Lightning 4, Canucks 1: Plenty of push but defending defines losing streak

Article content

When you have the horses, it can be hard to pull on the reins.

Article content

With a Vancouver Canucks’ priority on pushing the pace, being more persistent on odd-man rushes, having a higher conversion rate and playing through the opposition, a forward focus is understandable. They have the horses.

However, a lack of positioning and defending have played a prominent role in a surprising three-game losing streak to start this NHL season.

In a 3-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday to open a tough four-game road trip, there was simply too much time and space for the hosts to gain position and convert at the most opportune times. It overshadowed a game effort by Arturs Silovs to keep his club within striking range and a second period where the Canucks had more jump and carried the play.

The fine line between winning and losing is often determined by mistakes — especially in your own zone. It’s why the Canucks didn’t lose three straight last season until Game No. 58, a 3-1 setback at Denver on Feb. 20 because camp and the pre-season were about positioning. However, no matter the prep, if you’re not ready at puck drop it can be a long night in Tampa Bay.

Article content

“We weren’t ready to play the first period,” said Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet. “I know it was only 1-0, but I don’t think we won a battle. We had some chances in the second and third, but you can’t give a team like that a two-goal lead. We have to start winning some battles. There are pockets of our game I like but we need guys to dig in a bit.

“We’re in the corners with the ends of our sticks and it’s been happening for a couple of games now. We have to make sure we get grittier. Sometimes, there’s a rebound and we’re on the wrong side. We’re losing our focus.”

Here’s what we learned as Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Anthony Cirelli and Brandon Hagel scored for the Lightning while Conor Garland replied on a third-period power play for the Canucks, who were outshot 29-27:

Article content

Article content

Finding their legs, can’t find net

Sometimes, you leave your legs on the charter, especially after a long flight.

And sometimes, you find them just in time, although two days in Tampa Bay before playing is kind of a moot excuse. Still, it takes quite the penalty-kill effort to keep the Lightning, who had the top-rated power play last season, from converting on four chances. But they got an early lead and the Canucks were chasing.

“We just didn’t come out on time, which is unacceptable on the first game of a road trip and put ourselves behind the 8-ball,” said Garland, who had four shots and nine attempts. “We should have had one (goal) late in the second and that would have made it 2-1 and that’s a big difference against a team like that.

Article content

“We just have to get better, tighten some things up as a group and we’ll be fine.”

The Canucks looked sluggish and hesitant in the first period. They were being outshot 8-1 early and fell behind before four minutes elapsed. However, with Silovs often at his acrobatic best, it kept the deficit from growing before the visitors finally gained traction.

And that was the big takeaway on a night where the Canucks couldn’t close the gap but didn’t quit. Their only goal came after Brock Boeser drove to the net and established position for a redirect before Garland banged home a loose puck in the crease.

It was a just reward for the push, but a four-minute high-sticking penalty to Jake DeBrusk ate up conversion time in the final 20 minutes. And with Silovs pulled late for an extra attacker, it was a hot J.T. Miller shot that was snagged by Andrei Vasilevskiy before Hagel found the net to end it.

Article content

The Canucks had a series of superlative scoring chances in the second period that started when Miller went hard to net and fired a backhander up high. Rookie Aatu Raty was then sprung on a breakaway but lost the handle before Danton Heinen put a power play deflection over the net.

Elias Pettersson held off a defender as he wheeled around the net and nearly converted a wraparound attempt. Garland would drive to the paint and show some patience before ringing a shot off the post. Boeser was then foiled on a deft redirect before Quinn Hughes wheeled his way to also strike iron as the Canucks held a 10-5 shot advantage in the frame.

Silovs keeps them in fight

When the lanky Latvian simply shrugged and said he had a “few things to clean up” after surrendering an uncustomary six goals in the season-opening setback, it was so Silovs. Always cool. Never rattled.

Article content

It was his way of keeping everything in perspective and not allowing an outing where he had trouble tracking pucks get to him or concern the coaching staff. In the ebb and flow of any season, there are nights to forget and remember what got you to The Show.

And rather than let anything possibly fester, Tocchet made sure Silovs got the net again after Kevin Lankinen got the nod for the second game. It didn’t take long for the faith to be rewarded. The Lightning stormed his net and of the 11 shots Silovs faced in the opening period, a number were Grade A chances that required being calm, square to pucks and even some acrobatics.

There was a quick post-to-post move to deny Point on a cross-ice feee from Jake Guentzel. There was a sharp left-pad save off Cirelli and Cirque du Soleil acrobatics to get his blocker on a hot shot to put the puck over the net. It forced the Canucks to ice the puck as they were being outshot 8-1.

Article content

Silovs was finally beaten on a play that started with Noah Juulsen losing an edge in his own zone. It allowed an open Kucherov to bury a cross-ice feed. The Bolts then easily gained the zone in the second period, and Guentzel stopped up down low to spot Point in faceoff dot. He quickly wired one far side on Silovs for 2-0 lead as Tampa Bay went up 16-9 in shots.

The killer was Cirelli gaining position on Tyler Myers down low and his second whack at the puck found the twine for a three-goal cushion in opening minute of the third period.

“He was fine,” said Tocchet. “I don’t know if I like the second goal (Point) and I’m going to have to take a look at that one.”

Kucherov knows when to shine

Remember the All-Star Weekend skills competition in Toronto?

Article content

Kucherov slowly went through the motions and had that look of total disinterest, like he preferred to be laying on a beach. But that’s the thing with the Lightning winger. When the spirit moves him and the game matters, he delivers. He would go on to lead the league in scoring with 144 points (44-100).

A year ago against the Canucks on home ice, Kucherov struck twice in short order to snap a 2-2 draws en route to a 4-3 victory. On Tuesday, he had five shots and 11 attempts.

bkuzma@postmedia.com

Article content