CanucksArmy Post-Game: Beantown Beatdown
By J.D. Burke
6 years agoCanucks Bounced 6-3 in Boston
Tonight, like most night’s in Boston for the 2000s Canucks, is one to forget. The Canucks were outplayed, badly, in almost every phase of the game, and when the Bruins weren’t up to the task, they did the job for them, committing costly mistakes to take themselves out of the game early.
You’d never guess it looking at the score, but there was a point when this game wasn’t just within reach for the Canucks, but they appeared to be in the driver seat. It lasted all of about three minutes, reaching its peak with a Derek Dorsett goal early in the first period to give the Canucks a one-goal lead. Anders Bjork tied the game for the Bruins about 30 seconds later, though, as a poor read by Chris Tanev left the Bruins rookie open in front of the net with all the time in the world to bury his chance, and he did.
Shortly after the opening volley of goals, Erik Gudbranson threw a questionable hit right into the numbers of Bruins forward Frank Vatrano, and suffered a boarding major and a game misconduct for the trouble — he had to fight Tim Schaller afterwards, too. The Bruins made the Canucks pay on that power play, scoring three times on the extended man advantage. That was the game, really.
Canucks head coach Travis Green pulled Anders Nilsson after David Krejci’s 4-1 goal for the Bruins, closing the book on a burgeoning goalie controversy, for now. It was just halfway through the first frame, but Nilsson had faced 17 shots at the time he left the game.
The Bruins were effectively in cruise control from that point, and there was very little the Canucks could do to change that. Vancouver surrendered another goal in the second period, again to Bjork. Though, to their credit, they also had a pair of their own, as Thomas Vanek and Bo Horvat both found the back of the net.
The final score read 6-3 Bruins. Anton Khudobin stopped 26 of 29 Canucks shots. Nilsson stopped 13 of 17 Bruins tries and Jacob Markstrom 16 of 18.
Stats
Quick Hits
- Let’s call a spade a spade. That Gudbranson hit on Vatrano, and the five-minute penalty kill it forced on the Canucks, cost Vancouver the game. This team is not good enough to kill off a five-minute penalty. The Canucks surrendered three goals trying to kill off that major, for anyone keeping track, and Nilsson was chased from the net in the process. It’s been a bad season for Gudbranson. He’s currently at 38% by five-on-five shot attempt ratio, which isn’t just bad, it’s below replacement level. Gudbranson’s numbers in transition are ghastly. He needs to be better. It’s as simple as that.
- Gudbranson might have some extra time to think about how to improve his game. The Department of Player Safety already has a disciplinary hearing planned for Gudbranson.
- This wasn’t a great night for Nilsson, obviously, but I’d hardly blame him for the disastrous first period the Canucks played. I’d have given him a chance on, maybe, one of the four goals he surrendered. Otherwise, it was just bad defensive breakdown after bad defensive breakdown. The Canucks surrendered 2.6 expected goals by the time Nilsson left the net, and that was little over ten minutes into the game.
- I’ve been the lead member of the Play Alexander Burmistrov club, and even I have to admit, tonight was not a good one for the cause. Burmistrov was out of positioning and caught chasing on the triggerman on two of the Bruins three first period power play goals. On the one play, he over commits to the far point and leaves the slot open for the Bruins puck carrier, and on the other, he flubs an opportunity for a shorthanded breakaway and never really recovers to find his man in the defensive zone. By the second period, Burmistrov was on the outs of the Brock Boeser-Sven Baertschi duo, and Bo Horvat was back where he started the season. Burn the tape, Burmistrov. Just burn the tape.
- Bo Horvat, speak of the devil, was a rare bright spot tonight for the Canucks. Horvat had a goal and regained his spot alongside Baertschi and Boeser. The Canucks need Horvat to get going, offensively and defensively, and so far this season the results have been mixed. Hopefully for the Canucks, this is a sign of things to come.
- Ben Hutton struggled tonight defensively. He was on the ice for four goals and didn’t look great on any of them. Hutton’s been great in transition, but some of his work below the goalline could use improvement. Needs to be more engaged physically and be willing to take the hit to make the play. Didn’t see a lot of that tonight.
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