Skip to main content

Canucks at Coyotes: L4-3

Cross-posted at HFBoards

Chalk this game up to the hockey gods, I guess. As someone on the Coyotes board said, they're bad at everything, including losing.

Canucks probably would've won this game, were it not for weird puck bounces that landed onto Coyote players sticks in scoring positions, all game long. Canucks outshot the Coyotes, outplayed them, outhustled them, and out and out lost to them, in spite of all that.

This was a weird, weird game.

How many times in his career has Luke Schenn potted a goal from behind the net on his backhand? Pretty odd place for a noted stay-at-home defence-man to be scoring goals from.

Edler had the highest Corsi +/- at 14, and yet was on the ice for the most egregious, fluky GA. Miller makes the save on a harmless shot from the point, trying to blocker the puck to the corner, but it bounces off the boards onto the other side of the net right onto Vrbata's stick for an open net goal.

And the Canucks then give up two PP goals, one of which was fairly incredible, the Burmistrov goal. The Vrbata goal was simply effort on his part.

The Sedins were the Canucks' worst players at even strength, and yet were nearly even in Corsi +/- (-2 and -3), and had no goals against. They had an even strength goal, and a great scoring chance (both in the first period), but otherwise were played fairly tightly by the Coyotes. Goldobin did seem to be out of energy near the end of the first period, which probably helps explain why that line disappeared for the final two periods.

That Goldobin, he might be a pretty good complimentary piece for the team, moving ahead. As he recovers from that tough illness he just had, he should begin recovering his stamina. Hopefully, he improves upon it over the off-season, too. He has a lot of skill, and seems to know how to get open shots.

Horvat's line did everything but score.

Bad luck for Miller, tonight.

A loss is good for the Canucks tank, though. They are firmly in possession of second-last place.

Two more games to go. And then this season is mercifully done for the Canucks.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Canucks sign forward Micheal Ferland to four-year deal

Sportsnet Odd to see this guy in a Canucks uniform, but he's not a terrible player. The term and value isn't bad, but this new contract places the Canucks under pressure to find a way to sign Boeser. A long-term contract for Boeser is probably out for now. It may be something short-term, unless the Canucks find cap space by sending out a draft pick or prospect along with a bad contract. Does Ferland make the Canucks better? Well, he moves the needle a little: In analysis, he'll do well in a second or third line role. He's being paid for that level too, so it's a good contract. However, the Canucks are really doing things backwards here. Boeser's contract should've been priority number one. Then the team should've brought in role players such as Ferland. Update: NMC for the first two years. Yeah, dunno why the Canucks gave him that. If he wanted that, the Canucks should've driven down his salary further then. But NMC's should really be ...

Welcome to Casual Canuck

Casual Canuck is a place for  a casual commentary regarding the Vancouver Canucks, specifically, and the NHL, generally. I, personally, am Troy Thomas. I am somewhat a traditional writer with gonzo instincts.

Canucks vs Blue Jackets: OTL 4-3

Well, the Canucks didn't show up for the first two periods, hardly doing a thing, getting down 2-0. They did show up in the third period, and tied the game, 3-3, with the goalie pulled to send the game into overtime. Was there anything worth noting? The Canucks were over-matched, outworked, and outplayed for the most part. Although he scored on the power-play, Sutter's continued deployment on it does continue to baffle. He's terrible at zone entries. He's ace on odd-man rushes, but can't help in the cycle, which is a majority of the power-play. It's simply not a good fit, and is working against the Canucks, for the most part. There's better options.