Lightning 4, Canucks 2: The best in the league are too strong for the rushing visitors

article content

This road trip for the Vancouver Canucks was billed as one that would reveal where they were as a hockey team.

article content

While they may be a hard-working bunch with some interesting talent, they are far from a contender.

On Thursday, the Canucks lost 4-2 to the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.

Similar to Tuesday’s effort at Florida, their hosts were slightly better and in the NHL, that separates the contenders from the pretenders.

Even in strength, the Canucks outshot the Lightning, a sign of a team that has life. Even better, they limited the high-octane lighting to just 21 shots on goal at night.

But the power play, which has been so strong since Bruce Boudreau took office, has had a power outage on this road trip. They are scoreless in seven attempts and managed just one shot on target in their four power play opportunities on Thursday.

article content

The Lighting got goals from Steven Stamkos, Anthony Cirelli and Boris Katchouk, the latter in a 2-0 in the third period, plus an empty net from Brayden Point, while the Canucks’ only scorer came from Matthew Highmore.

This is what we learned…

Wheelhouse

Stamkos’ favorite spot on the power play was exactly where he scored the first goal of the game from.

Set up near the faceoff spot to the shooter’s left, he pulled a perfect cross from Victor Hedman past Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko.

He is truly one of the greats of the age. It was his 173rd career power play goal, tying him for 30th all time with Ray Bourque and Jean Béliveau.

Had it not been for his injuries, he would surely have scored even more.

And it’s a real shame he’s never played in the Olympics and may never make it.

article content

He was too young to make the 2010 stacked team, missed the 2014 games due to a broken leg, and in 2018, no NHL players went to the Olympics.

And with NHL players unable to make it to next spring’s games due to the pandemic, it’s possible his door may be closing at age 31.

Vasilevsky and the Venerable Vezina

There’s a reason the Lightning goalie is a perennial contender for the Vezina Trophy as the best goalie in the league, even when playing in the two-time Stanley Cup champions: He’s always excellent at all times.

No moment defined his solid nature better than the save he made off Bo Horvat midway through the second, when a Tampa fumble landed on the Canucks captain’s post as he crossed the slot.

In the one against Vasilevsky he tried to take the corner over the shoulder of the Tampa goalkeeper but found no space.

article content

He made another big save in the third period, this one on Elias Pettersson, who had a chance in seconds after play restarted following Katchouk’s game-winning goal.

Vasilevsky, by the way, sports the second-best winning percentage of any goaltender to make 200-plus career starts in NHL history: a tidy 68.8 percent.

Only Hall of Famer Ken Dryden, who supported the legendary Flying Frenchmen Montreal Canadiens in the 1970s, won with a better pace.

Not all shots are created equal

The Canucks have been throwing shots, but their efforts in the first period were a reminder that not all shots are created equal: Vancouver outscored their hosts 13-8, but according to shot-tracking website Natural Stat Trick, Tampa Bay he had four high-danger scoring opportunities against just two for the Canucks. (High-danger possibilities are shots or shot attempts made from within a couple of feet of the box.)

article content

Tampa coming out on top with a lead was no surprise as they have outscored opponents 37-26 in the first 20 minutes so far this season. The Canucks have also been outscored 21-31 in the first period.

The rest of the way, the Lightning slowed the game down, controlling the game in their favor and the Canucks managed just 13 total shots over the last two periods.

depth targets

Boudreau has sung the praises of his fourth row before and seeing the Motte-Juho Lammikko-Highmore trio count for the third game in a row would have made his eyes shine.

Both the coach and his boss, president of hockey operations, have openly challenged their deep forwards to do more. And these three strikers, who before Jim Benning traded for Thomas Vanek, Olli Juolevi and Adam Gaudette, have answered the call.

article content

Motte’s goal, an ingenious effort between his legs, brought his team to life.

But a fourth line also needs to be reliable and give up a goal as they did in the closing of the first, with Cirelli loose in the slot, it will not have warmed the coach’s heart.

star wink

Prior to the game, the NHL announced Thatcher Demko was one of two goaltenders on the Pacific Division All-Star team for the February 4-5 All-Star weekend in Las Vegas.

JT Miller is in an online fan vote for the final spot on the Pacific Division team, which wraps up Monday.

NEXT GAME