Game Recap: Vancouver Fails To Shoot or Score in Arizona

With Sven Baertschi’s two goal game against the Colorado Avalanche and Ryan Miller’s 7-0 record playing in Arizona, the Vancouver Canucks had their eyes set on the first wild card spot and hoped to put up another solid offensive effort tonight.

While the Vancouver Canucks were hoping to continue their scoring ways against the Arizona Coyotes, their opposition was looking to get their first 3 game win streak of the season. With rookie Christian Fischer’s 2 goals in his first 2 NHL games, the Coyote’s have been quietly clawing their way out of the basement.

After missing 22 games, Philip Larsen returned to the line-up tonight and replaced Alex Biega alongside Nikita Tryamkin. Larsen hasn’t suited up for the Canucks since receiving a nasty hit from Taylor Hall in New Jersey.

First Period

Vancouver started the game with some jump and kept the Coyotes hemmed in their own zone. Despite some strong pressure, Vancouver couldn’t seem to get a shot on net. Keep this in mind as it’s a theme you might have noticed throughout the game.

Ryan Miller wasn’t tested much in the opening frame and stopped all of the shots he faced. Miller’s handful of saves is the only thing we can really talk to about in the first due to a severe lack of offence from either team.

After a season high 20 shots against Colorado Avalanche in the first period of their last game, the Canucks failed to register a single shot on net in the opening period.

Second Period

As the second period carried on, this game began to feel like one big face palm.

Despite some shot attempts, shots on a net were few and far between and did not make for very exciting hockey. Ryan Miller did well to stop any shots he faced to begin the period and kept his team in the game as best he could.

While I can’t believe Vancouver’s first shot on net is worth being a highlight. That’s where we’re at with a game like this. Eight and a half minutes into the second period, Alex Burrows registered the first of what would be a whopping THREE shots on net.

We were finally treated to a goal with 7 minutes left in the second period. The only problem? Lawson Crouse was the one doing the scoring.

As the period came to a close, both teams began to step up the pressure. While it wasn’t an excess of scoring chances, both goalies were put to the test.

With some sustained pressure and a fatigued Arizona defence, Vancouver had a late push in the final two minutes of the period. However, Vancouver couldn’t find a way to beat Mike Smith. While they were able to put up 13 shots in the second period, the Canucks still didn’t seem to have anything going their way tonight.

Third Period

A few minutes into the final frame, the Canucks found themselves killing a 4 minute high sticking penalty.

In his sixth game after being claimed off waivers from Winnipeg, Alexander Burmistrov scored his first goal as an Arizona Coyote on the ensuing power play.

This was Burmistrov’s first goal in 42 games but his 6th point in 6 games with his new team.

The rest of the game was a pretty dull affair. And that’s putting it lightly. At least there was this?

After giving up the second goal, the Canucks failed to sustain almost any kind of pressure and struggled to get shots on net once again.

As the game came to a close, Arizona put away an empty netter to wrap up one of Vancouver’s worst games of the season.

Playing their second of back to back games on the road and heading into the All-Star break, the Canucks failed to put up any kind of serious effort this game. It was easy to see which team was fighting for the win and the Coyotes made sure they went into the break on a high note.

“Highlights”