Too bad the Canucks come home now
GLENDALE, Ariz. — There are more than a few imponderables to this Canucks season, but this might top the list. If they were as good at home as they are on the road, they’d be in a playoff position.
Wednesday night in the desert, the Canucks edged the Arizona Coyotes 2-1, improving their road record to 13-10-7, which is only impressive when it’s compared with their 9-10-5 ledger at Rogers Arena. The win was also the Canucks’ second straight on their mini two-game swing with their mothers in tow and came with three regulars out of the lineup.
That, at least, is the good news. The more concerning news is the Canucks play eight of their next nine at home with their season hanging in the balance.
“I don’t know what it is but we had to find a way tonight,” said Jannik Hansen.
Willie Desjardins had a better idea about the Canucks’ road success.
“It was all about battling,” said the Canucks head coach. “Overall I’ve really got to admire our guys. We’ve had some tough luck but we’re still battling.”
Jared McCann filled in for Derek Dorsett and set up Jake Virtanen for the game’s first goal, Alex Biega filled in for Edler and contributed a game-saving play when he swept Kyle Chipchura’s backhander off the goal-line with just under four minutes left and Adam Cracknell provided a much-needed physical presence in Sutter’s absence.
And it helps when you get lights-out goaltending. Ryan Miller ran his record at Gila River Arena to 6-0 with a clinical 34-save performance one night after Jacob Markstrom stopped 29 of 30 in a 3-1 win over Colorado.
“I met my wife in Scottsdale,” Miller said. “I like coming back here. It was a fun time in our lives.”