ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Vancouver Canucks had a recreation 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 recreation it desperately wanted, Vancouver allowed Anaheim to attain 4 straight rush objectives 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 recreation wherein they led.
Sixty video games into the group’s turbulent common season, coach Rick Tocchet nonetheless can’t depend on his group to execute a recreation plan.
“Effectively, we had a recreation plan,” Tocchet lamented to reporters. “They seem to be a rush group. We received 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 impulsively, we had a rush recreation. After which we determined to eternally abandon the sport plan.
“We want 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 web with no person going to web, so (I’m) a bit disillusioned within the grit a part of our recreation.”
The Canucks have 22 video games remaining, barely 1 / 4 of their season left and no person is aware of what they’ll convey night time to nighttime.
Thursday’s crushing setback adopted Wednesday’s 3-2 extra time win towards the Los Angeles Kings wherein the Canucks additionally squandered a 2-0 lead however recovered.
There was no restoration towards the Geese, the second group 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 come back out more durable within the second (interval),” Canuck defenceman Tyler Myers advised reporters. “We have got to search out methods once we do get these leads — it occurred final night time, too — we have got to search out methods to nonetheless maintain pushing. We do not wish to sit again and have defending be our essential focus. One of the simplest ways to defend is to maintain our legs transferring, maintain puck possession and get it behind them.
“We made some powerful performs that allowed them to get some rushes on us, and so they have been capable of hit a variety of late guys and a variety 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 superbly dished to Pius Suter on one other. That they had probabilities 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 out of the blue they did.
“I imply, we’re within the room and we’re saying all the best issues,” Canuck defenceman Derek Forbort mentioned. “We speak about how we have got to remain on them, keep on our toes and do not sit again. After which, I believe, they get a objective after which you possibly can sort of really feel it. We simply have to 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 top 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 broad for Cutter Gauthier to observe Vatrano’s laser over Silov’s glove with certainly one of his personal at 9:09.
Vancouver didn’t cope on one other three-on-three Geese assault when Forbort was a step sluggish to regulate to Strome fading proper, and Anaheim’s high centre had area to shoot throughout Silovs and rating on the blocker aspect and make it 3-2 at 18:41.
“I assumed our rush defence actually killed us tonight,” Myers mentioned. “They have been hitting late guys and hitting the weak aspect far more than they need to have been, particularly once we talked about it.
“Now we have to ensure we come into the following recreation. . . and ensure we’re able to go. We’re doing a variety 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 suppose that something’s over,” Tocchet mentioned of the misplaced lead. “We’re a determined hockey group. I do not care if it is 4-0, it’s a must to maintain enjoying the sport plan. And we simply had too many guys that as a substitute of going straight, went proper or left. A little bit an excessive amount of perimeter for my liking.
“(Quinn) Hughes had a few alternatives; he shot the puck (and) we’ve guys standing along side the online. Like, that does not win hockey. Just a bit disillusioned within the group. We simply, we sort 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 recreation in Anaheim towards a group that was eight factors behind them within the standings?
“If we wish to begin placing some wins collectively, we have got to be far more constant,” Myers mentioned.
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 almost 4 weeks with an damage, Hughes performed his second recreation in 24 hours and was essentially 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 objectives. . . In his second begin of the journey — and second within the NHL since November — Silovs gave up the 4 objectives on 24 pictures.
