Flames 4, Canucks 3 (OT): Theatre of the bizarre sequence stole the show – The Province

Article content

The casual player attire made another pre-game appearance. So did the work boots.

The obvious question was which one would serve as the narrative Monday at Rogers Arena.

Would it be the work boots as the Vancouver Canucks tried to string consecutive victories together after a six-game losing streak? Or, would too much casual play ruin their day?

The former gave way to the latter in stunning fashion against the Calgary Flames.

And while Brock Boeser forced overtime with a short-handed goal as Thatcher Demko was pulled with 31 seconds remaining in regulation time, it took the Flames just 23 seconds to settle it all when Johnny Gaudreau connected in the extra session for a 4-3 victory.

“It shows that we have no quit to pull the goalie and get one,” Boeser said of his 11th goal of the season. “But we obviously made some mistakes. We don’t make those and we win the game. We have some small details we have to fix.”

Article content

After the Canucks built an impressive 2-0 lead in the opening 15 minutes, three great goal gaffes swung momentum like a pendulum. And it wasn’t how the visitors erased a two-goal deficit, it was how the Canucks put opportunities to get back in the game on a platter.

The Canucks had their chances in the final period. Jake Virtanen had a glorious chance on a drive to the net. So did Nils Hoglander, who had a team high five shots and eight attempts, and J.T. Miller nearly converted a dash off the wing. And there was a crucial power play that didn’t muster a shot.

In the end, it was another lesson in a season gone sideways by mounting pressure.

“There were a couple of plays our guys would like to have back,” said Canucks coach Travis Green. “But you can say that in a lot of games and I do like how we pushed in the third and got a late goal. We talked about not complicating the game after the second period and the temperature of the game and the kind of game it was.

“It was gritty and a bit of a greasy game and you had to fight for space. We wanted to get pucks behind them and recovering them and getting shots. There were a lot of parts of our game that I liked, but there were a few plays we’d like back.”

Here’s what we learned as the Canucks fell to 7-11-1 but managed a point to try to remain in playoff position contention:

THEATRE OF BIZARRE

It’s hard to know where to start.

First, it was a sloppy sequence and an untouched Milan Lucic converting from the slot with 24.3 seconds left in the opening period. Virtanen failed to win a sideboards battle to get the puck out of the defensive zone. Rasmus Andersson was then allowed to cruise behind the net to spot an open Lucic.

Article content

Then, it was Bo Horvat speeding away and about to set up a 3-on-1 scoring opportunity. However, the captain’s cross-ice pass at the opposition blue line lacked snap. The Flames pounced and countered on a 3-on-1 with Elias Lindholm going short side on Demko midway through the second period.

“We shouldn’t have gone to overtime in the first place,” lamented Horvat. “We made, and including myself, a bad giveaway and it’s unfortunate and you’ve just got to move on. It was just a pass that should have been harder. There was just miscommunication between Huggy (Quinn Hughes) and me and ultimately, I had to move it over to him quicker.

Article content

“Things happen fast in this game and it’s one of those plays I should have made and they capitalized. I thought we carried the play the majority of the game but we have to tighten up even more. We’re going in the right direction, but we have to be that touch better.”

It then got worse.

Less than five minutes later, Demko played the puck to Nate Schmidt behind the net. His exit strategy was to put the puck up the gut and it struck Demko and deflected in off the sprawling stopper. It was the third stunning goal against of the season involving Schmidt and the dismay was etched on his face.

“I was trying to make a quick breakout pass to him,” recalled Demko. “I tried to get back in the net and didn’t really see what happened too much. Schmidty was just trying to make a play and it just took a weird bounce or something. An unlucky goal.”

PEARSON DAILY DOUBLE

Tanner Pearson has often been lauded as a smart left winger, who has been around long enough to know exactly where to go in the offensive zone.

And when you’re trying to get a puck past Jacob Markstrom, the best plan is to either get the former Canucks stopper moving from side to side or to take away his eyes. Pearson did both to open scoring.

When Quinn Hughes let a point shot go early in the first period, Pearson not only positioned himself to screen the goalie as he moved across the slot, he got his stick up and deflected the shot down and past Markstrom.

Article content

It was Pearson’s fifth goal of the season and a subtle reminder by the pending unrestricted free agent that he wants to re-sign here. And knowing the Canucks are likely to face Markstrom again on Wednesday in Calgary, they have to make it tougher on him.

“It’s been a topic of conversation through this series,” said Pearson. “He’s a pretty big guy and can see around you or over top of you if he wants to. We got a lot of pucks and bodies to the net last game (Saturday) and we definitely have to do that again.

“Sometimes, it seems like when it rains, it pours. We just have to keep working to get out of this and keep looking at the bright side. Tough bounces happen. That’s hockey. It’s what you do after to get out of it.”

POWER PLAY GOOD, BAD

When you’re presented with five first-period power plays — including a 5-on-3 for 54 seconds — it speaks to frustration on the part of the opposition to contain your speed and drive.

It can also drive you crazy if chances slip away, but the first unit needed just 21 seconds on the two-man advantage to make two crisp passes and one quick release. Miller spotted Boeser untouched below the goal-line and he fed Horvat for a two-goal advantage.

However, the Canucks would go just 1-for-7 on the power play with just five shots. For all the elements that are there on the first unit — speed, passing and laser-like shooting — there’s simply not enough conversion. The Canucks were fourth overall last season. They were 21st entering Monday and falling.

Article content

“I didn’t think they were very good tonight,” said Green. “I just didn’t think they were sharp. Their passing wasn’t sharp and they were on the outside. And when you get in miniseries’ like this, the other team does make adjustments, but out power play could have been better.

“You’re not always going to score, but sometimes momentum is gained and lost with a power play. We expect a lot from those guys and there have been nights where they haven’t scored and I liked what I saw. Tonight, even though they got the 5-on-3, it could have been better.”

Said Horvat: “We’re just a little frustrated and we’ve got to get back to how we know we can play. It’s simplifying it a bit and it’s not like we’re not getting chances. It’s a matter of burying them when they’re there and we’re a little shaky right now. We have to sharpen up.”

DEFENCE DOESN’T REST

Green likes the symmetry in his latest blue-line pairings and he’s got to like how they’re exiting their own zone better and getting involved in the offensive game.

On the opening goal, Tyler Myers and Hughes moved smartly into position to start the scoring sequence on Pearson’s goal. They drew assists as the Canucks’ back end became the fist club to hit and surpass the 40-point mark this season. Myers added another on the tying goal and they now have 42 points (6-36) and Hughes continues to lead all blueliners with 19 points (2-17).

bkuzma@postmedia.com
twitter.com/benkuzma

NEXT GAME

Wednesday

Calgary Flames vs. Vancouver Canucks

7 p.m., Scotiabank Saddledome. TV: Sportsnet Pacific; Radio: Sportsnet 650 AM