"It's a shitty feeling": Quinn Hughes' honest admission after Canucks lose 5-2 to bottom dwellers Flames

Filip Hronek and Quinn Hughes scored two goals for the Vancouver Canucks but in between them, the Calgary Flames netted five times to take a 5-2 win on Sunday. This was Canucks' third straight loss, scoring just 4 points in their last seven games.

Both the Canucks and the Flames took 8 penalty minutes on ice during the game. However, Vancouver's penalties definitely had the bigger impact. Three minor penalties during the second period significantly hampered their performance as the Flames outshot them 11-6 and scored twice to extend their lead to three goals after the first period ended with a 2-1 lead for Calgary.

"Obviously, we're going to need our special teams to be good," Captain Quinn Hughes said during his media scrum. "I mean, hopefully the penalty kill. We need the penalty kill, need the power play, and we're going to need the special teams to win us some games. So, I mean, I would hope so."

The Canucks earned two power plays in the first, but their power play opportunity in the first half of the third period turned out to be costly as they conceded a short-handed goal to Jake Coleman at 7:59. Hughes expressed his frustration after an experienced power play unit earned the goal.

"Yeah, it's tough, of course," Hughes added. "But I mean, I don't know how many short-handed goals we've given up this year. Things are going to happen. We're going to give up another one this year. That's just life. And obviously, we wish it didn't happen at that point. It's a shitty feeling, but it happens."

This was a game that Vancouver would have hoped to win, considering they were three points ahead of the Flames, who were last in the Pacific Division with 17 points. Instead, Calgary earned its third straight win while Canucks record dropped to 9-12-2.

Adam Foote makes feelings known after Canucks loss

Vancouver Canucks head coach Adam Foote also expressed his displeasure with his team keeping the momentum after Hronek's goal in the first.

“We did have a good start,” Foote said. “They capitalized on their chances. They got some pucks to the net, they beat us to some rebounds, and that's their game.”

Hughes has 19 points in 18 games, but 11 of them have come in the past five games. He is missing a lot of support as crucial forwards like Teddy Blueger, Filip Chytil, and goaltender Thatcher Demko are out due to injury.