CANUCKS BANTER     By Andrew Chernoff    January 14, 2016

 

Vancouver visited the Washington Capitals in the first game of their 6-game road trip last night at Verizon Center. The Canucks brought a 2-0-1 record in their last three games on the road into the game, looking for a third victory in 4 games.

For the third time this season, Vancouver had a chance to spoil a teams long consecutive winning streak.  First, it was the Montreal  Canadians in October (9 games). Then, the the Florida Panthers on Monday night (12 games). Washington was in the midst of a 10 game winning streak at home last night.

But alas, it was not to be, as Vancouver (17-17-10), lost a tough one on the chin, 4 to 1, to the top team in the NHL, the Washington Capitals (33-7-3), who extended their consecutive winning streak at home to 11 straight games.

Evgeny Kuznetsov had two goals and an assist, and had a plus/minus of +4 for the Capitals; Andre Burakovsky, checked in with 2 assists; Braden Holtby, stopped 29 of 30 shots, for a .967 Sv%, for the top team in the NHL.

Vancouver was handed their 3rd loss in the last 11 games,  going to 6-3-2 in the span. And their first loss in their last four road games (2-1-1).

Radim Vrbata, had his second goal in his last 15 games; Bo Horvat, picked up his 6th point in 4 consecutive games (4-2=6); and Henrik Sedin, got his 28th assist of the season, his 7th assist in his last 10 games; his 3rd assist in two consecutive games. Ryan Miller, stopped 36 of 39 shots for a .923 Sv% for the Canucks.

Sven Baertschi would have his consecutive points streak come to an end at 2 games (2-1=3).

The Capitals and Canucks played to a scoreless first period, with Vancouver goalie Ryan Miller making some great stops in his first game back from a groin injury.

After one period:

• Washington out shot the Canucks 13 to 8. The Capitals had 8 giveaways to the Canucks 3.
• Vancouver had 3 takeaways to Washington’s 1. Canucks had 8 blocked shots to the Capitals 5.
• Vancouver ruled the face-off circle, going 7 for 12, 58.3 percent. Adam Cracknell was 2 for 2 on face-offs; Bo Horvat, 3 for 5.
• Newcomer Emerson Etem led Canucks in shots with 3. Alex Biega had 4 blocked shots.
• Four of the top six players in TOI for Canucks, were defensemen: Biega, Tanev, Edler, Bartkowski.

In the second period, the Canucks on a sloppy change, and Washington on a 3 on 2, led to the opening goal of the game by the Capitals, after Vancouver killed off a penalty to Alex Edler, 13 seconds earlier.

Evgeny Kuznetsov, with his 14th goal, on a backhand shot, assisted by Dmitry Orlov (12) at 6:12, 1-0 Washington. The 8th consecutive game Vancouver has given up the first goal.

The Capitals took a 2-0 lead at 12:03, when a shot by Karl Alzner went off Radim Vrbata’s stick and off the post on Miller’s blocker side.

Alzner, his 3rd goal, on a slapshot, from Andrew Burakovsky (9) and Justin Williams (15).

Canucks penalty kill came into the game, 32 for 38 in their last 11 games overall, 84.2 percent, and killed two penalties in the period, to improve that stat, 34 for 40, 85 percent.

Vancouver was 0 for 1 on the power play in the period.

After two periods:

• Washington outshot the Canucks 15 to 14, 28 to 22 overall. The Capitals out hit the Canucks 12 to 4.
• Vancouver had 8 takeaways to Washington’s 3. Canucks had 14 blocked shots to the Capitals 11.
• Washington ruled the face-off circle, going 16 for 31, 51.6 percent. Newcomer Emerson Etem and Adam Cracknell led Canucks in shots with 4; Bo Horvat, with 3. Alex Biega had 5 blocked shots; Ben Hutton, 4.
• Five of the top six players in TOI for Canucks, were defensemen: Biega, Tanev, Edler, Bartkowski and Hutton.

The Capitals were determined to put an exclamation on their desire to continue their consecutive home winning streak, as they scored just under the two minute mark of the final period, as the Canucks were under siege.

Tom Wilson, his 4rth goal of the season, on a wrist shot, at 1:37, assisted by Evgeny Kuznetsov (26) and Andre Burakovsky (10).

The Canucks were looking to avoid being shut out for the 6th time in their last 20 games. And they were handed a great opportunity with a power play when Marcus Johansson was sent off for holding Alex Burrows at 9:10. The power play received a bonus, a two-man advantage, when Brooks Laich received a penalty for high sticking Alex Burrows at 9:55.

Radim Vrbata, with his 11th of the season, would score on the power play with the two-man advantage at 11:09, from Bo Horvat (11) and Henrik Sedin (28). That would be it for the power play though. The Canucks power play would end up being 1 for 3.

With Vrbata’s power play goal, Vancouver made it five straight games they have scored at least one power play goal, going 5 for 16 during that stretch.

After sticking close with the Capitals on face-off draws in the game, the Canucks hit the skids in the final period with the Capitals winning 11 of 13 at one point.

With 2:13 left in the game, Miller was pulled for a 6th attacker for the Canucks in an attempt to pull within a goal of the Capitals. Miller would have to return due to a Canucks icing call, with 1:14 to go in the game. And then return for another icing with a minute left. With 48 seconds left, Burrows came out on the ice as the 6th attacker.

In the end, the Capitals would make it 4-1, on an empty net goal by Evgeny Kuznetsov, his 15 of the season, second of the game, at 19:59, unassisted.

The Canucks continue to sit in 4rth spot in the Pacific division, 2 points out of 3rd, and 5 points out of 2nd place, in the fight for a playoff position.

GAME REVIEW

CANUCKS PLAYERS STATS

WESTERN CONFERENCE WILD CARD STANDINGS

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE STANDINGS

STATISTICS COURTESY OF THE NHL AND VANCOUVER CANUCKS