Hoping to help themselves in their quest to clinch a playoff berth, the Vancouver Canucks battled the Winnipeg Jets, but lost by a score of 5-4 in one of the more entertaining games of the season.
Saturday was a unique day in terms of jockeying for playoff positioning. With the Vancouver Canucks already in a solid position to secure a playoff berth, losing to the Winnipeg Jets wouldn’t really be the worst thing.
I want the Kings to miss the playoffs so the Jets beating the Canucks today isn't the end of the world.
— Coop (@1Cooop) April 4, 2015
That’s not to say winning isn’t important because this is, after all, the Western Conference and anything can happen at this point. Still, a chance to screw over the LA Kings is a good thing.
Still, the Canucks lost again and ended their last road trip of the season with a record of 2-2. And the Winnipeg Jets really aren’t that good of a team so this one was kind of depressing.
I need a SixPack…
Final score: Jets 5 – Canucks 4
Canucks goals:
- Henrik Sedin (18th goal) – Assisted by Alex Edler and Daniel Sedin
- Daniel Sedin (17th goal) – Assisted by Radim Vrbata and Dan Hamhuis
- Alex Burrows (17th goal) – Assisted by Kevin Bieksa and Luca Sbisa
- Alex Burrows (18th goal) – Assisted by Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin
Jets goals:
- Jim Slater (5th goal) – Assisted by Jiri Tlusty and Toby Enstrom
- Michael Frolik (18th goal) – Assisted by Bryan Little and Mathieu Perreault
- Lee Stempniak (13th goal) – Assisted by Mathieu Perreault and Tyler Myers
- Mark Scheifele (15th goal) – Assisted by Blake Wheeler and Jacob Trouba
- Lee Stempniak (14th goal) – Assisted by Mathieu Perreault
1. Objective: Figure Out How To Start a Game
Another game, another horrific start for the Vancouver Canucks.
jets score
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) April 4, 2015
And less than a minute later:
2-0 jets
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) April 4, 2015
No big deal right? Because if the Vancouver Canucks have proven anything this season, it’s that they are a resilient bunch and never seem to be completely out of a game.
And just like that:
THE SEDINS CAME TO PLAY. #Canucks tie the game at 2-2 right after the Jets power play expires.
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) April 4, 2015
Spotting the opposition a two goal lead and then coming back in dramatic fashion is cute and all, but the Canucks really need to start showing up for that darn opening faceoff.
Really tough to win in NHL when you're always playing from behind. Starts have been pathetic.
— Garry Valk (@garryvalk) April 4, 2015
#Canucks have given up first goal in 6 of 7 & 15 of 20
— Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) April 4, 2015
I don’t need to tell any professional athlete how the playoffs are a completely different animal than the regular season. But I feel like if the Canucks don’t figure this issue out pretty soon, they are going to be finding out how much more difficult it is to mount a comeback in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Well, unless you are playing the Toronto Maple Leafs.
It was 4-1…
2. How Did Sven Do?
Well, Sven Baertschi started his career on the Canucks with a bang:
2 posts on Baertschi's 1st shift… Kenins, Kassian, Vey and Richardson all worries about their futures…
— Mike Stefanuk (@Mike_Stefanuk) April 4, 2015
You can see Baertschi's appeal, he has the type of game breaking upside the Canucks lack.
— Satiar Shah (@SatiarShah) April 4, 2015
Sven was buzzing all through the first period and made it look like the Canucks had stolen a hidden gem buried within the caves of the Calgary Flames organization.
But then things went a little sideways when Sven thought he’d make his mark by trying to usurp Henrik Sedin as Captain Hook…
that's a bad penalty on Baertschi. Adam Pardy is no threat in that situation (or any situation for that matter)
— Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) April 4, 2015
Baertschi must be Swiss for "hooking". #Canucks
— Clay Imoo (@CanuckClay) April 4, 2015
Baertschi is turning a nice start into the kind of game that gets you sent back to Utica.
— Mark Spector (@SportsnetSpec) April 4, 2015
Yeah I don’t really agree with Ol’ Spec here (I never do), but considering the start that Baertschi had, it was a little discouraging to see him take a step back.
Hopefully Willie Desjardins will show some patience with Sven.
3. Chris Tanev on the Mic
If you were busy grabbing another beer or melting more cheese onto your plate of nachos during the second intermission, you would have missed out on this gem from Canucks TV. Chris Tanev mic’d up during the game against the Dallas Stars.
If you’ve ever wondered what Chris Tanev is like during a game, it’s pretty much exactly like you’d expect.
lol Tanev sounds half asleep when he talks. No wonder he plays like he has no pulse. #Canucks
— Omar A (@omarcanuck) April 4, 2015
I’m not really sure who thought it would be a good idea to mic up the most chill Vancouver Canuck of all-time, but it did at least confirm our impressions of Tanev as a person. Although it was great seeing him walk around the dressing room trying to pump up the guys.
Hold up…
Maybe that’s the reason the Canucks always fall behind in games! If Chris Tanev is your pump up guy, you’ve got serious problems.
The Tanev 'mic'd up' is putting me to sleep. #Canucks
— Ryan Biech (@ryanbiech) April 4, 2015
Personally, I would rather see Chris Tanev mic’d up on a first date.
I’m guessing he’s the kind of date that leads off by asking the girl (or guy) if they like cheese.
4. Lack Had a Rough Afternoon
Saturday afternoon was another letdown for Eddie Lack as he let in a couple of softies at times when the Canucks really needed him to come through for the team.
https://twitter.com/insomniapath/status/584465572211068928
Unfortunately, this will probably begin a couple of days more days worth of debating whether Lack is getting mentally tired from starting 18 out of the past 20 games.
Here another problem: Monday probably isn’t the best day to rest him as the Canucks are playing the LA Kings.
5. “BC Sucks”
File this one under “Are you freaking kidding me?!”
Fans chanting "BC SUCKS"… #karma
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) April 4, 2015
Uh…
On the bright side, the stupidity of this chant from the Winnipeg faithful did provide a moment of hilarity during an otherwise intense afternoon of hockey.
'BC sucks' chants rain down.
From people….who live in Manitoba.#Canucks pic.twitter.com/wnz3Y1K6xV
— Ryan Biech (@ryanbiech) April 4, 2015
I've passed through Manitoba. I'll just leave it at that.
— Dimitri Filipovic (@DimFilipovic) April 4, 2015
"BC sucks!" Shouted the Winnipeg Jets fan. Later he laughed to himself about it as he tunnelled home.
— Daniel Wagner (@passittobulis) April 4, 2015
6. Missed Opportunity
The Canucks began their Saturday with an outside opportunity to possibly clinching a playoff berth.
Here’s what needed to happen:
How @VanCanucks can clinch a playoff berth on Saturday… pic.twitter.com/YWbRe4TG9n
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 4, 2015
The Canucks “lost in any fashion” so there goes that dream. But take solace in this fact Canucks fans:
Look at it this way.. If LA loses tonight, and Calgary wins, the Canucks just helped in the bid to eliminate the Kings..
— Blake Price (@BlakePriceTSN) April 4, 2015