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.