Pathetic. That might be one of the most despicable losses I've ever seen. Per usual, when they lose, it's because they beat themselves. And they did that spectacularly tonight.
Offensively, only Hyman had anything. And Draisaitl before getting hurt. I don't know who the f*** is wearing the 97 jersey out there, but whoever it was just played the worst game of their career. Bobbling passes like a stone-handed rookie, skating like it's Sunday afternoon. Zero engagement. Nuge missed an absolute sitter with a wide open cage AND the goalie looking the other way. Kane, Janmark and the rest awful. How you could look at the 3rd and 4th goals going in on that goalie and think "let's not shoot ever again"... deplorable offensive plan and effort. Knob can wear horns here too, he didn't recognize right from the 1st minute of the 2nd period, this team had pulled to plug and needed a shake up.
Defensively, what do you even say? Nurse-Ceci. Always f****** Nurse-Ceci. I firmly believe this team would have at least a Cup Finals appearance in the last 3 years if the obvious upgrade need there was taken even mildly serious by management. A casual could see Nurse processing the game slow and stupid. Disengaged. Physically uninterested. Flat-footed. Worse than Kris Russell ever was at giving the puck away around the boards. Positionally never where he should be, constantly abandoning the dangerous guy in front of the net. Not getting pucks out with full control 2 feet from the blue line. It's beyond sad. Anyone other then 9.25, this is an easy press box decision. And this isn't just a one-off. Even in the LA series, even in the more defensive games 4 and 5, the close calls always happened with him on the ice (especially in the final minutes of periods). That pairing had most minutes against the Canucks 3rd line which just adds to the embarrassment.
Goaltending? How do you even let in goals 3-5? Miller on the goal line, MOVE and hug your f****** post, it's not like he roofed it. Zadorov from 10 miles out with full visibility. Garland along the ice. Skinner choked. We needed him to steal this in the 3rd with Draisaitl labouring and the rest of the group shitting the bed. He failed miserably and somehow was 2nd best to the sieve at the other end.
Worst of all - sends a message that Vancouver indeed has hope and a chance in the series. The arena was dead at critical points. And it wasn't Vancouver's ability (though they outplayed us) that got them back in it. It was us always, always, making it harder than it needs to be. This isn't f****** LA where you can win with a dozen shots sitting on a lead. Canucks have finishers.
Where is the team doing what they are best at? Dominating offensively on the cycle, 35+ shots, 1st in grade A chances? Where the f*** is that team? Game 3 against LA is the last time they looked like they should.
Sick of them pissing away games and giving the opponent life that isn't earned. Beyond livid at this team. No appreciation for the gravity of the moment, the importance of the series lead, the urgency needed in playoffs. And that's the most concerning after all the build up and talk. They still have games where it's learning lessons instead of taking the game by the throat even though they have the ability. Pathetic.
