CanucksArmy Post Game: Rocked like a Hurricane
6 years ago
The Canucks entered the second half of their back-to-back in Carolina depleted, to say the least. Earlier today news broke that Chris Tanev, Markus Granlund and (welp) Brock Boeser were both out after being injured Thursday against Tampa Bay.
Puck Drop
It wouldn’t take long for the Canucks to fall behind — just 14 seconds in fact. For the seventh time this year, the Canucks gave up a goal on the first shot of the game. Two behind Edmonton’s league-leading nine.
After Alex Edler’s breakout attempt was broken up off after Vancouver won the opening faceoff. Carolina had the Canucks outnumbered entering their zone. Despite Bo Horvat’s best effort to get back and nearly break up the play. Carolina would go up 1-0, on Brett Pesce’s second goal of the year.
Darren Archibald, fresh off signing an NHL contract with the Canucks, suited up in this one, and he wasn’t shy. With just over eleven minutes left, he flattened Jordan Staal along the boards. Archibald is a player Green is very comfortable with from their time in Utica, and can bring some of the edge the Canucks need.
With 5:17 left in the period, the Hurricanes took a 2-0 lead. With the puck behind the net, Jacob Markstrom was caught looking over the wrong shoulder. With Markstrom off his post and looking the wrong way, Phil DiGiuseppe was able to chip to puck over Markstrom’s leg.
The goal was DiGiuseppe’s first of the season, and his first in 43 games dating back to last year.
With just under a minute left in the period, it was Sebastian Aho’s turn. Jaccob Slavin made a great pass from his own goal line to spring Aho on the breakaway. Troy Stecher gave chase, but couldn’t close on Aho in time to stop him from beating Markstrom five-hole. 2-0 Carolina.
2nd Period
Michael Del Zotto and Jeff Skinner took offsetting roughing minors late in the first, so it was four-on-four to start the second.
Back at even strength, Reid Boucher ran over Justin Faulk down the left wing, the Canucks regained possession and went to work in the offensive zone. Now out of the penalty box, it was Michael Del Zotto getting on the board for Vancouver. Putting the point shot past Nic Dowd’s screen, beating Scott Darling. 3-1 Carolina.
After killing off an Erik Gudbranson interference penalty, the Canucks were lucky not to be shorthanded again. Teuvo Teravainen caught Gudbranson out of position, with the pass coming Gudbranson laid out to attempt to it. He did not, and “accidentally” clipped Teravainen with his skate, knocking him off balance enough to prevent what looked like a goal.
With five and a half left in the second, it was Teravainen taking one of Slavin’s gorgeous stretch passes. Luckily for Vancouver, Brandon Sutter was able to get back in time to knock Teravainen off the puck preventing a possible scoring chance.
The Carolina power-play caused Vancouver problems much of the night, no more than after a soft looking holding call on Bo Horvat. The Hurricanes first unit had possession for nearly the entire penalty, but the Canucks did a decent job of keeping the puck to the outside.
Carolina kept up the pressure after the power-play, but the period would end 3-1.
3rd Period
With the ink still wet on his new contract, Darren Archibald got in his first scrap. After barging in on the forecheck, Archibald sent Hurricanes defenseman Klas Dahlbeck to the ice. He then began to try and dig a puck loose from Scott Darling, something an already surly Dahlbeck took exception to. “The Gooch” was more than willing to engage Dahlbeck.
Neutral zone turnovers plagued the Canucks all game. With twelve and a half minutes left, it cost Vancouver again. Nic Dowd made a poor pass that was picked off by Jeff Skinner. Skinner slid a backhand pass to Justin Williams who walked down the right-wing and beat Jacob Markstrom, a goal Markstrom can’t be pleased with.
It took Vancouver till midway through the third to register their second shot of the period. At 9:22 the Canucks best chance to make it close came, as Bo Horvat centred off the rush to Loui Eriksson who directed the puck on net.
With a 1:20 left Noah Hanifin was called for high-sticking. It was too little too late for Vancouver who fell 4-1 in this one.
The Numbers
- The Hurricanes had 63.79% of expected goals at five-on-five
- High danger shots were 7-3 in favour of Carolina
- Vancouver had just 28.77% of all-situation expected goals.
- Jacob Markstrom gave up 4 goals on 14 medium danger shots.
Quick Hits
- Due to injuries, the Canucks dressed 7 defensemen and 11 forwards. Despite showing a willingness to play Biega at forward earlier this year, the elected to play just 11 forwards. With the crowded blueline, Ben Hutton was the odd man out most of the night.
- Playing his first NHL game in four years, Darren Archibald didn’t look out of place. He was physical all night(4 hits), killed penalties and got a fight in the third period. He’s not a game changer in any way, but he does bring a mentality the Canucks lack.
- The Canucks are currently averaging a league-low 6:16 of power-play time per game.
- Brock Boeser underwent an MRI on the wrist he had surgically repaired last year after Dan Girardi fell on it Thursday in Tampa Bay.
