Canucks: 3 takeaways from the 5-0 loss to the Winnipeg Jets
The Vancouver Canucks quite possibly might have recorded their worst loss of the season on Tuesday night.
The team, who was coming off a convincing 3-1 victory against Winnipeg just 24 hours prior, was looking to sweep their two-game mini series at Bell MTS Place.
It did not go as planned. Not even in the slightest.
The Canucks were absolutely thumped in the second half of their back-to-back, falling to the Jets by a score of 5-0. It was tough hockey to watch for much of the 60 minutes, but understandably so at this point in the season.
This was the team’s first contest since officially being mathematically eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs, and it was clear that their motivation and overall desire to play had completely dissipated.
Factor in their unforgiving and seemingly-never-ending schedule over the past three weeks, as well as numerous nagging injuries and ongoing battles with COVID-19 recovery, and you can see why fans are suffering through the worst stretch of Canucks hockey in the past decade (and will probably continue to suffer through for the remaining five games of the year).
With that being said, here are three takeaways from last night’s loss:
Canucks can’t score against Winnipeg
Maybe it’s fatigue from having played nine games in 14 nights. Or maybe it’s a combination of frustration and burn-out from having to rely solely on three or four players to put up the points. Heck, it could even just be, by sheer luck, that you don’t have the better goalie on your side that night.
Whatever it is, the Canucks were once again unable to score goals against the Jets.
The team recorded a measly 24 shots on goal, and were outshot and out-chanced at the end of each period. There were a few instances of offensive pressure and intensity throughout the contest, but, overall, the Canucks made it way too easy for their opponents.
Connor Hellebuyck recorded his fourth career shutout against the Canucks, the most against any other team that he’s played in the league.
This also marked Winnipeg’s third shutout victory against the Canucks this season alone. The first came at the hands of backup netminder Laurent Brossoit in mid-February, and the second happened in Vancouver on March 22nd, a few days before the team’s COVID-19 outbreak.
Yes, the team is still without one of their main goal-scorers and point-producers in Elias Pettersson, who has been dealing with a wrist injury for the past several months. But that excuse has long since dried up.
The Canucks don’t need to be looking for wins at this junction of their campaign, but it’s about time that the secondary scorers step up to the plate and at least attempt to salvage their point totals before the offseason.
Let the kids play
We’ve said it before, and we’ve said it again.
Many of us were scratching our heads early Tuesday afternoon when the team’s projected line-up was officially released.
Tonight's #Canucks lineup in Winnipeg with Holtby between the pipes. 🥅 pic.twitter.com/goXdIjk1tH
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) May 11, 2021
Aside from a swap between the pipes, the forward line and defensive pairings remained identical to Monday night’s tilt.
Normally, this would be considered a smart hockey move. The team was coming off a strong, hard-fought win, so why wouldn’t you want to go with the same players who gave you those two points, right?
Wrong.
This season is a wash, and has been for the past few weeks. The mathematical postseason elimination was just the official and much-expected cherry on top, and it’s time for coaches and management to accept that.
Forward Jonah Gadjovich, who was expected to make his NHL debut at some point in this series, remains just a morning skate participant.
Kole Lind sat out for his second straight game, with Matthew Highmore filling his spot on the top line alongside Bo Horvat and Tanner Pearson. The former second round pick has yet to register a point in his first six professional games, but appeared to be holding his ground on both ends of the ice in those appearances.
Defencemen Olli Juolevi was also on the outside looking in, with head coach Travis Green going with veteran Alex Edler, instead of a youthful left-sided blueline consisting of Juolevi, Quinn Hughes and Jack Rathbone, a trio that could become a realistic possibility next season.
There’s no surprise that management and coaches have made a plethora of mistakes and poor decisions this past year. But if they continue to sit their young guns who, at this point, could simply benefit from the on-ice development and NHL exposure, it might be the last nail in the coffin for this fanbase.
The powerplay is a mess
Make that 0-for-18 in the past six games.
Despite the cringe-worthy stat, the Canucks actually looked a little more dangerous on the powerplay than they had as of late coming into this game.
Rathbone fitting in quite nicely on the first unit, complimenting Hughes’ style of play on the blueline, and it appeared that they were on the verge of a much-needed breakthrough after Monday night’s tilt.
You know where I’m going with this.
The Canucks continued their special teams’ struggles on Tuesday night, once again disappointing the fanbase by going scoreless on the powerplay.
As alluded to before, it’s not about the wins at this point, so the Canucks don’t need their powerplay to be firing on all cylinders and carrying them to victories for the remaining five games.
But, boy, it would be nice to see some competitive and exciting hockey from this club, much like we were used to seeing last year.
At this point, nothing should be off the table for Newell Brown when it comes to igniting his special teams. Could we see Nils Höglander as a regular on the first unit? What about Hughes logging less minutes on the second unit, giving full reign to Rathbone? Or maybe it’s time to see what Lind and Gadjovich could do together?
Although the previous track record indicates otherwise, we’re all crossing our fingers and hoping that we actually might see some changes.
It's time to start playing the team's young forwards. dark. Next
The Canucks will be given a much-needed break before continuing their road trip on Thursday night with a match-up against the Calgary Flames. Puck drop is at 6:00pm PST.
What were your thoughts on the team’s 5-0 loss to the Jets? Make sure to drop a comment below!