VANCOUVER - The Vancouver Canucks' sellout streak has come to an end.
The club played to a less-than-capacity crowd at Rogers Arena against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night, snapping a string of 474 consecutive sellouts.
Attendance for Saturday was 18,647 — just 223 short of a sellout.
The last time the Canucks didn't play in front of a full house at home was on Nov. 12, 2002, when they secured a 6-3 win over the St. Louis Blues.
The sellout streak began two days later in a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings.
While large chunks of empty seats were noticeable last season as the Canucks struggled to their first spring without playoff hockey since 2008, the team announced Friday via email to season ticket holders that the sellout streak would be ending.
The Canucks sold out their home opener last Saturday, a dramatic 5-4 shootout win over the Edmonton Oilers.
