Tyler Myers and the rest of the Canucks in need of discipline and commitment to defensive end

Tyler Myers will not be suspended for his high hit on Joel Armia, as posited by Eric Engels and Matt Sekeres, and suggested by Canucks Army yesterday afternoon. The hit occurred late in the third period of the debacle that was Thursday’s night 7-3 loss to Montreal.

There’s certainly an argument to be made for the hit being a dangerous play warranting a suspension, such as the head being contacted and the hit occurring with the game well out of reach, but under the current rules, the hit was perfectly legal. Habs fans are understandably upset that Myers will not face further discipline. Armia has been diagnosed with a concussion according to Canadiens head coach Claude Julien.

From a Canucks perspective, this was just the nightcap of a truly atrocious defensive performance from Vancouver and from Myers specifically. Myers had already accrued three minor penalties for interference before the hit and subsequent ten-minute misconduct that ended his and Armia’s night.

The Canucks seemed to be making progress on their discipline issues in Wednesday’s shootout victory, but continued their tactless play on Thursday night. After Wednesday’s interlude, the parade of Canucks to the penalty box continued as the Canucks took eight minor penalties in addition to the Myers major. Vancouver is leading the league in penalties to the tune of 31 power play opportunities against, averaging over five penalties per game.

While Myers’ reckless hit on Armia occurred once the game was out of reach there were other moments with the game still in the balance where the defenceman and his teammates demonstrated an utter lack of urgency to defend Thatcher Demko against high danger scoring chances. The effort level on the backcheck here from Myers and JT Miller is something to behold.

That’s Myers in the top right of the frame, petrified in place next to Miller.

Myers took three interference penalties, concussed Armia, and looked generally uninterested in playing defence. However, the rest of the team was not much better. It’s fair to point to the fact that this was the second of back-to-back games that the Canucks have played with five defencemen for most of the evening. Myers and Nate Schmidt have taken on the bulk of those extra minutes, but with Alex Edler and Travis Hamonic out in the short term, those two will continue to be leaned on.

The Canucks desperately need Tyler Myers right now, and everything that a veteran of 709 NHL games should bring to the table. But Thursday night left everyone shaking their heads, and they’ll need to bounce back in a big way tonight.