Wake With Elias- Feb 2, 2021: Canucks Clowned Again

From their best game of the season to their absolute worst (and believe me, that’s saying something about this year’s Vancouver Canucks), as they went into Montreal on a 4 game winning streak and proceeded to get utterly embarrassed by the Habs in a 6-2 loss. That score is pretty flattering to the Canucks, because it really wasn’t that close.

I don’t even want to try and find any bright spots in that ugliness because really, what’s the point? When your top line clearly doesn’t give a shit like they did last night, why on earth would we get excited? Sure, they’ll pick up wins over Ottawa. And yes, they’ll snag the odd one against Winnipeg, Edmonton and maybe even Calgary. But this team shouldn’t be mentioned in the same breath as the Montreal Canadiens right now. And just think, a better team awaits them after tonight’s game as they have the next 3 in Toronto.

Just like every other loss, there’s a portion of Canucks Twitter that calls for Travis Green’s head, which I find a little puzzling because it’s like giving a cook a package of hot dogs and a box of Kraft Dinner and expecting him to whip you up a gourmet meal. Here’s the reality: Jim Benning’s team is going to miss the playoffs because of the moves he made in this offseason alone, never mind the countless bad free agent signings and deals. All of the outstanding drafting is cancelled out by players who simply aren’t good enough.

We sat through years of near unwatchable hockey as Benning set out to make his mark on this team, and suffered through a couple coaches who didn’t help this process at all. And through it all, Francesco Aqualini has given Benning a vote of confidence. Why is he okay with what’s transpiring? Missing the playoffs is going to be the least of their concerns if Elias Pettersson and/or Quinn Hughes decide that this team isn’t able to provide them with the support they need to make this team a winner.

These two teams face off again tonight, and unless we see Last Week Thatcher Demko and Saturday’s Canucks, it’s going to be another frustrating night.

AROUND THE NHL

BOSTON BRUINS 5 WASHINGTON CAPITALS 3

Things were looking good for the Capitals in this one. Zdeno Chara had scored against his old team and half-way through the 2nd period they were up 3-0 over Boston. David Pastrnak’s 2nd of the game in the 3rd period sparked a 4 goal final frame to give the Bruins a 5-3 win. That was Washington’s 1st regulation loss of the year, while the Bruins are 5-0-1 in their last 6.

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING 5 NASHVILLE PREDATORS 2

Yanni Gourde scored twice and Steven Stamkos added a PPG as Tampa defeated Nashville by a score of 5-2. Nashville now sits in 7th place in the Central Division, 2 points ahead of the last place Detroit Red Wings.

NEW YORK RANGERS 3 PITTSBURGH PENGUINS 1

Chris Kreider, fresh off popping racist MAGA chud Tony D’Angelo in the chops had the GWG on a 3rd period power play as the Rangers picked up their 3rd win of the season over the Penguins at MSG last night.

CALGARY FLAMES 4 WINNIPEG JETS 3 (SO)

Mark Scheifele scored late in the 3rd to send this one to extra time, but Johnny Gaudreau won it in Uncle Gary’s Amazing Trick Shot Contest to give the Flames a 4-3 win. The big highlight of the night was Chris Tanev scoring on Connor Hellebuyck from his own blue line.

And in case you missed it yesterday, the New Jersey Devils are the latest team to get hit hard by COVID as they were forced to place 10 players on the COVID Protocol List, forcing the postponement of their games this week.

If all goes according to plan, the Vegas Golden Knights will resume their schedule on Friday after being forced to shut down last week when 2 players and 3 coaches tested positive. The Golden Knights have rescheduled 3 games because of the shut down.