Canucks Army Post Game Wrap: Pen-alized

Before tonight’s game, the Canucks were ready to get back to enjoying life with new rookie Elias Pettersson back in the lineup. Brock Boeser was also healthy and maybe just maybe, the Canucks could show up the Penguins yet again. That was not the result that materialized. The Canucks did hold court with the Penguins for a good portion of the game but in the end, it was Pittsburgh’s superstars that did Vancouver in.

Follow me if you dare.

Bob Cole called this one tonight and it felt like it was going to be a special evening. Fast-paced action, shots and even a few breakaways, one of which was by none other than the boy they call “Dekey Pete”:

Big shout out to Vanessa Jang for the GIF love tonight!

Michael Del Zotto was buzzing early and even drew a penalty. Yes, you read that correctly. Brock Boeser would have the only real chance on that one but Casey DeSmith would deny him a goal.

The running theme of tonight was the Penguins’ stars flexing their muscles and it should have been a sign early on when this happened:

Evgeni Malkin was a man possessed tonight. At the end of it all, he finished with two goals and an assist. He should have had more, a lot more. Elias Pettersson would get one more play off before the end of the period and somehow he actually missed on his chance.

SCORE – VAN 0 PIT 0

Antoine Roussel bit on Sidney Crosby’s dive and took a boneheaded penalty.

The Canucks still weren’t able to make anything happen in the net and it was only a Maatta of time (he didn’t score, but the joke was just waiting there) before the Penguins, and more importantly, Phil Kessel opened up the scoring.

Not good. 1-0 bad guys.

Jake Virtanen wasn’t able to solve DeSmith but a great chance was had on this play:

Vancouver was drawing penalties tonight but just couldn’t get anything going. The top unit looked lost, the second unit looked just as bad and it has only been one game but the Canucks definitely miss Alex Edler. Derrick Pouliot would also be a story tonight with his absolutely atrocious play. He wasn’t credited with any giveaways and had a 50% CF rating but he wasn’t helping the Canucks on this night.

Jacob Markstrom did his best to the keep the Canucks in this game but at a certain point, there is only so much he could do.

It didn’t get much better to end the period.

SCORE – VAN 0 PIT 2

OK, new period, new life. Right? Nope.

The refs did botch a few things tonight and this Roussel double-minor for high sticking was one of them:

Sound breakdown of that play. The stripes got it wrong. Thankfully, Kris Letang would take a penalty of his own and Vancouver would kill the double-minor. No goals still which you’re probably still wondering about.

It was one of those nights where you could kind of tell how it was going to go: post shots, close calls but nothing to show.

Nikolay Goldobin would get taken down just before the halfway point and there should have been a call but still, nothing doing.

Bob Cole dropped a beautiful line around the 10-minute mark: “Canucks gotta get a goal here.” Yes, Bob, I agree. You’re bang on with that comment.

Pettersson looked great in his first game back and there were audible “ahhhhs” when he did his thing. How he can move like that is just incredible.  He wouldn’t register a point tonight but his presence was felt.

More bad stuff would occur.

And finally, this:

Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Phil Kessel combined for seven points on the night and were as dangerous as advertised. It wasn’t a thrashing like the Flames received the other night but when the going got tough, the Canucks had zero answers for the Penguins. Casey DeSmith would get the shutout even though Bob Cole SAID shutout.

That’s now two straight losses for the Canucks and they have been outshot

FINAL SCORE – VAN 0 PIT 5

 

Canucks players at the 50% mark and above.

Penguins players at the 50% mark and above.

It was a mauling when the Penguins got it going and the Canucks just couldn’t adjust. They were playing without Alex Edler and Chris Tanev in the lineup which meant players that don’t usually take the lead were asked to have more of a starring role. There was hope for a brief time but again, the Penguins were just too much for the Canucks and proved to the young team why the Penguins could be for real, yet again this season.

Pettersson was worth the price of admission but just couldn’t solve DeSmith. As for Jacob Markstrom, I believe if he has a defense that can keep pucks away, he’ll stand a chance to have a pretty good season. He can’t be asked to bail out his team every night though. He isn’t Roberto Luongo.

G’night folks!