It seems so long ago that the Vancouver Canucks started the 2016-17 season 4-0-1. After matching their best start in franchise history, the Canucks have been living in a nightmare since Oct. 20.
NHL scores 2016: The Canucks death spiral continues with no end in sight
Vancouver is bad, and firing their coach won’t fix it.
Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
Eight straight regulation losses for the Canucks. Nine total with their shootout loss in Los Angeles. Vancouver scored just 12 goals in that span, surprisingly the second least in front of Colorado’s eight. The Canucks have been shutout four times in the last nine games, too.
If those facts aren’t doing it for you, let’s summarize it with a simple image, shall we?
Now I don’t want to pile onto the Canucks here, but, it’s bad. Like, fire your coach now and attempt to salvage your season bad. Who knows if the Canucks management will go down that road, but it’s clear that whatever Vancouver is doing right now is not working.
Even if the Canucks fire third-year head coach Willie Desjardins, Vancouver’s troubles really stem from the top. A head coaching change is needed, but the problems are only beginning for the Canucks.
And that list of Jim Benning’s grievances isn’t even updated! Emerson Etem is back with the Ducks. Brandon Prust is currently unsigned after a PTO with the Maple Leafs. Vancouver might be able to stop the bleeding with a new head coach, but they’ve barely scratched the surface on the problems the franchise is facing.
Scores
Bruins 4, Sabres 0
Islanders 4, Canucks 2
Panthers 3, Lightning 1
* * *
* * *
Three things we learned
1. The Islanders halted a three-game losing streak
Turns out, Vancouver’s woes were just what the Islanders needed to stave off their fourth consecutive loss. It’s still not all roses in Brooklyn, as Islanders fans continue to call for the head of coach Jack Capuano. With lineup decisions like these, it’s understandable the frustrations of Islanders fans. This is a team that made the second round of the playoffs a season ago, after all.
2. Boston’s lifeless power play came to life against Buffalo
The Bruins had just six power play goals coming into Monday evening. In one 60 minute contest against the Sabres, Boston added an additional three extra-man goals to that total. The wealth was spread around as four different players scored in total for the Bruins, with Brad Marchand, David Krejci, and David Pastrnak totaling goals on the power play.
It’s not much, but definitely a start for the Bruins special teams that was succeeding at a rough 13 percent clip.
3. The Atlantic Division is above average again!
A 3-1 win for the Panthers is just their third victory in eight games, but the important decision over the Lightning has the Atlantic Division back to batting at or above .500.
Impact Moment
Reilly Smith’s unassisted tally to break a 1-1 tie for the Panthers came on a great individual effort with just 4:28 to play in the game.
Stat of the Night
The Canucks are really, really bad you guys.
See More:
