What we learned

Defenceman Philip Larsen is a Canucks wild-card this season, lured by a one-year contract from the Kontinental Hockey League. The 26-year-old Dane has displayed mobility and puck-handling skills.

But the Canucks can’t protect Larsen and Luca Sbisa on the road, where opponents will match their best forwards against Vancouver’s third defensive pairing. Sbisa and Larsen were on the ice when the Kings’ made it 1-0, and Larsen’s weak attempt to impede Dustin Brown on his way to the net for L.A.’s third goal simply wasn’t an NHL calibre play. Larsen has plenty of skill, but he’ll have to improve defensively if he is to survive in the NHL.