Canucks: 3 takeaways from 5-3 collapse versus Blue Jackets
After suddenly having fallen to a wild card spot overnight, the Vancouver Canucks were determined to find a win versus the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Vancouver Canucks are having a pretty good season so far with all eyes set on playoff hockey, but the toughest competition is yet to come and it’ll be a straight-up dog fight to the finish line.
After being bested on the road in their eastern swing by the Ottawa Senators Thursday and the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night, the Canucks crossed the border to try and end the road trip even. A battle against a former coach, John Tortorella and the Columbus Blue Jackets would go down on Sunday evening.
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24 hours removed from a sluggish performance in Toronto, Thatcher Demko found himself in a ball cap riding the pine, ultimately paving the way for Louis Domingue to make his Vancouver Canucks debut. Already rocking a slick new mask, the journeyman goaltender was ready to fight for starts while Jacob Markstrom heals up from a meniscus tear.
With the 24-year-old rookie displaying back-to-back shaky starts, and the Canucks not yet knowing what they have in Domingue, it was up to the Canucks’ core to crank things up to the next level and get the club into better playoff positioning. Could J.T Miller stay red hot? His play has been incredible all season and the Canucks really needed him to bring his best.
The Canucks put up a dominant first and second period. The third period appeared to be going smoothly until things turned around in a hurry and the Canucks tragically collapsed and gave up a four-goal third period to drop the contest 5-3. Here are three takeaways from the match-up.