香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 going to get tougher.香蕉视频直播�
It香蕉视频直播檚 something that Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet has stated in almost every media session he香蕉视频直播檚 had this year.
Thursday night at Rogers Arena, Tocchet香蕉视频直播檚 words were prophetic as the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Canucks by a 4-1 margin.
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The Flyers erupted for three goals from Egor Zamula, Sean Walker and Joel Farabee in a span of two minutes and six seconds late in the second period to break a scoreless tie and secure the win. Vancouver香蕉视频直播檚 Teddy Blueger scored 25 seconds into the third period but a shorthanded goal by Garnet Hathaway at 5:01 ended any comeback hopes from the Canucks.
Samuel Ersson made 18 saves on 19 shots for the Flyers before leaving due to dehydration early in the third period. Carter Hart made eight saves finishing up for the Flyers. Casey DeSmith got the start for the Canucks and wound up with 21 saves.
It was a classic road performance by the Flyers, whose stifling style negated any offense the Canucks could muster.
It was also an indicator of what香蕉视频直播檚 to come as the season moves along.
The Canucks 香蕉视频直播� given where they are in the standings 香蕉视频直播� won香蕉视频直播檛 be sneaking up on people as they香蕉视频直播檝e gone from being the hunters to the hunted.
And it香蕉视频直播檚 also the type of game the Canucks can see more and more of as the season winds down. Teams fighting for playoff spots will crank up the intensity which will result in time and space on the ice becoming a premium commodity. Teams with playoff spots secured will be focusing on playing air-tight defensively.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 time and space but it香蕉视频直播檚 about owning that space. It香蕉视频直播檚 winning the battle. It香蕉视频直播檚 boxing out. It香蕉视频直播檚 making a smart play. It香蕉视频直播檚 getting the puck in deep and getting on the forecheck. That香蕉视频直播檚 the hardness of the game. The game is not played with one or two steamboats 香蕉视频直播� take your time 香蕉视频直播� it doesn香蕉视频直播檛 work that way,香蕉视频直播� Tocchet said afterwards.
His counterpart on the Flyers side saw the game the same way.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 that time of year. You get into after Christmas and you go through January and February with all of these games that still have to be played香蕉视频直播he grind and the checking part of the game has to come to the forefront. I thought we were patient. I thought we checked well and you just wait for a team to open up,香蕉视频直播� John Tortorella explained during his post-game session.
While Tortorella was quick to praise his team香蕉视频直播檚 patience, Tocchet was quick to criticize his team香蕉视频直播檚 lack of it.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e got to be comfortable playing a 0-0 game. Who cares? Just take what香蕉视频直播檚 given. You can香蕉视频直播檛 get frustrated just because people are in your way or people are hitting you. You cannot get frustrated because it香蕉视频直播檚 going to get ramped up even more than this game. That香蕉视频直播檚 the learning lesson we are talking about,香蕉视频直播� said Tocchet.
In games such as this one, it香蕉视频直播檚 about making the simple play instead of trying to do too much.
A prime example that was defenseman Nikita Zadorov香蕉视频直播檚 second period miscue which resulted in the Farabee goal. Zadorov tried to stickhandle through Farabee and Bobby Brink at center ice instead of just making a pass or an easy dump in. Brink stripped Zadorov of the puck and Farabee would score on the subsequent breakaway.
Tocchet believes in his team but also realizes by no means is it an end product with plenty of work left to do.
香蕉视频直播淵ou got to have that mentality that if things are at a stall that you are okay. I think that香蕉视频直播檚 the next level for this team,香蕉视频直播� he said.
It was only one game yet questions will arise as the season progresses on whether or not the Canucks香蕉视频直播� game is suited for what香蕉视频直播檚 coming.
香蕉视频直播淚 do,香蕉视频直播� responded Zadorov when asked the aforementioned question. 香蕉视频直播淚 think we香蕉视频直播檙e learning. I香蕉视频直播檝e only been here for 12 games but I think we are taking steps forward all the time. We香蕉视频直播檝e got five days off now, so we can get a few hard practices in and get it back. There香蕉视频直播檚 a lot of time to fix those mistakes and be ready on the 2nd (for the Ottawa game).香蕉视频直播�
OVERTIME: The quote of the night came from Tortorella. When asked about the 5香蕉视频直播� 9香蕉视频直播� Brink香蕉视频直播檚 play on the 6香蕉视频直播� 6香蕉视频直播� Zadorov, Tortorella came up with an epic response. 香蕉视频直播淵eah, yeah but Brink has got to learn how to check. He香蕉视频直播檚 driving me crazy. I love the kid but he doesn香蕉视频直播檛 know how to check his *!@. I don香蕉视频直播檛香蕉视频直播� care who he stood up to, he香蕉视频直播檚 got to learn that part of the game.香蕉视频直播� Canuck legend Markus Naslund was in attendance at Rogers Arena. He was recognized on the jumbotron midway through the first period and received a standing ovation. Naslund, now into real estate back home in Sweden, is in Vancouver helping one of his kids move here. One of my favorite Naslund stories was one night the Canucks got drilled at home and the captain was the only player in the dressing room as all his teammates had vacated the premises. Naslund turned to then-media relations director T.C. Carling and told him to get some more players in the room. It wasn香蕉视频直播檛 Naslund trying to dodge the media scrutiny but rather holding his teammates accountable. The win was the 723rd in Tortorella香蕉视频直播檚 career putting him in tenth place all-time. He passed another former Canuck coach in Alain Vigneault, who has 722. Tortorella should reel in Darryl Sutter, who has 737 wins, by season香蕉视频直播檚 end for ninth place. Speaking of milestones, Zadorov was appearing in his 600th NHL game. The Canucks are the fifth NHL team for the 28-year-old Russian, who has suited up for Buffalo, Colorado, Chicago and Calgary. Next up for Vancouver is a home date with the Ottawa Senators on January 2nd. The Sens have rebounded from an eight-game losing streak with wins over Pittsburgh and Toronto in their last two games. They will face New Jersey and Buffalo at home this weekend before starting a six-game road trip against the Canucks.
