VANCOUVER (CP) -- The Vancouver Canucks are going California dreaming.
Losers in three of four starts, they open a three-game road trip tonight against the San Jose Sharks before weekend stops in Los Angeles and Anaheim.
All three California teams are just below Vancouver in the Pacific Division standings, but the unpredictable Canucks need to tighten defensively if they're planning to improve a 26-29-2 record.
GM Pat Quinn continues to stand by his confused players despite mounting pressure to make trades that would improve the talented but hot-and-cold team.
"Two years in a row now we have not accomplished the goal of cutting down our goals against," Quinn said Wednesday. "It may be the defensive skill of our team is not where it needs to be.
"We know we've got offensively skilled players (that) our coach has spent a lot of time with this year trying to get more attentive to the defensive game. Part of that is physical contact."
The light-hitting Canucks are ranked 23rd in the league defensively, allowing 3.43 goals a game. No. 1 goaltender Kirk McLean was shelled and replaced Tuesday during a 6-5 loss to the last-place Toronto Maple Leafs.
McLean was not at practice Wednesday when most of the high-salaried players skipped an optional workout before heading to California.
Quinn made a rare appearance in the dressing room, but insisted he wasn't there to deflect pressure from rookie head coach Tom Renney.
"He is going through the battle of fire that every first-year guy does," Quinn said. "He's bright, he's communicative.
"Pros are a different group (to deal with). He's going to be a good coach in the NHL."
Quinn has been criticized by fans and media lately for not making enough trades.
"When you don't meet expectations . . . you get measured against that expectation," said Quinn. "We haven't performed to a consistent fashion.
"Also bear in mind we aren't the Lone Ranger here. It happens to a lot of hockey teams."
The Canucks are soft defensively. Their only physical defenceman is veteran Dana Murzyn, whose talents are limited by his awkward style.
The lumbering Murzyn is plus six for goals scored at even strength. Joseph is minus 13.
Quinn admitted he may have overestimated the Canucks coming out of training camp. He's made only one in-season trade, adding left-winger Donald Brashear from Montreal for defenceman Jassen Cullimore.
"Our top players haven't played as well as they've shown us they can play," Quinn said without mentioning underachieving wingers Pavel Bure and Alexander Mogilny by name.
"Our defensive game isn't what it needs to be. My goal still is to be a Stanley Cup contender. It always has been. I believe these guys can do it."
Quinn said the biggest problem is the Canucks are not playing together as a team, resulting in "technical breakdowns.
"The panic you saw last night . . . that shows the stress these guys are feeling. The answer all lies in here and working together as a team.
"It's been elusive, hasn't come together. I do believe it can happen."
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