I mean, at least they’re being consistently bad now? We do keep asking about consistency.
There is probably no explaining this season, at least not yet, not until we have put some time between what’s happening and our efforts to understand, but we have to anyway.
You figured the bounces wouldn’t bounce their way quite so often. That the shots wouldn’t quite fly so true. That the rebounds would bounce a little longer, that the opposition would get a couple angles or two better, here and there.
But this? You didn’t think this.
Playoffs. Remember those? Those were fun.
This is not. This is a miserable experience. This game proved that Vancouver’s effort on Saturday was an aberration, that the reality was in line with Edmonton’s first defeat of the season a similar drubbing in November where the Oilers won 7-3 at Rogers Arena.
Whatever verve that Canucks squad had, this one does not. And this is a very similar one.
The conclusion, then, is this was all a false dawn. And, really, in Vancouver, we should know better.
Starts? Who needs starts?
When Zach Hyman scored to open scoring 5:52 in, it was the 10th time in 12 games the Canucks have given up the opening goal.
That’s no way to live.
Again, the Canucks led the league last year in scoring first: they did so 53 times. Somehow they had the spirit.
But they’ve lost that. This season they’ve scored first just 19 times.
That’s second worst in the league.
Big money, big burn
Bad angle, no reach, got caught flat-footed.
It happens, but in a season like this, that’s happened too much.
Power-less play
Here’s a statement about lack of enthusiasm: the Canucks had no power plays.
Zilch.
They didn’t even do anything to push the Oilers.
I mean, look at this heat map.
That’s zero penetration on offence, and a bloodbath on defence.
Four goals around the net for Edmonton at five on five!
Four.
Doesn’t anyone here want to defend?
Giving it away
On the other hand, Edmonton had four power plays.
They scored twice.
Demko doubts
The Canucks’ No. 1 made his fourth-straight start and he looks no closer to the guy who was a Vezina finalist.
The rebound he dumped on the Kasperi Kapanen goal was brutal. It was a tricky shot but he knew it was coming.
And one supposes there’s not a lot you can do about the power play goals against.
And maybe he couldn’t have used some back door coverage on the Adam Henrique goal, Edmonton’s third of the game, but then again those are the kinds of spectacular saves goalies sometimes come up with.
He’s not come up with many of those this season.
Missing in action
Why is this guy making $11.6 million? Won’t someone help him figure out why? He seems to have forgotten.
Are we sure the Canucks are trading the right guy?
NEXT GAME
Saturday
Washington Capitals vs. Vancouver Canucks
7 p.m., Rogers Arena, TV: ESPN Pacific, Radio: Sportsnet 650