By Joel Smart (The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: February 8, 2012
The Canucks have been remarkably fortunate over the last couple of weeks that their goaltenders have managed to avoid falling into the same slump that the rest of the team has. It’s been pretty hard to watch some of the last Canucks games, as the team seems almost lackadaisical for two-thirds of each game. Not only are they allowing horrendous odd-man rushes that require acrobatic saves, but they’re failing to provide any kind of pushback. Yet, thanks to the spot-on performances of both Canuck goaltenders, the team has been managing to still take away points. As frustrating as it must be for Vancouver fans, some solace must be taken in knowing how much more irritating it must be for those from the teams trying to catch up to the Canucks.
The recent against-the-grain nooner win in Colorado marked the seventh game to go to overtime in nine games, the fourth in a row. Of the seven, the Canucks won five – pretty good considering they’ve only lost five games that have gone past regulation all year. In the 10 games stretching back from that win against the Avs, only two teams in the West earned more points – the Detroit Red Wings with 17 points to the Canucks’ 14, and the Nashville Predators with 16 points. Directly below Vancouver in the standings, the San Jose Sharks managed 11 points in that span. It’s nice to know that despite the recent struggles with the Canucks play, they’ve actually been making ground on the competition.
However, there is a possible downside to the ability of the Canucks to keep winning through a slump – the entrenching of bad habits. When you know you can get away with something, it can be difficult to maintain the highest level of effort. You get lazy. The longer you’re allowed to be lazy, the harder it is break out of it, when things stop working out. When the league is this competitive, it wouldn’t take long to suffer the consequences.
The Canucks have such a good team this year; it would be such a shame if their recent laissez-faire attitudes got in the way of the success they could have. Yet, I suspect that with the February 27 NHL Trade Deadline quickly approaching, players may feel the sudden urge to prove their worth to Gillis in upcoming games. That said, the same motivations from players on opposing teams may lead to the opposite effect.
Though the Canucks are currently over 10 points up on each of their divisional rivals, three of their next four games are divisional games – starting with Minnesota on Thursday, February 9, followed by a Saturday bout with Calgary, and finishing with a heated Colorado rematch on Wednesday, February 15.
Ensuring we stay ahead in our Northwest division will provide the Canucks with an invaluable safety net down the stretch, considering the powerhouse that is the Central division this year – a division that has not only Detroit and Chicago, but the suddenly very dangerous Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues. If the Canucks can stay ahead in their division they will be guaranteed at least a top three finish in the West after the regular season. To say Vancouver would benefit from putting even more distance between them and the rest of their division is an understatement. So, while it’s hardly been the kind of slump to write angry letters to your local politicians about, there’s no better time for the Canucks to start firing on all cylinders again. Twin powers, activate!
