CANUCKS POSTGAME #19: CANUCKS BLOW 3-0 LEAD, LOSE 4-3 IN OT TO BLACKHAWKS

For the most fleeting of moments, it almost felt like 2011 again. The Canucks were playing sound defensive hockey, playing with the lead, and scoring off the rush. Through 40 minutes of play, the Canucks had the Blackhawks number.

But then reality set in, a cruel reminder that these are the 2016 Canucks and a shadow of their former selves. The Chicago Blackhawks found another level the Canucks failed to match in the last 20 minutes of regulation, roaring back from a 3-0 deficit to send the game to a thrilling overtime. And in a unique set of circumstances, perhaps to simply add further insult to their old rivals, the Blackhawks found a way to celebrate victory twice.

That’s right, twice.

Towards the end of a mostly even and uneventful first period, the Canucks managed to do something they had only done twice previously this season: score the first goal. Not only did Loui Eriksson’s rebound marker give the Canucks a lead, but it also came on a power play. Despite coming against the league’s worst penalty kill, it was a nice early boost of confidence for the home side.

The Canucks began the second period with a lead (*checks notes*) for the first time this season. Finding themselves in such unfamiliar territory (possessing a lead after the opening frame of a regular season game had not occurred since April 9th), Vancouver continued its solid play throughout the period – and made it count.

After a Jonathan Toews breakaway chance went off the post, the Chicago got its first power play of the game courtesy of Michael Chaput. But instead of the Blackhawks getting on the scoreboard, Bo Horvat doubled the Canucks lead with his second shorthanded goal of the campaign. The play began with a brilliant defensive play by Alex Burrows on Toews, as the Blackhawks centre attempted to enter the Canucks zone. Burrows deftly knocked the puck off of Toews’ stick and sent a breakaway pass to the streaking Horvat. Bo made no mistake, firing the puck behind Darling.

A minute and a half later, back at even strength, the Canucks again struck off the rush. For the fourth consecutive game, Brandon Sutter found the back of the net, this time off a neat backhand saucer feed from Henrik (as if he delivers any other kind of pass).

The Blackhawks had some decent offensive zone time during the period, but only managed four shots on target and ten attempts in total. The Canucks, meanwhile, fared much better at evens – recording nine and 19, respectively.

Then the Blackhawks showed their mettle.

The third period had a feeling of crushing inevitably from the opening faceoff. Daniel Sedin took an early hooking penalty 47 seconds into the frame, and the Hawks dynamic duo of Patrick Kane and Artemi Panarin connected on a skilled give-and-go play, just as the penalty expired.

Chicago continued to dictate the play. Just over a minute later, Chicago rookie Vinnie Hinostroza made the Canucks look like practice pylons as he bulled his way to the net after a neutral zone regroup. The tally also happened to be his first in the NHL.

The waves of attack persisted. Hinostroza doubled his career point total after Alex Edler made an ill-timed attempt at a bodycheck, gifting the Hawks rookie uncontested entry into the Canucks zone. The rookie fed Ryan Hartman, trailing on the play, who beat Markstrom clean stick side on the one-timer.

After outshooting the Canucks 17-3 and controlling 80% of shot attempts at even strength in the third, the stage was set for an even more dramatic 3-on-3 overtime – one of the most exciting in recent Canucks history. Chicago thought they had won it on a Toews five-hole effort, but video review showed that Niklas Hjalmarsson had gone offside. Mikael Granlund then failed to convert on a 2-on-1, Henrik Sedin hit the post, Patrick Kane and Loui Eriksson were both stopped on breakaways, and Horvat failed to convert in tight. Marian Hossa then sealed the game – for real this time – with a shot through the legs of Alex Edler.

Game over.

-Desjardins and the Canucks will be criticized, rightly, for sitting back in the third period. But I have to wonder if it would have really made that much of a difference. The Canucks managed a measly seven shot attempts in the third period, to Chicago’s 28. Some of that can be attributed to score effects, but considering the Blackhawks are the vastly superior team, it could have also just been a course correction from the previous two periods. Probably a combination of the two. The Hawks attacked in waves in the third period, even generating another five shot attempts after tying the game – and coming close to winning it. That said, the third-period strategy the Canucks employed did the team no favours

-Rough night for Alex Edler. Despite a fairly solid game at even strength (51.7% CF), Edler was a major factor on three of the four goals against. On the Hinostroza goal, he let the rookie have a clear path to the net and his own rebound, and he put himself out of position to make a hit on the tying goal. Hossa also used him as a screen on the winning goal. Sometimes, a player makes three bad plays over the course of a night and nothing happens. Other times, like tonight for Edler, they all end up in the back of your net.

-For a while, at least, the Canucks had a lead tonight. The club nearly doubled its time spent playing with the lead this season in one game

-Is it too early in his career to consider Vinnie Hinostroza a Canuck killer? Milan Hejduk says probably.

-Was wondering how the Toews overtime goal could have been called back, despite the Canucks having used their timeout in the third period. Elliotte Friedman, as per usual, had the answer: