SAME OLD STORY
Just when you thought this was the start of a new era for the Canucks, they revert to their form from last season
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Too early for a statement game? Not really.
When the last game for the Vancouver Canucks looked too much like last season — bad enough for Henrik Sedin to go on a post-game rant — you knew the next game was going to mean something.
Factor in a long systems practice Friday and knowing the stingy San Jose Sharks are allowing the fewest goals in the National Hockey League, it was going to be about more than Loui Eriksson returning Saturday after missing a dozen games with a knee sprain. More than giving Alexander Burmistrov another chance to prove he can consistently play at this level.
And more than Jake Virtanen sitting out.
It was going to be finding a way in San Jose in what was going to be a low-scoring mettle test. It proved to be just that in a 5-0 setback for the Canucks.
The Canucks knew the Sharks have to lock it down. There’s no Patrick Marleau to bail them out and no Brent Burns blast because the Norris Trophy finalist is still looking for his first goal — even though he clanged a wrist shot from the point off the crossbar.
“If your game is not tight, you’re not going to get many scoring chances,” warned Canucks coach Travis Green. The Canucks had their moments. They had 41 shots. Derek Dorsett nearly scored off a shorthanded toe-drag move. Bo Horvat was twice stymied on scoring chances on the porch of goalie Aaron Dell. And a pinching Alex Edler nearly jammed home a chance in the third period before Sam Gagner was stopped off a turnover.
But there were gaffes before the Sharks potted two empty-net goals and scored on a penalty shot.
The Canucks played a strong second period and outshot the Sharks 13-6, but the troublesome power-play gave the Sharks a two-goal cushion. A Henrik Sedin turnover and a bouncing puck got by Michael Del Zotto at the point and allowed Logan Couture to speed away on his second shorthanded chance on the same shift.
He didn’t miss on the breakaway and patiently went to the backhand and slipped the puck between the pads of Jacob Markstrom.
The tightness that Green called for wasn’t there at the outset. The Sharks needed just 48 seconds to open scoring when a Justin Braun point shot went off the blade of Markstrom and off Tomas Hertl, who wasn’t tied up by Ben Hutton. Here’s what we learned:
ERIKSSON SHOWS SOME MOXIE
Loui Eriksson was talking a good game and played one.
He wasn’t tentative coming off the knee sprain. After four practices he had jump, was making plays, had four shots, killed penalties and also drew a pair.
It was something to build on because he was the best guy on the line. Daniel Sedin committed three turnovers in the first period and Henrik Sedin was struggling to win draws.
However, there was some trio symmetry and the fact that Eriksson was good in puck retrieval and strong enough in his stride to cause some havoc — he drew a slashing minor on Timo Meier and a slashing infraction on Joel Ward — spoke to a willingness to play in traffic and not avoid it.
‘ROVER’ BURMISTROV NEEDS BITE
Green had a long talk with Burmistrov on the practice ice Friday, but it didn’t translate into much Saturday. Burmistrov didn’t have a shot and didn’t really do anything to make his wingers better. They had to hound pucks on their own and that’s not a strength for Thomas Vanek, who needs the puck on his stick. So does Sam Gagner.
By the third period, Green had seen enough. Horvat briefly replaced Burmistrov on the line.
“He’s trying to reinvent himself and find his way in the league and stay in the league,” Green said of Burmistrov. “We’ve had good communication in what his top game looks like. I like that he has an offensive flair and is good with the puck and I want him to be a guy I can play against anyone. There’s a game he has to commit to and make that happen.”
THE EDUCATION OF JAKE
There’s a lot to like about Jake Virtanen. He processes the game better, is better at puck retrieval and hits like a truck — when the spirit moves him.
It’s almost like Virtanen takes the physical aspect of his game for granted and if he’s ever going to evolve into that top-six power forward, it can’t be something he does occasionally. He has to rub guys out on the wall, not skate past them when he’s on the back check.
“Physicality is part of the game that’s something Jake has to bring,” said Green. “It’s a fine line between finding hits and finding the puck. People don’t understand that the power game is a learned game. And he’s learning his way.”