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CanucksArmy Post Game: The Unhappiest Place on Earth
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Photo credit: Kelvin Kuo - USA TODAY Sports
Mar 15, 2018, 01:33 EDT
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Puck Drop

Things got off to yet another rocky start for the Canucks on Wednesday night in Anaheim. Less than three and a half minutes into the opening frame, Brandon Montour opened the scoring for the Anaheim Ducks. Finishing a give-and-go with Jason Chimera, Montour’s shot found it’s way through the traffic in front going up and over Jacob Markstrom.
The goal continued a disturbing season-long trend of giving up not only the first goal but doing it very early on in games.
Four minutes later the Canucks were shorthanded, as Derrick Pouliot was handed a four-minute double-minor for high-sticking. The Canucks came out unscathed as Markstrom fended off Corey Perry and the Ducks power-play.
The Canucks had their chance to tie things up before the end of the frame, as Michael Del Zotto rang a shot off the post after Reid Boucher did a nice job winning a puck battle down low. Moments later, Nic Dowd did the same, as the Canucks managed to generate some late period chances.

2nd Period

The second period didn’t exactly get off to a banner start for Sam Gagner and the Canucks. Gagner was sent to the box for interference, after stepping into Ondrej Kase well after the puck had left.
Fortunately for Vancouver, Adam Henrique was sent off for slashing Brandon Sutter just over a minute into the Anaheim power-play.
The goalless drought continued in the second, crossing 180 minutes, the equivalent of three full games.
After making a nice save off Rickard Rakell thirty-seconds earlier, Markstrom gave up his second goal of the game. With the ink still wet on his contract after his Olympic performance for Canada in Pyeongchang, Chris Kelly turned the puck over on the forecheck (with a cross-check) and set up Chimera in the slot.
Once again the Canucks best chance to get on the board came late in the period. After Jake Virtanen nearly broke in on a breakaway, the Sutter line came over the boards for the Canucks best shift of the game. Spending their time in the Ducks zone, the trio spent the period’s final shift working the puck down low, and generating a few looks on net.

3rd Period

Off to a better start in the third, the Canucks appeared to have some jump looking to get back in the game. With their best look coming from an unlikely source.
Once again it was Virtanen skating the puck deep into the Anaheim zone after the puck came loose in the slot both Alex Biega and Brendan Leipsic had clean looks. Neither was able to capitalize; the dry spell continues.
With Hampus Lindholm in the box for cross-checking, the Canucks had a chance to capitalize on the momentum built early in the third. That was until Markstrom took a rather selfish, though if we’re being honest, a weak penalty. After getting tangled up with Jacob Silverberg earlier in the game, Markstrom stepping in front of Silfverberg as the Canucks started to break out, sending him to the ice.
Hey Markstrom… Let’s Go!!!
With two minutes and twenty-seven seconds left in the games, Markstrom was headed to the bench for the extra attacker. The only problem, was the Ducks gained possession at their blueline, Markstrom had to scramble back as the Ducks shot at the empty net. Narrowly missing, the Ducks were called for a questionable icing call as it appeared Markstrom moved to play the puck.
With the faceoff in the Anaheim end, Markstrom once again made way to the bench for the extra attacker. Any hope of a comeback was lost when Alex Edler was called for interference on Perry with one nineteen to go. Though it was clearly interference, Perry did his damnedest to make sure everyone knew doing a barrel roll as he went to the ice.
Daniel Sedin was not a fan of the antics, or just wanted to get a headstart on the showers, as he earned a ten-minute misconduct ending his night.
The Canucks were shutout for the third straight game, as this one ended with a score of 3-0 after Montour added another goal with 42.4 seconds left.

The Numbers

Quick Hits

  • 212 minutes and nine seconds. The Canucks are just twenty-two minutes away from setting a new franchise record for futility as their goal scoring woes continue. Life without Boeser hasn’t been much fun as the Canucks have dropped four straight since his injury.
  • Nikolay Goldobin squandered another opportunity tonight as the started out the top line alongside Leipsic and Horvat. Requiring waivers next year, it really is now or never for Goldobin as the Canucks begin to look forward to next years roster decisions.
  • Prior to tonight’s game, news broke that Erik Gudbranson was being shut down for the year and headed for surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder. An injury that’s injured the big defencemen since November, something the Canucks were well aware of prior to extending him on a three-year, twelve million dollar contract. Despite showing some positive signs lately in his underlying numbers, it’s yet another curious and highly suspect decision made by the Canucks regarding Gudbranson.

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