Vancouver Canucks: 3 takeaways from loss to Columbus Blue Jackets
The Vancouver Canucks took on the Columbus Blue Jackets in their 11th back-to-back of the season, and were blown out by a score of 5-0.
Is it just me or does it feel like the Vancouver Canucks have played a lot of back-to-backs this year? The number is eleven to be exact — and Thatcher Demko has started four of the later games in those back-to-backs.
This is still Markstrom’s team
As we get ready to turn the final page on this season, I watched last night’s game and wondered a few things about the goaltenders the Canucks have.
They’ve got Demko, who has looked impressive at times, but they’ve also got Jacob Markstrom, who has really proven that he’s ready to be an everyday starter. In my opinion, Markstrom has been the second best player for the Canucks this season, behind only Elias Pettersson.
A case can easily be made that Markstrom has been more valuable for the Canucks this season, but in my eyes, it’s still Pettersson. Nonetheless, Markstrom has been a rock in goal for the Canucks this season.
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It’s interesting because Demko has paid his dues in the American Hockey League. Tabbed the goalie of the future since the day he was drafted back in 2014, Canucks fans were counting down the days until Demko was the everyday starter.
But now, with the play of Markstrom this year, how can the team tell him that he’s going to be the backup to the young Demko? It’s simple — they won’t. Markstrom will be the starter if he continues this level of play.
Demko’s play last night wasn’t too great, but he didn’t have much help in front of him. Then again, neither does Markstrom on most nights. He still finds ways to pick up wins even when the Canucks turn in a poor effort in front of him.
Demko still has a ways to go before he’s gunning for the starting job, but who knows, maybe he will come into camp next year motivated and ready to challenge for the spot.
Having two goalies fight for a starting job is a good problem to have for the Canucks. Training camp next year will be a battle between Markstrom and Demko, but for now, this is one-hundred percent Markstrom’s team.
The Great Wall of Torts
Let us now take a trip down memory lane. Canucks fans will never forget the day former head coach John Tortorella tried to fight then Flames coach, Bob Hartley. It’s storytime, so sit back and enjoy.
The night was January 18th, 2014. The Canucks were set to take on the Calgary Flames at home from Rogers Arena on a Saturday night Hockey Night in Canada broadcast. Our story begins when coach Tortorella catches wind of who the Flames were putting on the ice to start the game.
Kevin Westgarth, Brian McGrattan, and Blair Jones — the Flames fourth line. Keep in mind, this is back in the days where enforcers in the league were still common. Those three players were just that — enforcers. Nearly everyone agreed that this was a bush league move from Hartley, and that Tortorella did the right thing by not sending out his usual starters in Daniel and Henrik Sedin, or the second line of Ryan Kesler.
Instead, an irate Tortorella decided to respond with his own fourth line. Well, sort of. Defenceman Kevin Bieksa lined up at center ice to take the opening draw of the game.
Tom Sestito was also on the ice for the opening draw, and after the game said, “Torts told us they were starting their idiots over there, so we had to match that”. As a result, the following line brawl ensued. Enjoy.
It was after this line brawl, that Tortorella got carried away. After barking at Hartley and the Flames bench, Tortorella made an attempt to fight, well, everybody in the Flames locker room. He stormed the Flames’ dressing room, presumably looking to physically confront Hartley. Multiple Flames players blocked his path, and Tortorella eventually was pulled away and back into the Canucks dressing room. You can watch that video here.
The whole thing looked like it had come straight out of a WWE segment. As a result, Tortorella was suspended and fined. He was then fired by the Canucks at the end of the season after the Canucks failed to reach the playoffs.
Flash forward, and Tortorella is a successful coach with the Blue Jackets. Yesterday wasn’t his first game back against the Canucks, but there was a pretty hilarious tweet that came from Dan Murphy that referenced the infamous incident.
“Is that the wall they put up because of me? Maybe I should autograph it on the way out!” - Torts
— Dan Murphy (@sportsnetmurph) March 24, 2019
Brilliant. pic.twitter.com/USRzRMc6t1
That right there is a divider designed to keep the home team and visiting team’s dressing rooms separated. I think we should call it “The Great Wall of Torts”.
Huge night for Luke Schenn
Acquired for Michael Del Zotto and a seventh-round pick a couple of months ago, Luke Schenn has been a pleasant surprise since joining the team.
After being assigned to the Utica Comets, Schenn was called up to the Canucks and has mostly played alongside Ashton Sautner — his defence partner from down in Utica.
Schenn, 29, is a former fifth overall pick and has bounced around six different NHL teams over the course of his career. He has struggled to stay in the lineup on nearly every team he’s been on — but seems to have found himself a spot with the Canucks.
Schenn has had an increased focus on his physical play since joining the Canucks, and that focus showed last night. Schenn finished the night with 12 hits, and now holds the Canucks’ record for most hits in a single game.
Playing with energy and heart, Schenn looked like someone who wants to show everybody watching that he deserves a spot on the team next year. The same could not be said for Nikolay Goldobin and Jake Virtanen, but I’ll save that for another day.
Head coach Travis Green said after the game of Schenn’s effort, “He was one of the bright spots tonight. He had a strong game.” Good for Schenn to receive this praise from his coach after the effort he turned in last night.
At least they made the playoff race exciting. dark. Next
The Canucks will get back at it tomorrow when they take on the Anaheim Ducks from Rogers Arena. Puck drop is at 7 PM.