Wild 3, Canucks 2: Mistakes are costly in the tough home start setback

Article content

Travis Green was caught in the moment Tuesday.

Article content

When asked about the importance of finally playing against a Rogers Arena full house for the first time in 595 days due to coronavirus collection mandates, the Vancouver Canucks coach delivered a different but appropriate pregame pep talk for the first home game.

“There have been a lot of changes since the fans were in the building (March 10, 2020) and they have missed a lot,” he said. “No matter the game and that part, having the fans back and playing in Canada is very important.

“You cannot describe to a player or coach the Vancouver market that is so passionate. You never take it for granted. And it is important to remember that. The players get paid a lot of money and they are lucky, as are the coaches. It’s nice to see them (the fans) come back and feel the energy and the noise. “

Article content

NEXT GAME

Thursday

Philadelphia Flyers vs. Vancouver Canucks

7 pm, Rogers Arena. TV: Sportsnet. Radio: AM650

He then improved by lending his voice to a passionate video greeting the city and its frontline workers.

When the puck finally fell, Green’s players were also caught in the moment for all the wrong reasons as they fell 3-2 to the Minnesota Wild. Maybe it was the house opening nervousness. Or forgetting that the Wild had returned victories in their first four outings, vowing to avenge a 5-2 home loss to the Nashville Predators on Sunday.

It was hard to swallow, especially after a run from Bo Horvat and a backhand to cut the deficit to one goal with 4:07 left.

Here’s what we learned when Mats Zuccarello, Jonas Brodin and Matt Dumba scored for the Wild, while Alex Chiasson had the other goal for the Canucks, who fell to 3-3-1:

Article content

THREE ERRORS, THREE TARGETS

No matter who the coaches are or how the roster is altered, the Wilds have a hockey DNA that always features opportunistic offense and defensive diligence. With little room for error, the Canucks learned the hard way that mistakes turn into goals.

The first fake pax was painfully obvious. With Quinn Hughes and Tucker Poolman trapped, Joel Eriksson Ek threw a long lead pass and Zuccarello beat Thatcher Demko between the pads to open the scoring in the first period.

Rookie Jack Rathbone then made a fumble in the defensive zone, and as Demko put his left pad on a bouncing puck, the rebound found Brodin for a two-goal lead. Then Demko stole Frederik Gaudreau after another Rathbone adventure in his own zone before Rem Pitlick nearly scored after coming out of the penalty area to take a long shot and make his attempt go off the post.

Article content

The Canucks got bitten again when it mattered most. After a shot from Brock Boeser went off and went flying in the third period, the Wild sped away. Dumba finished off a cross pass with Rathbone and Kyle Burroughs behind. It was a tough night for the duo that allowed twice as many shots as the club produced with them on ice.

‘PETEY, PETEY, PETEY’

The chant began early in an attempt to knock Elias Pettersson off a goalless mini-slide in his last four games.

And with the center still looking somewhat tentative and not playing on instinct, a power play in the second period consisted of bringing the puck to the center in its shooting sweet spot in head-to-head point. The Canucks were predictable with their first-unit strategy, but they knew a Pettersson goal would mean something on several levels.

Article content

They fed Pettersson and he unleashed two bursts that were stopped by goalkeeper Cam Talbot before his third attempt was deftly deflected by Chiasson at the top of the fold to cut the deficit to 2-1.

BAILEY BRINGS WHEELS

The relocation of the AHL affiliate from the Utica club to Abbotsford has already paid dividends,

When winger Justin Dowling was injured Saturday in Seattle and placed on injured reserve, Justin Bailey’s retirement was swift. No delays at the airport or missed flight connection. He was here in the blink of an eye and provided a fourth line dash and penalty effectiveness.

“He’s been very solid and has committed a lot of penalties,” Green said of Bailey, who scored six points (3-3) in his first five AHL games this season. “He’s a big man and he gets to places fast and they (Wild) have a bigger team and I felt like he was the guy to bring in tonight.”

Article content

It was a good call. Bailey showed good foot speed and blocked a shot on a penalty in the first period.

Bailey missed the start of camp after testing positive for COVID-19 before attempting to cross the Canadian border from Buffalo in early September. He had to isolate himself and then had four days to complete the post-infection entry mandate. He finally scrambled to find ice with WHL’s Everett Silvertips before heading back to BC.

MASKS ON, MASKS OFF

For the most part, the crowd complied with the COVID-19 safety mask mandate of removing them just to consume a concession drink or food. However, despite the constant messages, there were still those who chose not to wear protective clothing and that is a problem that will take more than Jumbotron messages to correct it.

“I will follow the rules to the letter,” said Dr. Brian Conway, president and chief medical officer of the Vancouver Center for Infectious Diseases and a season ticket subscriber. “And if I see something that is particularly risky, I will feel free to put it aside. I don’t want to make a scene, but I will say that what you are doing you could do better. “

[email protected]

twitter.com/@benkuzma

The Canucks Report, powered by Province Sports, is essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. Sign up here .