Chicago thwarted, but fans’ feelings mixed

It was the most beloved collapse in Canucks history followed by one of the most bittersweet wins ever.

Five years ago, if Vancouver held a 4-1 lead here in the third period, fans back home would have been going bananas. Good thing it’s not five years ago. What happened next would have broken some hearts.

On Tuesday, blowing a three-goal lead was welcomed with a warm embrace by the city of Vancouver. What a time to be alive.

It was the most conflicted the city has ever been watching Hawks-Canucks.

That’s because the only real doubt left for the Canucks is whether or not they’ll finish 29th overall in the NHL. Not only would it give them better odds at a top overall pick, it would guarantee the Canucks draft in the top five, which is important in the first round and every round after that. To get there, the Canucks need to lose, and lose some more. If you tell a player that, however, get ready to duck.

The Canucks spent much of the third period trying to blow a 4-1 lead. They were quite successful. What they couldn’t do was lose the game. The Canucks were outshot 18-6 in the third period and just narrowly avoided losing the contest in regulation time.

A Troy Stecher high stick on Jonathan Toews was missed. A late Chicago goal was disallowed because it was ruled offside. But destiny wouldn’t be denied. With a minute left, Chicago scored, tying the game at 4-4, and for the first time ever in a situation like this, many in Vancouver rejoiced.

Not the players, of course. They couldn’t believe it. Oh heck, who am I kidding? The Canucks have lost so many times in so many ways this year that they’re used to anything by now.

They didn’t lose this one, however. Daniel Sedin scored in overtime on the power play to win a game in which the Canucks would have been crushed 8-1 with out Ryan Miller’s outstanding goaltending.

Vancouver wasn’t passionate or competitive Tuesday. The emotion from this rivalry is long gone. Maybe it’s the 30-plus points that separate the two teams in the standings.

It’s hard to get up for a game when one of the league’s best teams is playing one of the worst, a Canucks team that had lost six straight games.

After two periods, the Canucks had been outshot 228, but inexplicably held a 3-1 lead. This was unusual. The Canucks were scoring. They got to four goals for the first time since March 4 when Brandon Sutter scored his second of the game to make it 4-1 early in the third period.

But Chicago came back, as you knew they would.