Feb 18, 2016; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks head coach Willie Desjardins watches the clock during the third period at Rogers Arena. The Anaheim Ducks won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 18, 2016; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks head coach Willie Desjardins watches the clock during the third period at Rogers Arena. The Anaheim Ducks won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports /
With just two games for the Vancouver Canucks this week, it is decision time for Jim Benning.
The Vancouver Canucks have just seven days to decide the fate of the 2015-16 season. Week #21 is deadline time for Benning & Co. as the Trade Deadline looms large with lots of unanswered questions heading into the final few games before the deadline.
Well, Benning has not unanswered the questions. The management is just refusing to deal with the questions, at least not on the media front. But those questions will continue to be answered. I would be 100 percent correct in saying that four consecutive 5-2 losses answered a lot of questions.
You know, with just two games and three full days in between the game on Sunday and the game on Thursday the Canucks better win on Sunday to make them feel good for the three days that follow. After the game on Thursday, they also have two days off until a divisional showdown against the San Jose Sharks on Sunday, which would also be the night before the NHL Trade Deadline.
It is here, and the Canucks are stuck in limbo. Are any assets worth anything right now, after four losses by scores of 5-2? Apparently there still is some hope for all who would like to see Radim Vrbata moved for anything in return.
Talked to a pro scout who thinks, despite depressed market, Hamhuis+Vrbata still have significant value. If they agree on trades.
After playing just one game last week, rookie Alex Friesen has failed to draw into the lineup ever since. He has not looked particularly good in the one game has played. Perhaps the 25-year-old will be moved as a “deal sweetner” when Vrbata gets moved…
Home cooking is drugged
This is ridiculous. The Canucks now have the worst home record (point percentage wise) in the entire NHL. With a home record of 9-13-5 (23 of 54 points, 43 point percentage), Vancouver just can’t believe how bad the Canucks are at home. Heck, even the Toronto Marlie Leafs (8-9-8 at home) have earned 24 of possible 50 points (48 point percentage)! Worse yet, the Canucks have five games at home upcoming.
Standings watch and the Deadline
The Canucks, with a loss against the Colorado Avalanche and a few other outcomes around the basement of the league, can fall as low as 25th in the league. If Calgary earns even a single point against Anaheim and if Buffalo beats Pittsburgh… playoffs are pretty much out the windows. Wonder how much the Canucks would be willing to sell. There isn’t much of value for the deadline.
But if the Canucks do win some games this week, it is a different story. As always. Just scared that the Canucks might pull a rental addition because.. Benning is Benning. Anyhow, here is the Week #21 Outlook and Predictions!
Next: Home vs. Colorado
vs. Colorado Avalanche (31-26-4) Sunday, February 21st
Leading scorer: Matt Duchene (25 goals, 47 points)
Keys to the game:
Different storyline
Offence from the blueline
Miller’s Killer instinct
The Colorado Avalanche will return the favours that the Vancouver Canucks endowed upon them after the visiting Canucks won 3-1 in Mile High City the last time these two met. Now the Canucks will be the one looking to protect their home ice and trying to maintain a grip on the life jacket for the playoffs.
A different storyline is what the Canucks win. If Vancouver loses against the Avalanche, no big deal. If they get run out of the building without any retaliation, big deal. If they lose another game 5-2, huge deal. That alone — five straight 5-2 losses — has got to be enough to get a coach fired. A soft home game against a relatively beatable opponent? Can’t let that happen anymore.
Especially with three full days of rest after this game, the Canucks have to burn whatever is left in their tanks on Sunday so that they won’t regret a poor loss for the rest of the week and rest of the season. Maybe rest of his life for Willie Desjardins.
The last time these two played, it was the offence from the defence that came through for the Canucks. Matt Bartkowski had a nice goal and Ben Hutton factored in big time with two assists. Luca Sbisa turned into the 2010 version of Alex Edler when he pulled this off:
Without Alex Edler, Ben Hutton will continue to try sparking the offence as the top pairing with Chris Tanev. How many games does Dan Hamhuis has left to play in a Canuck uniform, I wonder.
Lastly, Ryan Miller will look to claim the Canucks’ goal crease after Jacob Markstrom let in five goals in the loss to the Calgary Flames. After four straight games with five goals against (albeit some into an empty net in front of an empty crowd), Miller will need to be killer in his instincts to give the Canucks a decent chance to win.
Trade Alert: The Toronto Marlie Leafs have traded former Canuck Shawn Matthias to Colorado in exchange for this year’s fourth-round draft pick and prospect Colin Smith.
Predictions
For a Vancouver Win:
103. Final. 3. 104. 2
Sarah: I’ve got a feeling this game will see a bit of a fight to the Canucks. Game will not be easy. Colorado coming off a bit of success could be the perfect opponent for a struggling team, though.
Me: The Canucks can’t find any more ways to lose, can they? Two recent losses to the Calgary Flames should wake this team up. If nothing happens, I am just about ready to turn my Canucks watch on hold.
For a Colorado Win:
104. 4. 103. Final. 2
Janik: Hoping the 5-2 streak doesn’t continue, but the Canucks will likely lose again. The Avalanche is doing a good job holding on to their playoff spot while Vancouver keeps on losing.
Next: Home vs. Ottawa
vs. Ottawa Senators (28-26-6) Thursday, February 25th
If Dion Phaneuf and Erik Karlsson don’t intimidate you, I don’t know what else would. The Ottawa Senators are trying to make the push for the playoffs, but they find themselves the 21st team in the standings to start Week 21. Their defence, at least nominally, looks good to me.
After a shaky start in the Sens uniform, Phaneuf now has a goal to cheer for in Ottawa. The Canucks have to make sure that he and Karlsson do not run through some of the less speedy blueliners. Chris Tanev and Ben Hutton will be put to the test.
Secondly, the Sens have a surprisingly bad penalty kill record. If the Canucks wanted a chance to draw up a new powerplay squad, they have three full days from Sunday’s match against Colorado to think, and then Thursday to put their thoughts to test against the league’s second-worst penalty kill, which is only successful 74.3 percent of the time.
Lastly, this is the second last game before the trade deadline. The Canucks have moves to make. Will Radim Vrbata be able to recreate this gorgeous goal against Craig Anderson that he scored last year?
Also, make sure this does not turn into another Auston Matthews chant in Rogers Arena. That is just disheartening for everyone to hear.
Predictions
For a Vancouver Win:
104. 2. 91. Final. 4
Sarah: Again, not an easy game. Will be a fun Canadian battle to watch in person, though!
Janik: The losing streak can’t go on forever. Here’s to hoping it ends against the Senators. Bold predictions: Bo scores twice, Virtanen gets the game winner.
2. 104. 4. 91. Final
Me: Game closer than the scoreboard may suggest. I never liked Erik Karlsson playing against my team. Uncertainties in the lineup will jar the Canucks apart. Might have some life, though!
Next: The Bottomline
Feb 19, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Vancouver Canucks right wing Jake Virtanen (18) celebrates his goal with teammates against the Calgary Flames during the first period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /
For the better or the worse? Who knows. I don’t even know which is the better and which is the worse. Is a fire sale of veterans the turn for the better or a recognition of failure from the organization this season? Is it just another part of the youth movement? Who is going to go, who is going to stay? Is Ryan Miller enough to be the number one netminder?
Can Willie Desjardins coach with human IQ and not like a computerized roll-four-lines scarecrow? Can the Canucks either make the push for the playoffs or the trip to the bottom of the standings? Everything is in limbo, and nobody can make anything out of these Canucks.
Which was the tale coming into the 2015-16 season; selling Kevin Bieksa and grabbing guys like Brandon Sutter had the entire league confused about the direction the Canucks were headed. Five months later, we are still here, confused about what might come. By the end of this week, Vancouver should have more material things to talk of. Was that Shawn Matthias move the signal to the rest of the league to start warming up the talks already?
