Jan 1, 2016; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) reaches for the puck after a shot by the Anaheim Ducks during the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2016; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) reaches for the puck after a shot by the Anaheim Ducks during the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports /
The Vancouver Canucks are running low. Low on goals, low on bodies, and low on points. Needless to say, low in the standings.
The Vancouver Canucks cannot score.
Sorry if I lost you there with a glaringly obvious lede.
But last week, the Vancouver Canucks scored one goal in 120 minutes of hockey. Two goals in 180 minutes of regulation hockey, one of which came against Cam Talbot and the Edmonton Oilers, the 29th team in the NHL standings. We are proud Vancouverites, right?
Evidently, this is a “four-point game” for Vancouver.
The Arizona Coyotes are playing without Mike Smith — good news for the Canucks who are just behind the Coyotes in the Pacific Division standings. The Canucks will have to shut down the kids — Max Domi and Anthony Duclair — and the blueline, namely Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
Arizona’s offence has an insanely high shooting percentage. Despite putting the second-least number of shots on net, the Coyotes have managed to become the eighth most successful offence in the league. In simple terms, that says the Coyotes have capitalized on their high-danger chances.
When you have Ekman-Larsson, Domi, Duclair, and Boedker all orchestrated by veteran Doan, you will create high-danger chances and bury most odd-man rushes and breakaways. Also, the blueline can score some timely goals when the team is second best in the league in faceoffs.
On the other hand, losing Smith and having Domingue in net is somewhat of good news for the Canucks — until you realize that Domingue’s numbers surpass Smith’s by a mile. Domingue’s .922 save percentage and 2.53 goals against average are certainly nothing to laugh about. But he is still a newbie to the league. The Canucks need to play him tough and grind the defence down.
That being said, Vancouver’s own defence has to be aware of another ancient scorer in Doan, after letting Jagr dominate them a few games ago in Florida.
Next: vs. Hurricanes
Jan 16, 2015; Raleigh, NC, USA; Vancouver Canucks forward Alexandre Burrows (14) clears out the puck in front of the net against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena. The Vancouver Canucks defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /
vs. Carolina Hurricanes (16-17-5) Wednesday, January 6th
Leading scorer: Justin Faulk (14 goals, 30 points)
Keys to the game
Welcome them home
Everything to the net
Dictate possession
The season’s first meeting between the two clubs will mean that another former Canuck goes to the visitor’s locker room. Eddie Lack‘s post-Canuck season has been terrible to date, and Vancouver’s post-Lack season has been just as bad. Maybe having Lack back in the city works wonders for the Canucks. After all, Vancouver does lack some things to laugh about.
Virtanen is likely to suit up for this game after Team Canada was eliminated yesterday from World Juniors action. Since the last time Lack and Virtanen had suited up for Vancouver, both of them have struggled mightily. Maybe this game will turn out to be an emotional relief for the Canucks and Virtanen.
But for that to be true, the Canucks will have to win. Though Carolina’s record is nothing to be intimidated by, their stats certainly are. They are league leaders in faceoff winning percentage and will face the Canucks, the worst faceoff team in the league. Carolina has allowed the fewest shots against of all NHL teams, averaging just 26.2 shots against per game.
That being said, should the Canucks throw a ton of pucks on net, Carolina’s net will give way. Starter Cam Ward has a .900 save percentage while Lack’s is at.891. There is hope, should the Canucks get pucks on net after they retrieve possession from a lost faceoff.
After all, the Canes played Lack in net Saturday against the Nashville Predators. Unlikely that he starts against Vancouver, so if the Canucks want to shoot some pucks at Eddie, they will have to run Cam Ward out of the game. That would be something nice to do for Lack, the team, and the city of Vancouver.
Next: vs. Lightning
vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (18-16-4) Saturday, January 9th
So if the Canucks do not want to throw Tanev — or anyone else for that matter — into saving the game by destroying himself via a Steven Stamkos slap shot, they have to play smarter defensively. Either take Stammer’s offensive role out of the game or let Jacob Markstrom see the shot as clear as day. And of course, it would be smart not to take that many penalties. Although the officiating was partly to blame, as captain Henrik Sedin said, Vancouver deserved most, if not all of those calls.
Speaking of Hank, the Sedins are starting to cool. The Sedins have just two assists combined in the past three games after the Lightning game. Meanwhile, Hansen is picking up steam, after he was fined $2000 for this ‘dive’ in Tampa Bay.
The Canucks simply have to be better scoring beyond just the Sedins and Hansen. You cannot expect an injured Tanev to score goals for you like he did against the Anaheim Ducks. You cannot expect him to block half a dozen Stamkos slappers either, and you cannot expect the Canucks to survive an injury to their best defenceman for any extended period of time.
Just one more week and the Canucks could have Brandon Sutter and Luca Sbisa back in short order. The games are not so tough this week, the Canucks stand a chance. And on that note, here is the bottom line.
Next: Bottomline
Dec 22, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Mike Angelidis (10) and Vancouver Canucks right wing Brandon Prust (9) fight during the first period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
The Bottomline.
Make up your mind, dear Canucks.
Are you going to give it the best shot you’ve got, or are you going to give Auston Matthews a shot? You decide your own fate.Out of your last 31 games, 17 come against Pacific Division rivals. You control your destiny, and that control is a blessing. You will have all your injured men back. Don’t put your teammates’ rehab to waste by passively drifting in the standings. Do something.
