Despite outshooting the Rangers 39-12, and having a high-danger scoring chance edge of 16-3, the Canucks came out on the wrong side of the scoreline in a 5-3 loss Saturday afternoon. It seemed the Canucks did everything they could to generate opportunities last night, but the puck luck was decidedly against them – as evident in New York’s 4 goal on 6 shots third period. Add on top of that injuries to Pettersson and Hoglander that will likely keep them out at least Monday’s game, and it was a pretty bad day for the team. The hill they have to climb just got longer and steeper. If you missed the game and want to see:
“That's just how hockey is sometimes: it's cruel,” DeBrusk said.
Yup. In a game the Canucks deserved to win, a game they really dominated for one of the few times this season… it just didn’t break for them. In what has been a crazy adversity-filled year, it felt like a very fitting reunion with JT Miller. The Canucks are still in this playoff race, but despite their best efforts (and the Herculean Hughes), it seems to be slipping away from them. The boys won’t see it that way, not until it’s over though. They’ll just focus on the next one.
“Yeah, I mean, it's one of those freaky games that we deserved to win and we didn't,” Lankinen said after surrendering four goals in 11 shots. “Sometimes hockey is like that. Unfortunately, you don't always get what you deserve. But you've just got to keep building.”
“The one off the skate's really, really lucky,” Hughes said. “He just chucks one in front. (But) I mean, I've done that plenty of times. Good play. Throw it to the net (and) you don't know what's going to happen.
“I thought we kind of shot ourselves in the foot at the end, which is too bad because we probably played one of our better games that we've played all year. We've got guys stepping up, we've got guys playing with heart, so can't really complain too much about any of that. But it's hockey.”
Tocc was pleased with the resolve – especially losing two players from their top line – but not so happy with the goals the boys surrendered.
“Obviously, the couple of rush goals, we don't like,” Tocchet said. “Got to protect the guts of the ice. A couple of mistakes from a couple of guys. But like I said, you know, we played a good game. When you lose your top centreman (Pettersson) and Hoggy, and then, you know, a couple of guys are banged up, I thought we hung in there pretty good. I'm proud of the team.
“We deserve a lot better.”
There were a couple glaring mistakes on coverages that let the Rangers take the game. Joshua owned up to his after the loss.
“Yeah, that was my guy,” Joshua said. “I just left him. That was a big mistake and it cost us in the end.”
Apparently Lankinen was maybe a little under the weather, and Petey re-injured or aggravated an arm injury… there’s just been a lot of adversity this year the team has had to continually deal with. It feels like last year and this year are just mirror opposites. Tocc was asked about it after the game.
“I looked at Footy (assistant coach Adam Foote) when Petey couldn't go. . . like is anything else going to happen? It's a test for all of us. You know, it's adversity and you've got to learn from this stuff. It makes you better in the long run. Whether it's bad luck or whatever, it's something that you can learn from.”
Time is running out for the team to learn from it this year. Maybe we’ll see a massive rebound next year?
A win on Monday against the Devils would be a good start to get things on track. We’ll see who the Canucks recall from Abby shortly.
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