As the Vancouver Canucks start their three-game junket in California this weekend, they91裸聊视频檒l be looking for something.
Their game.
A 6-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils Wednesday night at Rogers Arena left the Canucks searching for answers heading into Saturday night91裸聊视频檚 contest in San Jose.
You had a sense that this was coming. Or at least this agent did.
The club had picked up points in five straight games yet the message from head coach Rick Tocchet and team leaders such as J.T. Miller throughout was that they had yet to play a full 60 minutes in which the so-called 91裸聊视频榯eam staples91裸聊视频� were completely adhered to.
At the morning skate prior to the Devils game, we started to look into this potential story but there was a part of me wondering if the Canucks could play a complete game that night and thus quash this narrative.
They didn91裸聊视频檛. They made it a full-blown lead for many in the media.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 about urgency. We make it way too easy on the other team. There91裸聊视频檚 not enough (expletive) you in our game. We haven91裸聊视频檛 played 60 minutes to our identity yet this year. We need to play harder and use your head when it91裸聊视频檚 time to use your head. Play like you want to win the game 91裸聊视频� not hopefully win the game,91裸聊视频� said an angry Miller afterwards.
91裸聊视频淚t was embarrassing. Even through some of the wins the last couple of weeks, there are some things within our game right now that we have to clean up. We have to find our identity,91裸聊视频� said Tyler Myers.
The Canucks had been warned by Tocchet and the coaching staff that they were straying away from the principles that define that identity and that made them a 109-point team last season.
91裸聊视频淭hey all know. It91裸聊视频檚 been the message loud and clear not just from me, but from other coaches and other players. There's no false sense of security here. We know that we have to play better, but we also have to give them credit as we91裸聊视频檝e been getting points. You have to try and find the sweet spot (with the message),91裸聊视频� said Tocchet after the game day skate on Wednesday.
The Canucks are doing some good things with only two regulation losses in nine games but their current standard of play isn91裸聊视频檛 sustainable for long-term success.
Perhaps the biggest concern is how vulnerable the Canucks were off the rush not only against New Jersey but also during Monday91裸聊视频檚 4-3 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Hurricanes and Devils scored seven of their combined ten goals off the rush and the Canucks structure has become an issue for Tocchet.
91裸聊视频淥ur odd-man rush coverage was probably the worst I91裸聊视频檝e ever seen since I91裸聊视频檝e been here. It reminded me of when I took over the team 91裸聊视频� that91裸聊视频檚 how bad it was tonight. We were out of sorts,91裸聊视频� Tocchet said after the Devils game.
As Miller pointed out during our Wednesday morning session, it all starts with getting back to the basics.
91裸聊视频淲e've been together now for two months and talking about the same thing on a day-to-day basis. A lot of times with us, it's about competing, going through people, not giving up the guts of the ice and not swinging away in the D-zone. That91裸聊视频檚 the stuff you shouldn't talk about. You91裸聊视频檝e been taught that since you were a kid,91裸聊视频� explained Miller.
"For us, it's just executing on our habits and then doing them every day. Then you don't have to think about it because it91裸聊视频檚 part of the way you play. Right now, we're not there yet. There's a reason we have those staples and pillars as a team. They work and they're sustainable. Over the course of the season, if you do stick to them more times than not, you're going to win. We should be doing them all the time. We shouldn91裸聊视频檛 have to talk about them. They should just become part of the DNA of the team."
It might be a bit of a reach to call this a turning point in the season but an argument can be made that it is. If the message wasn91裸聊视频檛 taken seriously prior to the loss against the Devils, it should now.
Hopefully the Canucks can get back to playing the disciplined hockey that they are capable of and this game will be looked at as a blip 91裸聊视频� the game in which the team realized that they were straying too far from what made them successful last year.
Or, as many have pointed out, the loss against the Devils could be the canary in the coal mine.
Saturday in San Jose, we start getting some answers.
OVERTIME
* On the long list of what the Canucks need to correct is the power play, which has gone 3 for 25 since scoring two goals in the season-opening 6-5 loss to the Calgary Flames. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e not shooting when we are supposed to shoot and we91裸聊视频檙e shooting when we don91裸聊视频檛 need to. We are so caught in between. We are slowing it down91裸聊视频t91裸聊视频檚 a frustrating thing right now,91裸聊视频� said Tocchet.
* Former Canucks Matt Cooke and Derek Dorsett took in the game from the alumni suite. The pair were early arrivals in Vancouver for the Canucks for Autism Pro Am Hockey Tournament that will take place at the North Surrey Sport & Ice Complex this weekend. Former Canucks Ryan Kesler, Eddie Lack, Brad May, Chris Higgins, Mason Raymond, Derek Roy, Cliff Ronning, Geoff Courtnall, Kirk McLean and Dave Babych are all scheduled to participate.
* The Devils were scheduled to fly out of Vancouver to Calgary immediately following the game but a mechanical issue with their charter aircraft necessitated an overnight stay. With the Canucks having an off-day Thursday, the Devils decided to practice in Vancouver before departing for Calgary. The Devils play the Flames on Friday.
* Following the game in San Jose, Vancouver travels to Anaheim for a game on Tuesday against the Ducks. They finish their road trip with a game in Los Angeles against the Kings on Thursday before returning home to open up a six-game home stand beginning with Edmonton on Saturday, November 9th.
Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob 91裸聊视频渢he Moj91裸聊视频� Marjanovich writes twice weekly for Black Press Media.
