Canucks Postgame: Too Little, Too Eight

Photo Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin/USA TODAY SPORTS

Even when the pick stakes are high, there’s something about losing to the Chicago Blackhawks that makes you hate the idea of encouraging it. By something, of course, I mean all of those playoff matches and the fact that the Hawks are full of players that are insufferably skilled with almost as insufferable backstories. This is a game you’d be happy to stomach for pride, especially after losing seven prior.

But that didn’t happen, as the Canucks dropped yet another two points in a 3-2 result.

While Chicago had heavy control of much of the first period, the game’s first goal didn’t come until the closing minutes of the frame. With a shade over two minutes to go, Tomas Fleischmann broke the ice with a killer wrist shot made possible by an overwhelming cycle, putting the Hawks up front. The Canucks didn’t quit easily, though. Midway through the second, Linden Vey attempted to set up Chris Higgins, and while that effort failed, Alex Burrows trailed behind and banged home what became a one-timer to tie the game.

The Hawks regained the lead once again in the third period. Patrick Kane turned on the jets and took Dan Hamhuis behind the net with him, allowing him to feed it to Trevor van Riemsdyk who finished a tic-tac-toe maneuver by feeding Teuvo Teravainen. With five minutes to go, the Canucks pushed as hard as they could to equalize and got what they wanted. Sven Baertschi stole a loose puck, sent it up to Emerson Etem, and raced to the net. Etem found him for a gimmie, leading many to believe that there may have been room for an upset.

That wasn’t the case, though. With two and a half minutes to go, Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa raced up on an odd-man rush and pulled out the surprise third option; Toews dropped the puck for a trailing Andrew Ladd, who snapped it top shelf past Ryan Miller for what ended up being the game winner.

As much as I lean towards the players who are putting up tangible results, I like the idea of Nikita Tryamkin. His underlying numbers admittedly haven’t been great, but a lot of being a good play-driving skater comes from understanding of your team’s systems, which he’ll obviously have to get used to. If he’s able to buy in will being as aggressive and in-your-face as he has been to start, the Canucks will be happy with him heading into the fall. Still a few growing pains for now, but this is probably the best time to have them.

The coach gave the media this gem of a quote when the Canucks were eight points back of a playoff spot. They’ve now lost all eight of the games that have followed it. Swing and a miss, Willie.

Thankfully, the home fans only have to watch this team three more times in person. The next one of those comes against the San Jose Sharks, who take on the Canucks on Tuesday evening. Will the Canucks finally win a game, or will Chewbacca, Jumbo, and friends continue Vancouver’s woes? We’ll find out at 7:00 PM.