As much as it may make sense at this point for the Canucks to finish as low in the standings as possible to get a high draft pick, I just can’t bring myself to cheer for a loss.
It seems I’m not alone in that sentiment, as the atmosphere in Rogers Arena seemed surprisingly supportive and optimistic, at least from what could be seen and heard on TV. I’m sure there were some irate fans and signs with terrible puns, but I was promised “Fire Benning” and “Sell the team” chants. Instead, I heard a lot of “Go Canucks Go” chants and cheering. I mean, they weren’t super-loud because of all the echoing off empty seats, but they were there.
Fortunately for those on Team Tank, our cheers have no bearing whatsoever on the outcome of games, such as this one, which I watched.
- In some ways, this was exactly the type of game fans needed after the disastrous trade deadline. The Canucks mostly dominated, controlling the puck in the offensive zone for entire shifts at a time and creating great scoring chances, pleasing fans who want to see the Canucks play well. And they also lost, pleasing fans who want a high draft pick. Perfect game.
- In other ways, this game was a slap in the face. All five goals were scored on weird and dumb bounces, completely disconnected from the efforts and skill of the players. It was like the hockey gods were laughing at us for trying to seek meaning in a random and pointless spectacle. It was a game designed to turn hockey fans into hockey nihilists.
- With Jannik Hansen injured in the morning skate, Willie Desjardins mixed up the lines, moving Emerson Etem with the Sedins, and swapping Markus Granlund for Bo Horvat in between Sven Baertschi and Jake Virtanen. Meanwhile, lacking healthy forwards, Yannick Weber played as a winger on the fourth line. I guess it’s a good thing the Canucks didn’t trade away players for draft picks, then, or they wouldn’t have been able to ice a full lineup.
- Dan Hamhuis handled the trade deadline with as much grace as you could possibly expect, so of course the Islanders first shot of the game deflected off his stick and in. Y’know, just in case he needed something else that wasn’t in any way his fault to feel guilty about.
- The Canucks replied in the first period on the power play. Ben Hutton’s point shot took a circuitous route to Linden Vey, deflecting off three Islanders—Frans Nielsen’s shin, Travis Hamonic’s skate, Johnny Boychuk’s skate—before finally reaching Vey, who swatted it past an out-of-position Thomas Greiss. Despite three different players touching the puck between Hutton and Vey, Hutton still received an assist.
- Hutton led the Canucks in ice time, playing over 25 minutes and in all situations. I don’t want to jinx anything, but he looks like he could become a number one defenceman. All they have to do is keep playing him with Chris Tanev, who actually is the Canucks number one defenceman.
- Unfortunately, since Hutton was on the ice so much, one of the Islanders goals had to go in off his leg. When you step into the whirling maelstrom of meaningless chaos that often, something’s bound to hit you.
- But Hutton was still the big winner in this game, as Dan Murphy revealed that Hutton’s proudest moment was yelling “f*** you!” at Joe Thornton. I knew I liked that kid.
- Fights! There were fights in this game. Emerson Etem had his first fight as a Canuck, taking on Hamonic, while Derek Dorsett had his infinitieth fight as a Canuck against the much larger Matt Martin. Neither fight accomplished much besides temporarily distracting us from the cold reality of the Canucks season.
- Daniel Sedin tied the game in the third period through pure happenstance. The Sedins actually had several strong shifts in the offensive zone and the two combined for seven shots, but their lone goal came on a fluke when Daniel threw the puck on net from a bad angle and it banked in off Greiss. Full credit to Henrik: Hamonic was wheeling with the puck before Henrik picked his pocket like a guitarist sitting in a groove in order to set up Daniel.
- The Canucks should have had more goals than randomness dictated, but Greiss was outstanding, particularly his desperation saves on Daniel Sedin and Sven Baertschi. This is typically where fans would complain about the Canucks making a lousy goaltender look good, but, well, Greiss is leading the NHL in save percentage right now.
- Poor Jacob Markstrom. He played really well, but he was helpless in the hands of chance and randomness. The gamewinner didn’t even deflect off a Canucks defenceman, but the fluttering puck took a bizarre hop off the ice and beat him over the blocker. His response to the capricious whims of the hockey gods was completely understandable, throwing up his arms and looking to the sky before slamming his gaze back down to the ice in front of him, likely uttering a choice swear word or two in the process. It was basically the same thing I did on Monday at 12:30 pm.
