Canucks’ season becomes an audition
Young guys get their shots with veterans shipped off, but defeating Sharks was a task too tall
That annual “meaningfulgames-in-March” mantra doesn’t mean anything, unless you consider a refined definition.
Instead of staying in close contention for a National Hockey League wild-card berth, the Vancouver Canucks are making their March “meaningful” by making it audition season for roster wannabes.
Joseph Cramarossa, a grinding restricted free-agent winger claimed on waivers Wednesday from the Anaheim Ducks, got his shot Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. He answered the bell by taking on enforcer Michael Haley in the first period of a 3-1 loss and landed a big blow, absorbed one, was staggered, cut and then left before returning in the second period.
It was Cramarossa’s eighth bout of the season and according to hockeyfights.com, he’s 4-2-2. Haley has fought 11 times. Give Cramarossa props. He knows why he’s here and said as much before dropping the gloves.
“I know it’s a younger team here now with getting rid of veteran players and they’re starting to build a new core and obviously it’s exciting and I’d love to be a part of it — it would be a fresh start for me,” said Cramarossa, a 6-1, 192-pound Toronto native who had a four-hit outing against the Canucks on Oct. 23 and a five-hit game against Vancouver on Dec. 30.
“I need to make my mark early and hopefully be back next year. I think every team needs balance and if that’s something they’re lacking (grit) I hope to bring it.”
The Canucks are hoping the same occurs on Saturday night in Los Angeles in another audition. Nikolay Goldobin, acquired Tuesday in a swap for the popular Jannik Hansen, may make his Canucks debut once immigration hurdles are cleared.
This much we do know regardless of who suits up on any given night: the Canucks continue to be challenged offensively and any newcomer isn’t going to be a cure. What was encouraging Thursday was the return of Sven Baertschi after missing nine games with a concussion.
He had early chemistry with linemates Bo Horvat and Loui Eriksson and started the power-play sequence that resulted in Horvat’s goal from the crease.
The centre set up a shot and redirected a cross-ice feed off the blade of his stick to open scoring and provide some hope. Other than that, you were hard-pressed to find anything to rave about. Ranting? That’s a different story.
When the division-leading Sharks decided to press the issue, they feasted on the Canucks’ inability to get pucks out of their own zone. A Chris Tanev turnover and Mikkel Boedker’s shot off the stick of Luca Sbisa and by a diving Ryan Miller shifted momentum.
Then the Canucks couldn’t clear and simply stood around as the Sharks collapsed to the net where Marcus Sorensen slipped his first career goal home untouched on Miller’s doorstep.
If that wasn’t bad enough, there were three chances to move the puck out before Brendan Gaunce shovelled it right onto the stick of Logan Couture, who went glove side to put the game away.
Of course, none of this should be shocking. On a night when Alex Burrows scored both goals in his Ottawa debut in a 2-1 Senators victory over the Colorado Avalanche, his presence was missed Thursday. So was Hansen’s. The veterans motivated the room and left it all out on the ice.
And that’s the message Henrik and Daniel Sedin continue to drill home. Getting better every day is harder when you’re losing. But it’s what turns teams into winners.