Thursday January 23: Nashville Predators 2 - Vancouver Canucks 1
After squeaking out wins against the cellar-dwelling Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers, the Nashville Predators (who sat 10 points below them in the standings) were too much for the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night. Here are your highlights:
The Preds came into the game on a bit of a hot streak. Since trading for Devan Dubnyk last week, they'd won three of their last four, but the wins all came with incumbent Carter Hutton in net. Sure enough, it would be Hutton who got the start against the Canucks—and performed very well.
Nashville looks like it could be trying to shift to a more offensive style of game with their solid scoring in recent outings and the acquisition of Michael Del Zotto. On Thursday, however, we saw an old-school Preds matchup—a 2-1 game that was decided on a late power play goal in the third period.
Mike Sullivan's post-game presser is an interesting view. He goes into more detail in places than Tortorella typically would, but also sounds many of the same notes. I'm not sure it matters much whether Torts has contact with the team during his suspension—I think he and Sully are basically the same person in two different bodies.
What do you make of Sullivan's explanation of the power play situation with Dan Hamhuis?
Hamhuis' inability to bury any of his chances on the four-minute man advantage in the first period may have been the difference in the game. After the Preds traded away their top penalty-killing defenseman, Kevin Klein, the Canucks were moving the puck around much better than we've seen for most of the season. Hamhuis is not exactly known for his scoring prowess; the fact that he couldn't finesse a single puck past Hutton isn't going to change that perception anytime soon.
All told, Vancouver's power play went 0-for-5 on the night. That opening double-minor was frustrating because they couldn't finish; the last opportunity when the team was down a goal with 4:43 to go was even worse when they couldn't get started.
It's getting to the point where the opposition's best strategy for defending a third-period lead against Vancouver is to take a penalty and let the Canucks frustrate themselves with their power-play ineptitude.
The power-play woes have been with us all season—and longer, really. But the prized penalty-kill let Vancouver down on Thursday, as it has in recent games. Even if you discount the six power-play goals against by Anaheim last week, the PK has been giving up a goal almost every game recently. That can't happen when the games are so close.
Last night, it was the difference. Vancouver took a 1-0 lead into the third period, but Craig Smith tied it early. Nick Spaling scored the winner off a Seth Jones shot from the blue line in the center of the zone with 7:22 remaining. Such a simple play yields the game-winner. Why can't the Canucks do that?
Ryan Stanton returned from his ankle injury on Thursday and played a solid game. He finished with 11:32 of ice time, but was on the ice for Nashville's tying goal—though the breakdown in the coverage fell on Kevin Bieksa's shoulders.
I thought Stanton was key to Vancouver's only goal. Midway through the second period, he laid a crunching hit on Gabriel Bourque behind the Vancouver net—making me realize how rarely we see the Canucks make plays like that these days. The hit lifted the energy, in the crowd and on the ice. Just over 30 seconds later, Chris Higgins put the puck in the net. It was a great example of how physical play can lead to good results.
That being said, I really thought the Canucks missed Yannick Weber on the power play last night. He was scratched for Stanton; I doubt we'll see him draw back in anytime soon.
Prospal Prospects:
I remember some discussion on the message boards early in the season about whether Vinny Prospal would be a good fit with the Canucks.
Credit where it's due—Prospal has joined up with the Utica Comets and the Canucks are looking to sign him to a professional tryout contract.
The left wing turns 39 on February 17, but had 30 points in 48 games last year for the Columbus Blue Jackets—including four power-play goals. Here's the scouting report from Aaron Portzline, who covers the Blue Jackets:
@sportsnetmurph Hey, Dan. Can't skate, but he never could. Knows where to stand. Passionate, smart player. Has a love/hate thing w Torts.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) January 24, 2014Prospal played for Torts in Tampa Bay, but had moved on before they won the Cup in 2004. Click here for the lowdown on what Portzline means by "love/hate," from Pass It to Bulis.
Though it's a no-risk move that doesn't require the Canucks to sacrifice any assets, it really worries me that Vinny Prospal is being looked upon as the Canucks' potential offensive saviour. I think it also means that we won't see Mike Santorelli back in the lineup for a long time.
Let's keep the poll question dead simple: