‘We need to add a couple of players to really give ourselves a chance to contend. You can’t be a playoff team with a record like we have at home.’ — Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford
It’s customary for NHL teams to address a rare off night on home ice with this quick summation:
Toss it in the garbage. Forget about it. Move on.
Now, disturbing no-shows have piled up — including a listless and error prone 5-1 bullying by the Boston Bruins on Saturday — and that garbage is starting to stink. The smell of suspect play was greeted by a chorus of boos and concern from coaches and management, who know it’s time to take out the garbage.
President of hockey operations Jim Rutherford admitted his club, which sits in the perilous second wild-card spot, needs to acquire players. If that’s not bad enough, the flu bug has also hit the team.
“I just didn’t understand the first period,” Tocchet said post game Saturday. “There were plays to be made and we’re icing the puck, or a forward has the puck with a good five feet of ice to make a play, and we’re dumping it in.
“I don’t know if that’s nervousness. I don’t know what it is. We have to try and figure it out quickly.”
The obvious concern of an abysmal 5-7-4 home record that’s tied for second worst in the NHL, and being outscored 60-47, can be tempered by the remarkable 10-2-1 road record that gets back-to-back tests this week.
And because you can’t just flip a switch to return to a level of responsible and productive play, the danger of home ice deficiencies stinking up the road show is there.
After all, how do you explain the best performance of the season — an impressive 4-0 blanking of the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers on Thursday at Rogers Arena — by not showing up against your most bitter rival?
“We need to add a couple of players to really give ourselves a chance to contend,” Rutherford said on a Hockey Night in Canada After Hours appearance. “We beat ourselves at home sometimes and don’t play with the same urgency.
“We have adjustments to make that are fixable, but we better make them quick. You can’t be a playoff team with a record like we have at home.”
Here’s what awaits the Canucks this week:
Canucks vs. Avalanche
When and where: Monday, 7:30 p.m. | Rogers Arena
TV: SN Pacific. Radio: Sportsnet 650
Why watch: Norris Trophy race is on
Who to watch: Centre Nathan MacKinnon
The Hart Trophy winner continues to be the straw that stirs the drink. Responded to rare pointless night Dec. 8 in New Jersey by piling up five points (1-4) two nights later in Pittsburgh. Leads the Avalanche with 50 points (13-37) and his wrist shot release at speed was regarded by Daniel Sedin as best in the league.
Canucks vs. Utah
When and where: Wednesday 7 p.m. | Delta Center
TV: SN Pacific. Radio: Sportsnet 650
Why watch: The kids are all right
In a 4-1 win at Denver on Thursday, the line of Dyan Guenther, Logan Cooley and Jack McBain showed promise for the future. Guenther struck twice and added an assist while Cooley had two helpers. “They were outstanding defensively and get rewarded offensively,” said coach Andre Tourigny. “They’re young, really competitive. They want to do the right thing.”
Who to watch: Right winger Dylan Guenther
Canucks vs. Golden Knights
When and where: Wednesday 7 p.m. | T-Mobile Arena
TV: SN Pacific. Radio: Sportsnet 650
Why watch: What’s happening in Vegas
The Golden Knights are 11-3-0 with their entertaining home show on The Strip. They’ve ascended to top of the Pacific Division with a 7-2-1 run and a fifth-ranked offence that’s average 3.47 goals per outing and doing it by committee. Five players have at least 20 points and a trio has at least 10 goals.
Who to watch: Centre Jack Eichel
The speedy and crafty playmaker is good in traffic and adept at finding linemates with sweet feeds. Eichel ranked ninth in NHL scoring after 30 games with 40 points (9-31), including a pair of three-point games and a four-point outing.
Canucks vs. Senators
When and where: Saturday 7 p.m. | Rogers Arena
TV: SN Pacific. Radio: Sportsnet 650
Why watch: The Travis Green return
The former Canucks bench boss inherited a young, impressionable and inconsistent cast of young snipers. They’re on a roll with three-straight wins and a 7-2-1 run to sit in the second wild-card position. A very credible push in a very tough division.
Who to watch: Winger Adam Gaudette
Captain Brady Tkachuk leads the club with 15 goals and 32 points, but former Canuck forward Gaudette is a story with 13 goals and moving from the fourth to the second line. Had a spurt of five goals in four games, but has cooled to just one in his last seven.