ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Vancouver Canucks had a sport plan Thursday to defend the Anaheim Geese’ rush assault. You simply couldn’t inform from the way in which they performed.
After constructing a 2-0 lead in a sport it desperately wanted, Vancouver allowed Anaheim to attain 4 straight rush targets earlier than an empty-netter gave the Geese a 5-2 win that felt like a physique slam to the Canucks.
It was the 17th time this season the Canucks misplaced a sport during which they led.
Sixty video games into the staff’s turbulent common season, coach Rick Tocchet nonetheless can’t rely on his staff to execute a sport plan.
“Effectively, we had a sport plan,” Tocchet lamented to reporters. “They seem to be a rush staff. We acquired a 2-0 lead, and we had a two-on-one (and) we did not join. And I believe we had a breakaway. A few missed alternatives. After which hastily, we had a rush sport. After which we determined to eternally abandon the sport plan.
“We’d like some guys to rise to the event, whether or not that is a center drive or go to the online. Like, we had pictures on internet with no one going to internet, so (I’m) slightly dissatisfied within the grit a part of our sport.”
The Canucks have 22 video games remaining, barely 1 / 4 of their season left and no one is aware of what they’ll carry evening to nighttime.
Thursday’s crushing setback adopted Wednesday’s 3-2 time beyond regulation win towards the Los Angeles Kings during which the Canucks additionally squandered a 2-0 lead however recovered.
There was no restoration towards the Geese, the second staff behind them within the standings to beat Vancouver on this highway journey.
Vancouver is 1-3 on the journey that ends Saturday in Seattle towards the Kraken.
“We knew they have been going to return out more durable within the second (interval),” Canuck defenceman Tyler Myers advised reporters. “We have got to seek out methods once we do get these leads — it occurred final evening, too — we have to seek out methods to nonetheless preserve pushing. We do not wish to sit again and have defending be our most important focus. One of the best ways to defend is to maintain our legs transferring, preserve puck possession and get it behind them.
“We made some robust performs that allowed them to get some rushes on us, and so they have been capable of hit a whole lot of late guys and a whole lot of weak-side performs.”
The Canucks appeared to have one foot on their constitution to Seattle after the primary interval.
They led 2-0 after Myers sniped one objective and fantastically dished to Pius Suter on one other. They’d possibilities early within the second to make it 3-0, however Suter missed the online on a fast breakaway and Filip Chytil pressured a go right into a defender on a two-on-one.
The Geese had nothing going. After which abruptly they did.
“I imply, we’re within the room and we’re saying all the appropriate issues,” Canuck defenceman Derek Forbort stated. “We discuss how we have to remain on them, keep on our ft and do not sit again. After which, I believe, they get a objective after which you possibly can form of really feel it. We simply should be mentally stronger once they get the primary one.”
Frank Vatrano snatched the primary one again for Anaheim out of nowhere, discovering simply sufficient room above defenceman Flip Hronek to whip Ryan Strome’s go from the tip boards previous Vancouver goalie Arturs Silovs at 5:27 of the center interval.
Then Canuck rookie defenceman Elias Pettersson made a horrible pivot on a three-on-three rush and left sufficient room extensive for Cutter Gauthier to comply with Vatrano’s laser over Silov’s glove with one among his personal at 9:09.
Vancouver didn’t cope on one other three-on-three Geese assault when Forbort was a step gradual to regulate to Strome fading proper, and Anaheim’s high centre had house to shoot throughout Silovs and rating on the blocker facet and make it 3-2 at 18:41.
“I assumed our rush defence actually killed us tonight,” Myers stated. “They have been hitting late guys and hitting the weak facet far more than they need to have been, particularly once we talked about it.
“We’ve got to ensure we come into the subsequent sport. . . and ensure we’re able to go. We’re doing a whole lot of swinging proper now. We have got to get again to enjoying easy hockey and simply concentrate on doing our job.”
-
NHL on Sportsnet
Livestream Hockey Night time in Canada, Scotiabank Wednesday Night time Hockey, the Oilers, Flames, Canucks, out-of-market matchups, the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the NHL Draft.
Now chasing the sport, the Canucks generated solely six third-period pictures. And when the Geese sealed the win on Jackson Lacombe’s objective at 15:46, naturally it got here from one other three-on-three rush.
“You have to be loopy to assume that something’s over,” Tocchet stated of the misplaced lead. “We’re a determined hockey staff. I do not care if it is 4-0, you must preserve enjoying the sport plan. And we simply had too many guys that as an alternative of going straight, went proper or left. A bit an excessive amount of perimeter for my liking.
“(Quinn) Hughes had a few alternatives; he shot the puck (and) now we have guys standing together with the online. Like, that does not win hockey. Just a bit dissatisfied within the staff. We simply, we form of gave in.”
How are they going to make the playoffs in April and really problem anybody if their resolve is that this fragile for a Thursday sport in Anaheim towards a staff that was eight factors behind them within the standings?
“If we wish to begin placing some wins collectively, we have to be far more constant,” Myers stated.
He added: “Our urgency must be as excessive because it’s ever been this 12 months to complete these final video games out.”
ICE CHIPS – After lacking practically 4 weeks with an harm, Hughes performed his second sport in 24 hours and was probably the most harmful Canuck. He logged 22:58 of ice time, and led Vancouver with 4 pictures and 11 makes an attempt. Hughes was additionally on the ice for 3 of the primary 4 Anaheim targets. . . In his second begin of the journey — and second within the NHL since November — Silovs gave up the 4 targets on 24 pictures.
