Having watched his Vancouver Canucks fall behind early far too often already this season, Travis Green says he might send the NHL a memo asking for the start time of their games to be pushed back.

B次元官网网址淭hat would be an option,B次元官网网址� quipped the rookie head coach.

All joking aside, GreenB次元官网网址檚 club has surrendered the opening goal inside the first five minutes of the first period eight times this season, with four coming before the 70-second mark.

The Canucks have also fallen behind early in three straight, including ThursdayB次元官网网址檚 5-2 home loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, a result that came on the heels of a 3-2 road victory over Los Angeles despite trailing 2-0 after just three minutes and 14 seconds.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got to be a little sharper at the start,B次元官网网址� Green said following FridayB次元官网网址檚 practice. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been pressed into mistakes early because maybe weB次元官网网址檙e trying to do a little too much.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e had a couple rough starts. WeB次元官网网址檝e probably had a couple goals we wanted to have back.B次元官网网址�

ItB次元官网网址檚 true that Vancouver netminders Jacob Markstrom and Anders Nilsson have both given up soft goals early B次元官网网址� Nilsson surrendered one 23 seconds in versus L.A. as just the latest example B次元官网网址� but the Canucks have also been sloppy in their own end, sometimes looking like they arenB次元官网网址檛 ready to play.

B次元官网网址淎t the beginning of the game, a lot of nights itB次元官网网址檚 almost like a little bit of a chess match where youB次元官网网址檝e maybe got to grunt a puck out here or there, make a hard play early because teams have lots of energy,B次元官网网址� said Green. B次元官网网址漁ver the course of 60 minutes, sometimes things break down. ThatB次元官网网址檚 being mentally strong to your game, not just as the game goes on, (but) at the start.B次元官网网址�

The Canucks are actually 4-3-1 in games where theyB次元官网网址檝e allowed opponents to open the scoring inside five minutes, but know that trend canB次元官网网址檛 continue if theyB次元官网网址檙e going to stay in the conversation for a playoff spot in the Western Conference.

B次元官网网址淚f youB次元官网网址檙e down 2-0, itB次元官网网址檚 rare you can come back and win,B次元官网网址� said Vancouver winger Daniel Sedin. B次元官网网址漌e have done a good job so far, but if we keep doing this itB次元官网网址檚 going to be tough.B次元官网网址�

Canucks centre Bo Horvat said the formula for getting a leg up is there for everyone to see.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 pretty self explanatory,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址漌eB次元官网网址檝e just got to be prepared right from the get go.B次元官网网址�

Vancouver finished a four-game road trip 2-2-0 before the setback to the expansion Golden Knights, who were down to their fourth-string goalie because of a slew of injuries in the crease.

The Canucks looked tired, but getting just 21 shots was disappointing B次元官网网址� the fewest Vegas has given up this season B次元官网网址� including just one on two power-play chances for a man-advantage unit that showed signs of life with two goals against the Kings following a 2-for-21 stretch.

B次元官网网址淕uys are holding onto it for too long or theyB次元官网网址檙e gripping the stick a little too tight,B次元官网网址� said defenceman Ben Hutton. B次元官网网址漌eB次元官网网址檝e just got to get back to the way we were playing earlier in the season. We were putting pucks to the net, guys were going to the net, and we were getting some greasy goals.B次元官网网址�

Things will get a whole lot tougher for Vancouver (9-8-2) on Saturday when the St. Louis Blues (14-5-1) visit Rogers Arena before the Canucks head out on a six-game road trip that will take them to Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New Jersey, New York (against the Rangers and Islanders), and Nashville.

The Blues, who sit first in the West and second in the overall standings, got back on track Thursday following consecutive losses by downing the Edmonton Oilers 4-1.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檝e had a good team here for a while,B次元官网网址� said Canucks centre Brandon Sutter. B次元官网网址漌e know what their identity is.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檒l be a good test for us.B次元官网网址�

Vancouver has tended to play up or down to the level of opponents so far in 2017-18, with victories over Minnesota, Washington, Pittsburgh and Los Angeles, while also suffering a couple of setbacks like ThursdayB次元官网网址檚 defeat to Vegas.

The Canucks have also tended to fall behind early, something they will look to shake before heading out of town.

B次元官网网址淐oming from behind is never easy,B次元官网网址� said Hutton. B次元官网网址漌eB次元官网网址檝e got to come out more mentally prepared.

B次元官网网址淕iving up a goal on the first or second shift is always a kick in the butt. It sucks.B次元官网网址�

Notes: Canucks defenceman Christopher Tanev (upper body) practised Friday and could return as early as Saturday. B次元官网网址� A healthy scratch the last three games, Vancouver forward Jake Virtanen skated on a line with Henrik and Daniel Sedin.

Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press