Bogus icing call costs Canucks in loss to Capitals
Once again, NHL officials affected the outcome for the Vancouver Canucks.
Brock Boeser scored on the Canucks’ first shot of the game, but that was the only goal Vancouver would score. The Washington Capitals scored twice in short succession during the second period, and that was enough for them to hold on for a 2-1 win.
The first Capitals goal came directly after a brutal icing call against the Canucks.
Phil Di Giuseppe was beating out Capitals defenceman Alexander Alexeyev to the puck, however the linesman blew it dead for icing.
#How? pic.twitter.com/SvKnVVncth
— Travis (@007RAV15) March 17, 2024
It was a call so bad, Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet told reporters post-game that the linesman apologized to him.
Tocchet says the linesman apologized for the icing call, before the third period #Canucks
— Rob Williams (@RobTheHockeyGuy) March 17, 2024
“He came and apologized,” Tocchet said.” That happens.”
Unfortunately, his apology didn’t change the outcome. Tom Wilson scored on the next shift,Ā while Alex Ovechkin potted the game-winner less than two minutes later.
However, Tocchet wasn’t blaming the officiating for the loss.
“We played way too much on the outside tonight.”
Ovechkin’s game-winning goal was his sixth goal in his last four games against the Canucks. He now has 841 career goals, and is 53 goals back of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal record.
His five career game-winning goals against the Canucks are the most he has against any Western Conference team.
You could argue that the Canucks deserved to be trailing after two periods. They barely threatened in the middle frame, got outshot 14-5 and were outscored 2-0.
On the Ovechkin goal, you could argue that every single Canuck on the ice was scrambling out of position, including Casey DeSmith.
Ovi gives the Caps the lead š¦ pic.twitter.com/UiFvx7btcT
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 17, 2024
The Canucks did push harder in the third period, but they were unable to beat Capitals netminder Charlie Lindgren.
Elias Lindholm was the player who came closest to tying it for the Canucks.
#ALLCAPS Lapierre saved us here pic.twitter.com/1fgO8wyK7V
— Capitals Replays (@capsreplays) March 17, 2024
Vancouver continues their homestand on Tuesday night against the Buffalo Sabres.
Pettersson “finding his way” says Canucks coach
Elias Pettersson has rebounded slightly from a slump following the All-Star break.
However, his numbers since that break aren’t very Pettersson-like.
In his last 19 games, Pettersson has four goals and 15 points.Ā That’s a 17-goal, 64-point pace over a full-season.
It’s a far cry from the 45-goal, 107-point pace he was on before the end of January.
“He’s struggle a little bit” Tocchet said when asked about Pettersson’s play of late. “He’s just trying to find his way and he’s trying to push through it.”
He knows we need more from him. He knows it. He’s gotta work hard, put in the work every day, and continue to break through.”
Tocchet tossed the lines into a blender with the whole team struggling. Pettersson, who’s certainly used to playing with a plethora of different linemates, ended up with Vasily Podkolzin and Sam Lafferty later in the contest.
While Pettersson hasn’t been at his best, the whole team has struggled to score since the All-Star break. Pettersson is second on the team in points during that span, second only to J.T. Miller, while the Canucks are 20th overall in goals since then as well.
They are still third overall in goals this season though. Only the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche have scored more than the Canucks.
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