VANCOUVER – Not enough choices at centre, and the wrong choice in goal.

As the Vancouver Canucks play without any of the three experienced centres they gambled on for this season, it wasn’t the hollowed out middle of the ice that hurt them Monday as much as the space around their net.

It was poorly defended at critical moments, and staffed by the wrong goalie in Kevin Lankinen as the Detroit Red Wings won 4-0 at Rogers Arena despite being largely outplayed.

After minor-league callup Nikita Tolopilo delivered a rare win for the Canucks with Saturday’s 4-2 triumph against the Minnesota Wild – his second win in three National Hockey League starts – coach Adam Foote returned after a rest day to Lankinen, the struggling backup who was beaten three times on 13 shots and lost for the ninth tim

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