LIGHTNING SPEED BURNS THE WEARY CANUCKS
TAMPA, Fla. — Turns out, it didn’t matter who started.
The Canucks tapped a hot Ryan Miller in hopes he could continue an in-the-zone run that had seen him nearly post three straight shutouts.
It was about the only chance they had against one of the most explosive teams in the NHL.
Vancouver was up against a Tampa Bay squad that has something that generally makes the Canucks play like they’re ill — speed.
It was an issue against the Dallas Stars this season. It was an issue against the New York Rangers. And it was an issue again Tuesday against the Lightning, who used their quickness to slowly overtake the Canucks like a tide rolling in.
As Brian Boyle squirted one under Miller early in the third period to make it 3-0, the Canucks had yet to sustain any pressure or look remotely dangerous.
On one hand, it’s understandable. It was the fifth game of the trip and the second of back-to-back games.
On the other, it was troubling. Fast, skilled teams have been attaching cinder blocks to the Canucks’ ankles most of the season. The issues were up and down the lineup. Other than two chances from Radim Vrbata, the Sedin line was neutered. How many times has that happened against a playoff team this year? The short answer is many.
Even in the third, when the Sedins had a two-man advantage, they struggled to generate real scoring chances. It didn’t help that a Vrbata tripping penalty pulled them off their 5-on-3.
Kevin Bieksa made the biggest mistake of the game, leaving his side of the ice, chasing Ryan Callahan. It left a gaping hole that Valtteri Filppula exploited, scoring the first goal of the game 13:32 into the second period.
In the third, a Victor Hedman blast smashed into Bieksa’s left wrist. He rushed off the ice, and didn’t return.