New York Islanders in the second game of an eight-game home stand on Monday, the Canucks officially set the record for the longest losing streak in franchise history, with their 11th loss in a row. 

Previously, the record sat at 10 games, which the hockey club only hit once between Oct. 23 and Nov. 11 in the 1997 season, before snapping the skid before it could hit 11 games with a 5-3 win against the San Jose Sharks. 

The 1997-98 Canucks finished the season 24th of 26 NHL teams at the time. The current 2025-26 team now sits 32nd of 32 teams, seven points behind the Winnipeg Jets for 31st place.

More recently, the Canucks had a pair of eight-game losing streaks in Willie Desjardins’ final season as head coach in 2016-17, which are among the 12 times the Canucks have lost at least eight consecutive games.

The loss to the Islanders came after a disastrous six-game road trip, during which Vancouver picked up only two loser points, and it dropped their league-worst home record to 4-14-3. The Canucks led Monday’s game 2-1 in the first period with goals from Max Sasson and Evander Kane, before surrendering the lead. 

PULLLLLY pic.twitter.com/kLkRT9NrLt

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) January 20, 2026

Vancouver pulled back within a goal with 1:51 remaining in the third with a goal from Drew O’Connor, but could not avoid setting the record.

While the result brought them to a historically bad mark, it came on a formative day for the organization. Hours before puck drop, general manager Patrik Allvin announced that the Canucks had acquired two second-round NHL Draft picks and AHL defenseman Cole Clayton from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for former leading scorer Keifer Sherwood.

After talk of a “hybrid rebuild” and “retool” at points, the tank and rebuild effort is fully on for Vancouver, as they eye an opportunity to pick first overall for the first time in franchise history. 

Riding their 11-game losing skid, the Canucks will now look to avoid matching their record winless run, which stands at 13 games and was set in the first half of the 1973-74 season, but included ties. 

Vancouver’s next game comes against the Washington Capitals on Wednesday, as part of playing every second day through to Feb. 4 and the start of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic break.