TOO FAINT OF HEART FOR VALENTINE’S DAY COMEBACK
No chocolates for Markstrom after goalie allows four goals — two softies — in the first
PANTHERS 4 CANUCKS 3 Still fresh off a players-only meeting Saturday, the Vancouver Canucks found themselves down just one goal at home against a team that’s not very good.
But until a late-game power play, the Canucks generated very little in the final period, and fell to the Florida Panthers 4-3.
Vancouver had hoped a 6-0 win Sunday in Dallas was the start of a turnaround, but even though the Canucks scored first Wednesday, they couldn’t carry the momentum for long.
Yes, the Canucks were let down by some poor goaltending by starter Jacob Markstrom. But they still had a chance to tie this NHL game in the third, and couldn’t sustain pressure at even strength.
This is what we learned:
BOESER SCORED TWICE AND ONLY ONE COUNTED
If you slow down the Canucks’ first goal, you’ll see just before the Panthers’ Aaron Ekblad batted the puck into the net, Brock Boeser tipped it.
It was Boeser’s goal but it was credited to Michael Del Zotto. In a season where there isn’t much to play for, this doesn’t seem too meaningful, but Boeser is trying to chase down a Calder Trophy for rookie of the year and he may need more than 35 goals to do it. That one sure would help the cause.
Boeser did score later on a Canucks power play. It was a set play off the faceoff and it was a thing of beauty. Henrik Sedin won the faceoff and directed the puck to his brother Daniel, who smoothly tipped it to Boeser for a one-timer.
YOUNG GUNS FIRING
It wasn’t the prettiest game for the Canucks, mostly because of goaltending, but don’t let that cover up what was a really good game for three of the players who have been in head coach Travis Green’s doghouse most often this season.
Jake Virtanen was fast and fired up. He played like a guy who has something to prove and appeared to take some of that out on Jared McCann.
Virtanen chased down his former teammate a couple of times in the first. One of those times, he caught him from behind and drilled him into the boards. It was good stuff.
You know what else was good? Derrick Pouliot on a pairing with Ben Hutton. They controlled the game whenever they were on the ice.
Green seemed to reward them with a lot more ice time than usual.
GUDBRANSON STRUGGLED
Canucks general manager Jim Benning has been pretty clear he intends to try to extend Erik Gudbranson.
He likes him. He thinks the Canucks need his size. If they are going to add more rookies soon, including Adam Gaudette and the slender Elias Pettersson, the Canucks are going to believe it’s even more important to have players who can stand up for them.
The Canucks were thrilled with the way Gudbranson played in a big role Sunday in a win against Dallas. Green went back to his top pairing from that game, which was Gudbranson playing alongside Alex Edler. They did not have the same results.
The two of them got worked in the first period. The vast majority of shot attempts when they were on the ice were taken by Florida.
Gudbranson had an especially difficult time trying to contain McCann, the player he was traded for, leading directly to the Panthers’ third goal.
NICE TO SEE LU
As the Canucks continue to struggle with their goaltending, there is one emerging truth that’s difficult to escape: Roberto Luongo, who held down the bench for the Panthers, would be perfect for this team.
MARKSTROM’S MOMENTUM LOST
The Canucks’ starting goalie has been at the centre of just about everything that’s been going on with the Vancouver
Canucks lately.
He called out his team after Friday’s loss. He initiated a players-only meeting the next day. He walked the walk on Sunday with a shutout against the Stars.
Was he ready to be a leader on this team?
His game unravelled against Florida Wednesday. Markstrom gave up four goals in the first period and the last two were pretty soft.
Markstrom failed to track an Alex Petrovic shot from the slot for the Panthers’ third goal. The fourth was about as ugly as it gets. Off the faceoff, Nick Bjugstad shot one to Markstrom’s blocker side and as the goalie went into his butterfly, he opened up his wing and the puck glided through him.
Green was not pleased by any of this and when the second period started, backup Anders Nilsson was playing.
It seems likely then that Green will tap Markstrom for the start Thursday against the Sharks in San Jose.
NILSSON WAS GOOD
He doesn’t get much love from his coach or the fans, but Nilsson did his job and made a string of saves, keeping the Canucks in the game deep into the third period.