Canucks surrender three goal first to visiting Flames in 5-2 loss

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Under Bruce Boudreau, the Vancouver Canucks have been able to dust themselves off after a poor showing. Tonight however, they just happened to dig themselves into a hole from the drop of the puck. Playing in back-to-back nights, the Flames showed no signs of fatigue, while Boudreau’s troops struggled to keep pace.

With both teams splitting the first two games of the series and looking to bounce back after a shutout showing, the stage was set for what could have been a competitive matchup. However, the game was etched in stone after the first 20 minutes of play.

Surely not the outcome the Canucks wanted with less than 48 hours until the Trade Deadline. Fans have to wonder where management stands in the face of two difficult defeats, with the Canucks now five points back of a playoff spot.

Buried by three

Calgary was quick to make Canucks fans forget about their 7-1 victory, testing Thatcher Demko early and often with high slot tip shots before penetrating and crashing the front of the net.

And they didn’t hesitate to slow down for a second. Demko, who had a .929 save percentage at home, calmly turned aside a 2 on 0, before the floodgates opened.

Calgary defenseman Noah Hanifan got the away team on the board first, after being set up with a stretch pass from newcomer Calle Jarnkrok. Hanifan made no mistake finding the net short side after a Canucks change had left plenty of time and space on Demko’s right side.

All period Calgary found success aggressively pressing on the Canucks and turning pucks over to fire at the net. It also didn’t help that the Canucks were still dead set on relying on Demko to bail them out.

The four Vancouver shots of the period came from just about anywhere but the front of the net. This also isn’t the first night the team has looked rather lackluster. Vancouver is now 1-3-1 in their last five. If they have any dwindling hope to make the playoffs, they have to be hungrier – the job is far from over.

The Flames’ relentless pressure resulted in yet another tally after a turnover by Myers kept the puck in the Vancouver zone. After having a few shots in tight against Demko, Matthew Tkachuk once more found the stick on his puck after Mikael Backlund won a battle on the board. Yet another case of what Boudreau referred to as the casual Canucks in their last loss.

On what finally was the best chance of the period for the Canucks, other than the Flames missing a wide-open net, was a Pettersson chance that didn’t even hit the net.

To add insult to injury, the Flames carried the puck back right after and yet another defenceman – this time, Rasmus Andersson fired it home.

In a single period, the Canucks had allowed more than their game average of 2.82 goals. With the forwards having nothing to show for, and Demko heavily under siege, the home team left the ice down with what felt like an unclimbable three-goal deficit.

Mar 19, 2022; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Calgary Flames goalie Dan Vladar (80) makes a save against Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser (6) in the third period at Rogers Arena. The Flames won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports /

Full steam ahead…then full steam backwards

The Canucks had some valuable offensive time to start the second frame – mostly due to the J.T. Miller and Bo Horvat line.

Despite it being the Canucks best shift of the entire game, peppering Dan Vladar with seven shots and hemming Calgary in, Vancouver found themselves down by yet another goal.

The first shot of the frame from the opposition found the back of the net after former Canuck Tyler Toffoli managed to feed Elias Lindholm from his knees.

Vancouver did manage two more looks on a powerplay with no results. The powerplay looked heavily undermanned without the same power from the half-wall from Elias Pettersson, who has drawn into the lineup with the same nagging wrist injury that kept him out of a chunk of games last season.

Luckily for the Canucks, Calgary was also unable to extend their lead on the powerplay.

Not to say the penalty was without its chances. Tkachuk was robbed of his second goal of the night by no one other than… the post.

Although Demko made more than a few sensational saves and was left to his own devices on countless backdoor passes, I can bet he would have liked a few back.

NaturalStatTrick had Demko with an expected 2.86 goals against after two.

Let’s be honest, the highlight of the night was the dog race during the intermission.

https://twitter.com/Canucks/status/1505398332675436545?s=20&t=wNckYz1IluMxAYgBhYttAA

Two for the good guys

Demko got the mercy pull to start the third. He finished the night 23 for 27 with a .852 save percentage. In an upcoming dance with the recently hot Buffalo Sabres in the cards tomorrow, this pull suggests that Boudreau is planning to run his starter back-to-back.

Which didn’t thrill backup Jaroslav Halak, basically confirming a spot on the bench for him tomorrow.

Here is the video HNIC showed after the game of Halak being told by Boudreau he was going in for the third. Unfortunately I missed Bieksa's commentary at the end. Again super tough look from Halak. #Canucks pic.twitter.com/BmoycwzEuI
— Ryan Henderson (@RJHenderson7) March 20, 2022

Halak played well, stopping 16 of 17 shots, including a beauty chance at the side of the net from Johnny Gaudreau who later netted one on the powerplay. Although Halak seemed to have lost his position on the post, he played as good as can be – most likely due to the low stakes of the game at that point.

If there is one silver lining in this Canucks loss, it was finally finding the back of the net. Matthew Highmore and his linemates gave the crowd something to cheer for after a great pinch by Brad Hunt allowed Juho Lammikko to fire a rolling puck on net for a Highmore tip.

Tipped in front by #15! pic.twitter.com/LlxnHUT3R9
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) March 20, 2022

Vancouver had a jump in their step from there on out, pushing for another goal.

They probably could have had one earlier if Brock Boeser would have connected on his empty-net opportunity. Boeser looked like bad omen on the night.

Leave that to Calgary defenceman Erik Gudbranson to fix. After his partner, Nikita Zadorov’s pass was picked off by Tyler Motte, Gudbranson was forced to take the tripping call to save a potential goal. Moments in on the man advantage, Boeser was able to tap in a loose puck from the blue paint.

https://twitter.com/Canucks/status/1505401455699582980?s=20&t=wNckYz1IluMxAYgBhYttAA

Mar 19, 2022; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes (43) stick checks Calgary Flames forward Andrew Mangiapane (88) in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports /

Takeaways

It’s a broken record, but another disappointing start sunk the Canucks. The home team surrendered seven high danger chances on 16 shots in the first period alone according to Natural Stat Trick. Once the Flames had the lead, they never looked back.

On After Hours, Boudreau commented on his team’s first-period collapse, crediting his goaltender for weathering the storm.

“You knew they were gonna come out … and try to take it to us,” said Boudreau. “Calgary was either more ready or a lot better. If it wasn’t for Demko… it could have been a lot worse.”

Although Boudreau didn’t have an answer for his team’s slow starts, he noted that they needed to solve the problem fast.

“It’s sort of an enigma to me that I have to figure out overnight because we can’t afford to have this done anymore,” he said.

To offer some light, he shared his pregame routine when he was in the NHL.

“I used to take 1-2 shots and skate from blue line to blue line … today’s player doesn’t do that,” said Boudreau.

The third period was by far the best for the Canucks, and you have to wonder, if they outscored their opposition in the last 20, what could they have done with a full 60?

With Pettersson’s less than 100% wrist, Boudreau favoured to put his centre on the wing. Despite pulling out a few nifty moves, he and his linemates, Horvat and Conor Garland were on the ice for the first three goals against. They were also outshot 14-1 to start the middle frame. By the end of the game, Boudreau had subbed in Vasily Podkolzin for Garland, and the wheels started turning.

In the face of five back-to-backs, Vancouver has their hands full. The once one point away wildcard team is now looking at a five-point deficit behind the Vegas Golden Knights, who have won their last two.

Next. Which Canucks are likely to be moved at the trade deadline?. dark

This seven-game homestand has been an unexpected step back for Vancouver. They will look to end it off with a win Sunday night against the Buffalo Sabres. Puck drop is at 7:00 PM.

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