Canucks left looking for answers
Canadian Press
3/22/2004
VANCOUVER (CP) - The Vancouver Canucks are in a tailspin, managing just one victory in the seven games since Todd Bertuzzi's NHL suspension.
``It's a funny game,'' captain Markus Naslund, who is struggling through an eight-game scoring drought, sighed Monday after the team's practice.
``If you get your confidence back and start winning it seems so easy. When you're struggling you don't know how to find that touch.''
There were cracks in the Canucks game even before Bertuzzi was suspended for the rest of the season and the playoffs following his attack on Steve Moore of the Colorado Avalanche. Bertuzzi's exile has eroded any room Vancouver had for error.
``Our problems have been generating offence and we've made some untimely mistakes,'' said coach Marc Crawford.
``When you have that in a game the margin of error in the NHL is very shallow.''
Heading into Monday night's play Vancouver had slipped to fifth place in the NHL's Western Conference. The Canucks trailed Colorado by four points in the Northwest Division and were just three ahead of Calgary.
If the playoffs opened Monday, the Canucks would start on the road against Dallas, a team they've lost to three times already this year by a combined score of 9-3.
Since Bertuzzi's suspension the Canucks are 1-3-2-1 and have been outscored 20-15. The power-play is a dismal 3-for-28.
The Canucks have lost to Chicago, were beaten at GM Place by Columbus - who have just six road wins all season - and tied Minnesota. None of those teams will make the playoffs.
Veteran Mike Keane said it's too easy to blame all of Vancouver's problems on Bertuzzi's absence.
``The last three weeks to a month we haven't played that well with or without Todd,'' said Keane.
``We have to really focus in and concentrate.''
The Canucks miss Bertuzzi's size and take-no-prisoners style. The big right winger had just 17 goals in the 69 games he played but also had 43 assists.
Bertuzzi created turnovers with his hits and was an intimidating player on the ice. He drew the attention of the opposition's best defenceman, creating more room for linemates Naslund and Brendan Morrison.
Vancouver was 4-2-1 in the seven games before losing Bertuzzi but the power play was just 4-for-30.
Since Nov. 29, Vancouver has a 8-13-6 record at home. In the 22 games since a Feb. 2 loss to the New York Rangers the Canucks have been two games below .500.
Of all the Canucks, Naslund might have struggled the most. He was the NHL's leading scoring before missing three games with a concussion after being hit by Moore in a Feb. 16 game.
In the 13 games he's played since returning to the lineup, Naslund has just two goals.
``I haven't had any jump,'' said the quiet Swede who has looked sullen in the Canucks dressing room.
``That's key for me to get something going. I have to use my speed and try to get chances that way.''
The Canucks had switched Naslund to right wing and moved the newly acquired Martin Rucinsky onto left wing with Morrison.
During practice Monday, Naslund was back on the left side with the feisty Matt Cooke on the right wing.
Injuries and goaltending concerns have also hampered the Canucks.
Defenceman Ed Jovanovski, who missed 25 games with a separated shoulder, returned to the lineup and was a plus-3 in Sunday's 5-4 loss to Columbus. Henrik Sedin, who missed five games with a rib injury, also played.
Starting goaltender Dan Cloutier has missed two games with a hip flexor and remains a question mark for Wednesday's match against the Los Angeles Kings.
Backup Johan Hedberg was hooked in the second period of Friday's overtime loss to Chicago after allowing three goals in less than 27 minutes. He was beaten three times in the final 12 minutes Sunday.
Cheers,
Aquaman