Pubs and restaurants feel pain of Canucks' slump

The Vancouver Canuckshaveset a new franchise recordbut it's not one to celebrate.The team has logged almost four games without scoring a goal.

On Tuesday night, the Canucks lost again, this time2-0 tothe Winnipeg Jets

But it's not just the team that's losing. The Canucks' slump has taken a toll on local businesses, too.

"Pulling teeth is a lot easier than selling tickets right now," said ticket broker Kingsley Bailey.

"Fans are walking out of that buildingcompletely disenchanted, completely disappointed. They don't want to go to another game again."

Bars and restaurants feelslump

Bailey isn't the only one hurting.Local bars and restaurants,which earntheir bread and butter during the hockeyseason,are suffering too.

Charles Gauthier of theDowntown Vancouver Business Improvement Association, said that when theCanucks are winning, somerestaurants report sales that are 30-50 per cent higher.

"It's a combination of factors but certainly the Canucks not doing well has impacted those businesses," Gauthier said

He added thatsome Vancouver establishmentshave madeup the difference with events like the World Rugby 7's tournament.

But until the Canucks actually a score a goal, fickle hockey fans might notreturnbefore the end of the season, with the last home game April 9 against Edmonton.

With files from Farrah Merali