CANUCKS ARE KEEN TO REWRITE TROUBLESOME NOVEMBER HISTORY
Depending on your point of view, the Vancouver Canucks are either a 9-4-3 team that has earned points in eight of their last nine NHL games, or a team that has won once in its last four outings while scoring two goals or less in three of those contests.
Heading into Friday night’s game in Winnipeg against the Jets, the Canucks firmly believed they’re the former. In these, as all things, it’s a matter of perspective.
“I don’t think we were very good (in a 5-2 loss against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday), but overall, we’ve been pretty damn good,” said head coach Travis Green, before facing the Jets.
“We didn’t come out like our normal selves (against the Blackhawks),” said defenceman Tyler Myers. “It’s going to happen throughout the year. I thought we got back to moving our feet a little bit more (later in the game). But we know it wasn’t our best game. We have to respond (against the Jets).”
Which is the first time in a while the Canucks have said that.
At the United Center in Chicago, Green’s team surrendered a goal in the first eight minutes and the Canucks were outshot 15-3 through the first 12 minutes. From that point, they were chasing the game, and when the Hawks, who had been struggling mightily, potted power play goals late in the first by Andrew Shaw and again in the third by Patrick Kane, the Canucks were on their way to their first regulation loss since Oct. 19.
But Thursday was also part of a trend that should have their attention. In Anaheim a week ago, they dropped a 2-1 overtime decision to the Ducks. Earlier this week it was a 2-1 overtime loss to the Blues at Rogers Arena.
Yes, there was an impressive 5-2 win in San Jose in between those two games, but the Canucks also lost defenceman Chris Tanev on Thursday with an upper-body injury.
Tanev was seen in the locker-room after the game with no apparent signs of an injury. If you’re familiar with the Canucks’ recent history, you’re aware November has been a troublesome month.
“We’ve got to focus on our game,” said goalie Jacob Markstrom. “We’ve been doing that in the early part of the season. We have to do that in November.”
Friday’s game was Myers’ first in Winnipeg since he signed a five-year, Us$30-million deal with the Canucks this summer.
Myers spent five-plus seasons with the Jets, but if he was emotional about his return to the Manitoba capital, he did a great job of hiding it.
“No more than any other (team),” he said, when asked if he’s following the Jets this season. “I keep an eye on the standings for every team. I know a lot of the guys over there and know what kind of guys they are. That’s really the difference.”