CANUCKS BANTER By Andrew Chernoff December 7, 2015
CANUCKS END 5 GAME WINLESS STREAK
The Vancouver Canucks (10-11-8) took to the ice at Rogers Place tonight against the Buffalo Sabres (11-14-3), and battled, pushed back for a deserved 5-2 win.
Vancouver received secondary scoring from a line other than the Sedins and Jannick Hansen.
Radim Vrbata, scored three goals; Brandon Prust had a goal and an assist; Canucks defensemen had three helpers by Dan Hamhuis, Ben Hutton and Alex Edler.
Adam Cracknell had two assists, with Chris Higgins and Derek Dorsett each getting a helper each.
The Sedins were not left out of the offensive showing by Vancouver as Daniel had two assists and Henrik scored a power play goal.
Ryan Miller recorded his 3rd win in his last 10 starts, making 32 saves for a .941 SV%.
Vancouver led 2-1 after the first period; 4-1 after the middle period, enroute to their win.
CANUCKS JOTTINGS
The Canucks were 1 for 6 on the power play; and killed all 3 shorthand opportunities they faced tonight.
Vancouver’s penalty kill has not allowed a power play goal against on their 4 game home stand, going 7 for 7 in their last three games; and are 14 for 16 in their last 6 games.
With the five goals tonight Vancouver doubled its’ goal production of the last five games. They now have 10 goals scored in their last 6 games.
Derek Dorsett led all Vancouver players with 5 hits and was +1 in plus/minus.
Derek Dorsett leads all Canucks in hits this season with 70, followed by Adam Cracknell with 57; Matt Bartkowski, 56; and rookie Jake Virtanen has 53 hits.
Radim Vrbata had 6 shots and was a +3 tonight.
Only two Canucks were negative in plus/minus tonight: Jannick Hansen at -2 and Henrik Sedin at -1.
Canuck defensemen had 9 of 10 blocked shots in the game. Alex Burrows was the only forward to block a shot.
In the face-off circle, Adam Cracknell led the team, 9 for 12: 75%; Bo Horvat, 7-12: 58%; Jared McCann, 4 for 11: 36%; Henrik Sedin, 8 for 22: 36%; Derek Dorsett, 1-1:100%; Radim Vrbata, 0-1: 0%. Total: 29 for 59: 49.15%
NEXT GAME UP: NEW YORK RANGERS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015
GAME REVIEW
CANUCKS AT A GLANCE
CANUCKS PLAYER STATS
Statistics courtesy of the NHl and the Vancouver Canucks, with thanks.
CANUCKS BANTER By Andrew Chernoff December 7, 2015
CANUCKS NEED TO BATTLE AND PUSH BACK
The Vancouver Canucks (9-11-8) take to the ice at Rogers Place tonight against the Buffalo Sabres (11-13-3).
Tonight marks the second of two meetings between these two teams this season. The two teams previously met in Buffalo on Nov. 7 (2-3 L).
The Canucks are 3-2-0 against the Sabres in the last five games played and 4-1-0 in the last five home outings versus Buffalo.
The game is the third of 4 games on the Canucks home stand, having lost the first two as part of a five game winless streak, in which they have been shutout twice and have less than eighteen shots (16,16,17) in three straight games.
The Canucks currently sit in 5th place in the Pacific division with 26 points, two points ahead of Edmonton and four points in front of Calgary.
Buffalo is currently on a three game Western Canada swing on their current road trip which ends on Thursday against the Calgary Flames.
The Sabres are in 7th place in the Atlantic division with 25 points, two points ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Vancouver’s last game was against the Boston Bruins on Saturday night, a 4-0 loss. Jacob Markstrom made 18 saves with an .818 SV% in his latest start. The Canucks are 2-5-3 in their last 10 games, and 3-6-3 at home.
The Canucks lost their fifth straight National Hockey League game Saturday when they dropped a 4-0 decision on home ice to the Boston Bruins. It wasn’t so much that they lost — we’re getting used to that. It was how they lost. The Canucks barely put up a fight in what their coach had called a “must game.”
Source: ‘Frustrated’ Vancouver Canucks, struggling on both offence and defence, looking to ‘get that swagger back’, National Post, December 7, 2015
For the Sabres, they visited Edmonton last night, and lost to the Oilers 4-2. The Sabres are 3-5-2 in their last 10 games and 5-5-2 on the road.
FIVE GAME SKID REVIEW: November 26-December 7
During their 5 game winless streak, Vancouver is 0-3-2. Goals For:5. Goals Against: 16. Shots For: 110 (36, 25, 16,16,17) for 4.55 per cent shots turned to goals. Shots Against: 151 (30, 34, 40, 22, 25) for an .894 save percentage.
Their power play is 2 for 18: 11.1 per cent, 23rd best in the NHL.
Penalty kill has allowed 4 goals on 18 times short handed, for 77.8 per cent, 22nd best in the NHL.
Face-off win percentage, the worst in the league at 41.5 per cent.
As for the Plus/Minus (+/-) factor. During their 5 game winless streak, only one Canuck is in the plus, and that is Luca Sbisa at +1:
There are 13 players in the minus, and 9 players at zero.
The worst is Radim Vrbata at –6. There are three at –5: Alex Edler, Yannick Weber, and Jared McCann; four players at –4: Alex Burrows, Bo Horvat, Chris Tanev, and Chris Higgins; three players at –2: Derek Dorsett, Dan Hamhuis and Ben Hutton; two players at –1: Ronalds Kenins and Jake Virtanen.
Tickets to Saturday’s blowout against the Boston Bruins were selling for as low as $12 each shortly after the puck dropped. Monday’s home game against the Buffalo Sabres is currently being sold as low as $30 a ticket, but that may drop even more closer to game time.
“It’s just the inconsistency,” said Tony Ell of Showtimetickets.com. “People want to get behind a consistent product.”
Traffic inside the Canucks official store was far from crowded on a Sunday a few weeks before Christmas.
Source: Demand for Canucks tickets sink to lowest levels in over a decade-globalnews.ca, December 7, 2015
CANUKS JOTTINGS
Since November 1, the Vancouver Canucks are the worst team in the NHL, with a record of 4-9-4 in 17 games played.
Their wins since November 1, are the least during that time, putting them dead last at 30th in the NHL.
During that time they have 40 goals for, 18th in the NHL; 53 goals against, tied with the Arizona for the second most allowed during that span, with Winnipeg the worst with 56 goals against.
Face-off win percentage during their last 17 games, puts them dead last in the NHL at 43.9 per cent.
Overall for the season, the Canucks face-off win percentage is 46.9 per cent in 28 games, worst in the NHL.
Canucks are 4-1 when Brandon Prust has a fight.
Daniel Sedin has 18 points (8-10-18) in the last 13 games. He recently had a seven game point streak from Nov. 14-27; it was the longest point streak of any Canucks player this season and his longest since a seven game streak from Oct. 22 – Nov. 5/13. He currently leads the team and ranks in the top-10 in the League in points (29), goals (12), ppg (5) and ppp (11).
Henrik Sedin has 17 points (5-12-17) in the last 13 games. He recently had a six game point streak from Nov. 16-27. He also had a five game point streak earlier this season from Oct. 29 to Nov. 7. Last season, the Captain recorded points in three or more consecutive games on 10 different occasions. Henrik ranks in the top-10 in the NHL in points (26), assists (18), and ppp (10).
Alex Edler leads VAN in time on ice (24:22) and has led the team in that category in 24 of 27 games he’s played, including 14 games where he’s led all skaters in TOI. He currently ranks t-17th in the NHL in TOI/GP.
Jake Virtanen ranks t-third on the team and third among NHL rookies in hits with 53.
Chris Tanev leads the team and ranks fifth in the League in blocked shots with 69. His defence partner Alex Edler ranks t-14th in the NHL with 56 blocked shots.
Radim Vrbata is the worst Canuck in plus/minus with -17, closely followed by Bo Horvat at -13.
Jannick Hansen is the best Canuck in plus/minus with +10, followed by Henrik Sedin at +6.
Derek Dorsett missed practice yesterday but is expected to be able to play tonight.
Ryan Miller will get the call in net tonight against his old club, while blue-liner Alex Biega is expected to draw into the line-up as well likely in place of either Yannick Weber or Matt Bartkowski.
Miller will start his 23rd game of the season. He has a 2.59 GAA; .910 SV%; and one shutout.
In his last 9 starts, Ryan Miller has won only 2 games, with a 3.17 GAA and .898 SV%.
The Sabres could go with back-up netminder Linus Ullmark tonight after Chad Johnson went the distance last night. Ullmark is winless in his last five starts but did beat the Canucks back on November 7.
Are the Canucks the worst team in the NHL?
You can certainly make the case without much effort. They’re currently on the worst streak. They have the lowest winning percentage of any NHL team. They can’t score and they’re having trouble defending.
But here’s the most sobering part. Look at the NHL standings and find a team you can point to and confidently say: “The Canucks are better than these guys.”
Source: Willes’ Musings: Are the Canucks the worst team in the NHL?, The Province, December 7, 2015
SEASON SNAPSHOT
“We haven’t come out with some of the games I thought we’d come out with,” coach Willie Desjardins told the Canucks website after practice Sunday. “I like our group, I still do. … We’ve been inconsistent and when you’re inconsistent, guys lose confidence in each other so we have to start at the basics and we have to work through it and we have to get back on track.”
Vancouver has scored five goals in five games.
“I’ve seen this team play some amazing hockey and we have to get back to that, we have to get that swagger back, that confidence back,” forward Brandon Prust said. “We have a great team here.”
Source: canucks.nhl.com
CANUCKS PLAYER STATS
SABRES PLAYER STATS
CANUCKS-SABRES AT A GLANCE
Statistics courtesy of the NHL, Vancouver Canucks and SportingCharts, with thanks.
CANUCKS BANTER By Andrew Chernoff December 5, 2015
CANUCKS SHUTOUT FOR SECOND TIME IN LAST 4-GAMES
OPENING PERIOD
Vancouver came out playing aggressive, and battling including a fight a centre ice between Derek Dorsett and Zac Rinaldo at 2:07 but 47 seconds after the fighting majors were handed out, Boston got on the scoreboard first at 2:54 on a goal by Brad Marchand (13), a wrist shot high above the left shoulder of Markstrom, assisted by Patrice Bergeron (16) and Joe Morrow (1).
Just over four minutes later, the Bruins struck again, making it 2-0, as Torey Krug (3) scored on a slap shot, assisted by Kevan Miller (5) and David Krejci (17) at 7:03.
Vancouver got a power play opportunity at 14:02 with Brett Connolly off for crosschecking Ronalds Kenins. Canucks came up empty for the 30th time in 39 chances at home. That made19 for 97 overall this season on the power play; 1 for their last 9 man advantages.
After the two goals there was not a lot of action around both nets, and the period ended 2-0 Boston.
Shots were 5-5. Boston out hit Vancouver 7-6, and the Bruins had more face-off wins, 10 for 19. Bo Horvat was 4 for 6 on face-offs; Henrik Sedin, 3 for 5; Jared McCann, 1 for 3; Adam Cracknell, 1 for 5.
As for plus+/-, Jared McCann, Radim Vrbata and Chris Higgins were all a –2 in the opening period. Weber, Tanev, Edler and Hutton were all –1.
MIDDLE PERIOD
The Bruins were playing their 3rd game in four nights, so it would be interesting to see how Vancouver would adjust their game in response to a disappointing first period performance, where they could not generate any offense, and were poor defensively, allowing 2 even strength goals on 5-shots.
Vancouver got another power play, at 2:51 as Zac Rinaldo was penalized for slashing. As it was with the first power play in the 1rst period, the Canucks could not capitalize on the power play.
Landon Ferraro (2) made it 3-0 Boston as he came down the right side and put a wrist shot past Markstrom at 8:02 assisted by Zdeno Chara (10). His first goal as a Boston Bruin.
Vancouver was not able to come up with any answers to the Boston Bruins, as they went up and down the ice, time ticking away on the clock. And that is how the period ended, very little to get excited about in the last half of the period and the Bruins went into the intermission with a very easy, unchallenged and comfortable 3-0 lead.
Boston out shot Vancouver 9-7. Vancouver out hit Boston 4-2 in a physical game. Boston had more face-off wins, 9 for 17. Henrik Sedin was 6 for 8; Bo Horvat, 1-2; Jared McCann, 0-2; Adam Cracknell, 1-5. After two periods, Boston was 19 for 36 in the face-off circle.
At the end of two, Tanev and Edler joined McCann, Vrbata and Higgins at –2 for the game. Weber, Hutton, Daniel Sedin, Jannick Hansen, and Henrik Sedin were –1.
LAST PERIOD
The period started with the Canucks on their heels, facing an uphill climb to whittling away at the Bruins 3-goal lead.
Zac Rinaldo was penalized again, his third penalty of the game and second penalty giving Vancouver a power play opportunity,their third power play of the game, at 6:39 for boarding. The power play started out promising for Vancouver, as it was easily their best effort of their man advantages, but once again, Vancouver did not capitalize.
Tyler Randell put Boston up 4-0 after Landon Ferraro drove to the Vancouver net. Randell picked up the puck and scored his 4rth goal of the season, on a wrist shot, at 11:32, assisted by Ferraro (2) and Zac Rinaldo (1).
Brandon Prust got a 10 minute game misconduct for spearing Brad Marchand in the groin at 18:07. Quickly after the play got underway, Derek Dorsett and Zac Rinaldo got into another fight, at the Boston blue line at 18:35.
The game came to an end with Boston winning 4-0. Vancouver’s 13th loss in their last 16 games. Boston out shot Vancouver 22-17.
Vancouver is now tied with Toronto and Carolina in the NHL with the least amount of wins in the league.
Canucks were 0 for 3 on the power play. Canucks came up empty now 32 times in 41 chances at home. That makes 19 for 99 overall this season on the power play; 1 for their last 11 man advantages.
Vancouver has recorded 16 shots against Los Angeles; 16 shots against Dallas; and tonight against Boston, 17 shots, in their last three games. It is the first time this season that the Canucks have had three games inwhich they have had 19 shots in a game or less; first time they have done it in three games straight. And Vancouver has lost each game doing it.
Canucks in the face-off circle:
Henrik Sedin, 12 for 18: 67 per cent
Bo Horvat, 8 for 13: 62 per cent
Adam Cracknell, 4 for 14: 29 per cent
Jared McCann, 1 for 8: 13 per cent
Radim Vrbata, 0 for 1: 0 per cent
Total: 25 for 54: 46 per cent
NEXT GAME UP: BUFFALO SABRES ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2015
GAME REVIEW
CANUCKS AT A GLANCE
CANUCK PLAYER STATS
.
Vancouver is 4-1 when Prust has a fight major in a game
Ben Hutton missed 7 games.
Vancouver Canucks goalie Jacob Markstrom will start
Injured: Luca Sbisa (hand), Jake Virtanen (hip), Chris Higgins (head), Brandon Sutter (sports hernia surgery)
CANUCKS BANTER By Andrew Chernoff December 5, 2015
The Canucks Have To Find A Way
The Boston Bruins (13-8-3) visit the Vancouver Canucks (9-10-8) at Rogers Place in game two of the Canucks 4-game home stand tonight.
Tonight marks the first of two meetings between these two teams this season. Vancouver visits TD Garden on January 21st.
The Canucks head into action on tonight looking to snap out of a 2-5-3 state that has them in 4rth place in the Pacific division. Vancouver lost their last game against the Dallas Stars 4-2, and their picked up their 4rth loss in a row (0-2-2) and 12th loss in their last 15-games (3-8-4). Vancouver is 2-5-3 in their last 10-games.
The Bruins, 5th place in the Atlantic division, are on a road trip of Western Canada and have not faired well, as they lost in a shootout to Edmonton on December 2, 3-2 and followed that up with an overtime loss to Calgary on December 4, 5-4. Boston is 5-0-2 in its past seven games and finish off their road trip tonight against the Canucks.
The script is getting old, and tired, and is in need of a refreshing change.
In my opinion, the stench that lingers after the last two months, more than indicates that the present incarnation of the Vancouver Canucks has expired and needs to be tossed and replaced with a new and improved.
And the game tonight, is the best game to start.
It’s time, for the next incarnation of the 2015-16 Vancouver Canucks to take to the ice.
Whether there is enough behind the Sedins to give the Canucks that secondary scoring punch and support, Canuck coach Willie Desjardins responded after the Dallas game that he believes there is, and continued by saying:
But It has to happen on the ice…me believing it, or whatever, doesn’t….it has to come out on the ice.
And we need better performances on the ice. That’s not good enough. Like I thought today, you know I thought there were times in the first period that, we looked like, we might battle through and be ok, and get a goal.We didn’t give them an awful lot; they had the couple power plays, but we have to…it’s easy to believe when things go good….it’s harder when they don’t go good…and right know they’re not going good for us…right now we’re disappointed withthe overtime losses, and with all the stuff that’s built up, we got lots of losses, and it’s disappointing ‘cause that’s not where we want to be.
But at the same time, that’s how you get better. You have to find a way. It’s a tough league and that’s what you gotta do.
As for the psyche of the players, especially the younger players, Desjardins says:
It’s a battle to keep believing,when things don’t happen. It’s easy to believe when things happen. When it doesn’t happen, its a lot harder.
But, what are your choices? You don’t have any choice. Your choice is to believe that it’s gonna happen and you gotta make it happen. Like, if you don’t believe and you hesitate when you’re doing something, your lost already.
So, you have to go in convinced at what you’re doing and you have to go hard. That’s the only way you’ll be successful in this league.
So, mentally, we have to accept where we’re at and we have to be prepared to play hard. We know what we’re doing. The guys know the systems,they just have to have confidence that if we play hard we’ll get our opportunities.
As for what is expected tonight against the Boston Bruins, Desjardins said what everyone was thinking, including the fans, at the Dallas post-game press conference:
Boston is a must game. We have to see a good performance against Boston. We have to see it.
CANUCKS JOTTINGS
Vancouver has 1 even-strength goal from a line other than the Sedins in the last 8 games.
The Canucks have scored just five times while dropping four straight games (0-2-2) and recorded just 16 shots in each of the last two contests to fall under .500 for the first time this season.
The Canucks, who have allowed 12 goals during their losing streak.
Vancouver are going after their fifth victory in six contests against the Bruins
Vancouver has allowed 8 power-play goals in their last 8 games.
Radim Vrbata is a team-worst minus -15 for the Canucks. Bo Horvat is -13. Yannick Weber is -9.
Jannick Hansen is a team-best plus +11 for the Canucks. Henrik Sedin is +7 and Daniel Sedin is +6.
Ryan Miller has managed two victories in his last 11 appearances.
Bo Horvat has not recorded a goal in 15 straight games.
Alex Burrows has two goals in his last 15 games, and has a plus/minus of -5.
Jared McCann has 1 goal in his last 16 games, and has a plus.minus of +2.
Vancouver defensemen only have 9 goals this season.
Canucks are 19 for 96 man advantages in 24 games, for 19.8 per cent, tied for 11th best. They are 1 for their last 8 man advantages.
Vancouver has scored on 12 of 61 man advantages in the past 16 games, for 19.7 per cent, 16th best in the NHL.
Canucks have scored on 9 of 38 man advantages at home, for 23.7 per cent, 9th best in the NHL.
Vancouver’s 96 power play man advantages are the most in the NHL, one ahead of the Montreal Canadians; two more than Colorado; three better than Arizona.
Vancouver has scored at least one power play goal in nine of the last 11 games, including at least one power play goal in eight consecutive games from Nov. 12-27. According to ESB, the last time the Canucks went 8 straight games with a PPG in the same season was Dec. 28 – Jan. 15/96. The Canucks also had a PPG in 8 straight games over a span of two seasons from Apr. 14 – Oct. 19/99.
Canucks have allowed 19 goals in 88 penalty kill opportunities, for 77.6 per cent, 22nd in the NHL. They have only allowed 2 goals in their last 12 penalty kill opportunities.
The Canucks penalty kill over the last 16 games, has given up 16 goals on 58 opportunities, 27th best in the NHL.
Vancouver penalty kill at home has given up 6 goals on 33 opportunities, for 81.8 per cent, 14th best in the NHL.
The Canucks have 42 even strength goals for and have allowed 42 even strength goals, for 18 in the NHL this season in G+/-.
In the last 16 games, Vancouver has 22 even strength goals for and have 24 allowed even strength goals, tied for 20th in G+/-.
Point Streaks:
DANIEL SEDIN (1-1-2 / 2 Games)
HENRIK SEDIN (0-3-3 / 2 Games)
Last 5 Games: 1 – 2 – 2
Last 10 Games: 2 – 5 – 3
1-Goal Games: 3 – 6 – 8
2-Goal Games: 1 – 2
3-Goal Games: 5 – 2
Scoring first: 5 – 2 – 5
Opponent scoring first: 4 – 8 – 3
Leading after 1 period: 4 – 0 – 3
Trailing after 1 period: 0 – 6 – 3
Tied after 1 period: 5 – 4 – 2
Leading after 2 periods: 7 – 1 – 5
Trailing after 2 periods: 0 – 9 – 1
Tied after 2 periods: 2 – 0 – 2
OT Record – This Season: 1 – 8
Outshooting opponent: 4 – 5 – 5
Outshot by opponent: 5 – 5 – 3
Even shots: 0 – 0 – 0
Daniel Sedin has 18 points (8-10-18) in the last 12 games. He recently had a seven game point streak from Nov. 14-27; it was the longest point streak of any Canucks player this season and his longest since a seven game streak from Oct. 22 – Nov. 5/13. He currently leads the team and ranks in the top-10 in the League in points (28), goals (12), assists (16), ppg (5) and ppp (11).
Henrik Sedin has 17 points (5-12-17) in the last 12 games. He recently had a six game point streak from Nov. 16-27. He also had a five game point streak earlier this season from Oct. 29 to Nov. 7. Last season, the Captain recorded points in three or more consecutive games on 10 different occasions. Henrik ranks in the top-10 in the NHL in points (26), assists (18), and ppp (10).
Alex Edler leads VAN in time on ice (24:27) and has led the team in that category in 23 of 26 games he’s played, including 14 games where he’s led all skaters in TOI. He currently ranks 17th in the NHL in TOI/GP.
Jake Virtanen ranks third on the team and third among NHL rookies in hits with 53.
Chris Tanev leads the team and ranks tied for fifth in the League in blocked shots with 68. His defence partner Alex Edler ranks 12th in the NHL with 56 blocked shots.
Henri k and Daniel Sedin have played in 583 wins together.According to ESB, since 1990.91 the only pairs of teammates to play in more wins together are Niklas Lidstrom and Kris Draper (664); and Lidstrom and
Tomas Holmstrom (599).
In the month of November, the Sedins combined for 35 points (Daniel registered 8-10-18 while Henrik collected 6-11-17). According to ESB, it is the most points the Sedins have combined for in a calendar month since December 2011, when they tallied 39 points together (10-7-17 for Daniel; and 2-20-22 for Henrik).
The Canucks have had seven different players make their NHL debut this season (Grenier, Shinkaruk, Virtanen, McCann, Hutton, Gaunce, and Pedan). According to Elias Sports Bureau, this is the most number of players to make their NHL debut for the Canucks in a single season since six players did so during the 2007.08 season.
The last season where more than six players made their NHL debut in a single season for the Canucks was in 1999.00 (eight players). The club record for NHL debuts in a single season is 11 which occurred during the 1973.74 season.
Vancouver has had 18 different goal scorers this season, tied for fifth most in the League.
The Canucks players aged 23 or younger that have appeared in the lineup thus far (Baertschi, Horvat, Hutton, Virtanen, McCann, Gaunce, Shinkaruk, and Pedan) have accounted for 19.4% of points (37), 16.9% of goals (12) and 20.8% of assists (25), for the team this season.
The Canucks 71 goals on the year are t-10th most in the NHL.
VANCOUVER’S 2015.16 RECORD WHEN…
Score 4+ Goals: 6-0-0
Score 3 Goals or Less: 3-10-8
Allow 4+ Goals: 0-5-3
Allow 3 Goals or Less: 9-4-5
On 0 Days Rest: 2-1-2
On 1 Day Rest: 2-5-5
On 2 Days Rest: 4-3-1
On 3+ Days Rest: 0-1-1
Score a PPG: 4-5-6
Give up a PPG: 4-7-5
25+ Shots on Goal: 7-8-6
Less than 25 shots: 2-2-2
SEASON SNAPSHOT
LEAGUE STANDINGS
CANUCKS PLAYER STATS
BRUINS PLAYER STATS
CANUCKS-BRUINS SITUATIONS
CANUCKS-BRUINS AT A GLANCE
Statistics courtesy of the NHL, Vancouver Canucks and SportingCharts, with thanks.
CANUCKS BANTER By Andrew Chernoff December 3, 2015
CANUCKS IN NEED OF SHAKE UP AS LOSSES CONTINUE TO BUILD UP
The Canucks knew they had to bounce back against the Dallas Stars.
Ryan Miller knew he could not allow another bad goal.
For Jim Benning, Canucks GM, he felt Vancouver did not work hard and compete against the Kings. And he wasn’t happy about the team not sticking up for each other.
“I just felt that there were instances in that game where last year we (would have) stuck up for one another; when someone was picking on one of our guys … it was a pack mentality and as a team we stuck up for each other. For whatever reason, we didn’t stick up for each other that game. That was really disappointing for me to see that.”
The players knew the fans and their coach and general manager expected a much better effort and push back against Western Conference rival Dallas Stars.
Everyone wanted a Canuck win.
OPENING PERIOD
The Canucks took the game to the Stars from the opening faceoff, and within 56 seconds, had their first goal of the game off a point shot from Alex Edler (5), assisted by Henrik Sedin (17) and Daniel Sedin (17).
The Canucks momentum was affected by the two straight penalties, and even though the Stars did not score, it wasn’t long before Dallas would be getting more confidence and chances to score, and they did.
At 11:59, on a backhand shot by Valari Nichushkin (3), assisted by Patrik Nemeth (1), Dallas tied the game 1-1.
The Canucks continued to struggle after the first Dallas goal, as they got away from keeping the Stars in check.
Dallas outshot Vancouver 6-4 in the opening period. Vancouver outhit Dallas 9-8; and won 12 of 19 face-offs: Bo Horvat was 5-7; Henrik Sedin, 4-7; Adam Cracknell, 3-4.
Canucks penalty kill was 2 for 2 in the first period.
MIDDLE PERIOD
Dallas responded to Vancouver’s early first period goal, by scoring at 33 seconds. Tyler Seguin (14) on a snap shot, assisted by Valeri Nichushkin (6) and Alex Goligoski (7), gave Dallas the lead for the first time, 2-1.
Dallas out shot Vancouver by a wide margin in the period, 18-6, as they continued to dominate the game up and down the ice.
There were a few momentum changes where the Canucks had some good puck possession in the Stars end and quality chances to score, but overall Dallas dominated and Ryan Miller kept the Canucks down one goal.
Canucks outhit Dallas 12-5; and won 9 of 22 face-offs in the period. Henrik Sedin was 6 for 10; Bo Horvat, 3-4; Adam Cracknell, 0-1. Jared McCann was 0-7 in the period in face-offs. Vancouver was 0-1 on the power play. Canucks now 9 for 38 at home on the power play, 19 for 96 overall.
FINAL PERIOD
The Stars started the final period, the same way they started the second. They kept Vancouver on the defensive and challenged Ryan Miller, looking for that backbreaking goal that would take the wind out of Vancouver’s sails.
The Canucks kept battling though, and were rewarded when Jannik Hansen scored his 8th goal of the season, on a backhand shot in front of Kari Lehtonen, at 5:31, assisted by Henrik Sedin (18). The goal was on Vancouver’s 12th shot of the game.
Vancouver got their second wind, and the fans became alive and appreciative as the Canucks pushed for that tie-breaking goal.
But alas, the Stars would score the tie breaking goal on a fine effort by Patrick Sharp (9), on a wrist shot through the legs of Miller at 14:01 , assisted by Alex Goligoski (8), giving Dallas a 3-2 lead.
Things continued to unravel for Vancouver, as Alex Edler got two minutes for slashing on Tyler Seguin in front of the Canuck net, at 14:23. Dallas was unable to score on the power play, and was now 0 for 3 in the game with the man advantage.
Canucks turned their attention to getting a tying goal with urgency. With just over two minutes left, the Canucks pulled Miller for the man advantage, and Dallas would score as Jason Spezza (11) shot the puck down the ice and into an empty net, to make the score 4-2 for the Stars. Unassisted.
And that would be the final score: 4-2 Dallas. Vancouver was outshot 34-16.
Canucks 4rth loss in a row. Canucks 10th loss in a row to the Dallas Stars.
Vancouver’s 12th loss in their last 15 games. Second loss in a row at home: 3-5-3 at Rogers Place this season.
CANUCKS JOTTINGS
On the draw tonight: Henrik Sedin was 12 for 25; Bo Horvat, 11 for 15; Adam Cracknell, 4-10; Jared McCann, 1 for 13. Total: Canucks were 28 for 63.
Canucks penalty kill was perfect at 3 for 3. They have now killed 27 of 33 power play chances in 11 home games this season. Overall, they have killed off 69 of 88 power play chances this season.
Vancouver was 0 for 1 on the power play.
Dallas has won 10 straight against Vancouver, including taking all three games of the season series.
C Brandon Sutter (sports hernia), D Benn Hutton (lower body), Luca Sbsia (hand) and RW Jake Virtanen (upper body) are out.
Ryan Miller has 2 wins in his last 11 games.
Miller’s numbers versus the Stars prior to the game tonight weren’t sterling. He was 4-4-3, with a 3.29 goals against and a .879 save percentage, in his career against Dallas.
GAME REVIEW
CANUCKS AT A GLANCE
Canucks statistics courtesy of the NHL and Vancouver Canucks.
CANUCKS BANTER By Andrew Chernoff December 7, 2015
Andrew Phillip Chernoff 