Another day, another OT loss. The Canucks built a 2-0 lead against the visiting Wild on Saturday night, but didn’t really have an answer when Minny stepped up their game over the final period and a half. The Wild potted two third period goals, and like much of the rest of the season the Canucks lost it in overtime. If you missed it all:
Yes, another loss on home ice, but the most jarring part of the evening was probably the needless injury to Forbort. After scrapping with the Wild’s Yakov Trenin and falling the the ice, Trenin suckered Forbort while he was prone and defenseless. It was an ugly play that left Forbort bloodied and injured, and Trenin with a game misconduct.
“I mean, that's one of the dirtiest plays I remember in a long time,” Blueger said. “Obviously, my reaction wasn't great there. But it was just a quick reaction when I saw that right in front of my face. You know, Forby was down and he was defenceless, and (Trenin) just pounded him like that. I mean, you hate to see that.
“I can't even remember seeing that. Usually guys let up, you know, when another guy's defenceless. So, yeah, very dirty.”
“I don't know what he was doing with the circus act after getting kicked out,” Hughes said of Trenin’s curl back to the Canucks bench as he was being escorted off the ice. “I think, obviously, there's got to be a level of respect.”
Outside of that, the game was sort of a microcosm of the Canucks’ season. They had great goaltending, had a lead, blew a lead, couldn’t muster much offense, and then lost it in OT. Minny is fighting for their playoff life, and the Canucks just couldn’t match that level of compete on the night. Even still, a loss doesn’t feel great.
“You're competing,” Blueger said. “It's a way different feeling to win than to lose. It kind of ruins your mood. You know, we've had quite a few losses, and overtime hasn't been great for us. So yeah, just an overwhelming feeling of disappointment.”
“It's obviously a team fighting for their lives,” DeBrusk said. “And, you know, they showed character, they showed heart. They did what they had to do to get back in the game. I thought that we didn't really generate much towards the second half. And, you know, kind of the story of our year: we get it to overtime and just don't find that extra one.”
The Canucks are 6-12 this season in games decided in overtime. The Wild are 8-4. If those success rates were reversed, Vancouver would be three points ahead of Minnesota in the standings instead of seven points behind. Their inability to win in OT is one thing to point at that submarined their season.
But, such is. The Canucks close out the season with games Monday against the Sharks and Wednesday against Vegas.
As well, with some injury updates: Elias Pettersson is going to be out for the season, as well as Chytil and Aman.
“Probably going to shut Petey down. He’s getting better, but at this point, I’d rather (have) him just try to get back stronger,” Tocchet said.
“It’s progressing, but not at the pace we want. So why play him? That’s kind of where we’re at.”
Tocc basically said the same of Chytil and Aman. Progressing, but no point bringing them back now.
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
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