William Carrier’s second goal of the game was the first of three consecutive goals scored by the Vegas Golden Knights after falling behind by two goals to the Vancouver Canucks, resulting in a 5-4 victory for Vegas.
J.T. Miller, a winger for the Vancouver Canucks, stated a few weeks ago that it required a great deal of mental fortitude to continue taking shorthanded shifts despite the team’s dismal penalty killing.
If this were not the National Hockey League, we might expect players on the bench to say something like, “You go out there.” “Have you lost your mind? I will not travel there. You go.” “Last time I went, now it’s someone else’s turn.” “Let’s send the new guy packing. “Hey, new guy, do you want to kill a fine?”
Knowing that there are sharks in the water, who would want to go swimming? In addition, let’s grease you up with bacon fat and give you a nosebleed.
However, nothing is more mentally challenging for the Canucks than playing with the lead. They’ve been ineffective at it in part because, it appears, their minds turn to jelly when they’re ahead. In addition to their inability to make simple defensive plays – and get saves from goaltender Thatcher Demko – the Canucks appear to lack defensive resolve and appetite.
Elias Pettersson, a center, stated on Monday, “I do not know the correct response.” “We must enjoy being in those moments, and I believe we do. But I don’t know, it’s happened too frequently.”
The Canucks lost after leading by at least two goals for the seventh time in 19 games when the Vegas Golden Knights, who are much more resistant to stress and expectations, scored three goals on three shots in the middle of the third period to win 5-4 at Rogers Arena.
The Canucks have earned two points out of a possible 14 despite leading by two or more goals in five of those seven games that were decided in regulation.
During one of the most disappointing first quarters in franchise history, several things have defied logic, but Vancouver’s inability to protect multi-goal leads is almost incomprehensible at this volume.
Seven games? Perhaps over an entire season. Maybe.
During the initial six weeks? No, that does not occur.
On Monday, the Canucks (6-10-3) allowed two game-winning goals, demonstrating that they have become so adept at not winning. In case one wasn’t sufficient.
After William Carrier’s goal at 6:54, which resulted from a scramble for a rebound, and Reilly Smith’s goal at 8:57, which came just seconds after Demko’s terrible giveaway, turned a 4-2 Vancouver lead into a 4-4 tie, Mark Stone appeared to give Vegas the lead at 10:08 when he fired another rebound between the goalie’s pads.
However, the Canucks’ video challenge revealed that Oliver Ekman-shot Larsson’s hit a camera lens hood protruding through a small photo window in the glass before bouncing back towards the slot a few seconds before Mark Stone’s goal. At least to a few Canucks, the circular hood of the camera skittered across the ice as if it were a second puck.
The objective was disallowed.
Alex Pietrangelo scored from close range at 14:14 (yes, between Demko’s pads) after easily stepping in front of Brock Boeser of the Vancouver Canucks to convert Stone’s pass.
Bo Horvat, captain of the Vancouver Canucks, stated of the puck-out-of-play review, “I had no idea that was a rule that could be challenged.” “Clearly, it’s the right decision. The camera lens shouldn’t have been there, so when it hit, we all stopped playing for a moment because we had no idea what was going on. We were fortunate to receive that callback, but we should have capitalized on this opportunity.
Shots in the third period were even at 13, and the Canucks had a chance to earn a lot of credit after scoring three times in 4 12 minutes to take an unexpected 4-2 lead against the formidable Knights.
However, after Pettersson scored on his own rebound at 6:11, shortly after Horvat and Luke Schenn had scored on Vegas goaltender Logan Thompson, it took the Canucks only 43 seconds to begin surrendering their lead.
Pettersson made the best save of the third period for Vancouver when he retreated with one leg to deny Jonathan Marchessault an open-net goal on a two-on-one in the final minute. In the end, even this was irrelevant.
“It’s as if we shut it down again as soon as we got up by two,” Horvat said. “We strayed from our game and let them come to us. Obviously, they are the best team in our division and one of the best in the league for a reason. We had our foot off the gas pedal there for too long.”
Pettersson responded, “I don’t know” “I mean, guys, we all desire victory. Everyone is trying.”
Four goals must be sufficient to win a crucial game on home ice. The Canucks have lost five other games in which they scored three or more goals. Scoring is not their issue; victory is.
“You must recognize that when you receive favorable bounces and favorable outcomes, you must find ways to capitalize and keep your foot on the pedal. I believe we were too passive, and they took advantage.”
To be fair to the Canadians, they did not sit back too much. Demko, who had been doing a good job so far, had to make a save at the right time to keep a goal from being scored.