Canucks try and bounce back tonight against Phoenix
Posted January 16, 2014 12:24 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
GLENDALE, AZ. (NEWS1130) – Last night’s 9-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks was the worst defeat the Vancouver Canucks have suffered in nearly 10 years. Vancouver can bounce back tonight against the Phoenix Coyotes. The team is wrapping up a three-game road trip. In the first two games it’s been outscored 10-1.
Coach John Tortorella seemed to be at a loss for words after last night’s blowout.
“Did I see this coming? No I didn’t. I am not even going to try and explain it. There is no sense in me trying to dissect it for you guys. We plow on to our next game against the Coyotes and get ready for that one.”
The Canucks have now lost seven of their last eight games. The Coyotes are in a major slump as well, having lost four games in a row. Phoenix captain Shane Doan says he shoulders a lot of the blame.
“There is so much blame to go around right now. You can point your finger at myself, Mike Riberio, Antoine Vermette and the guys up front who get the majority of the ice time. You can point the finger at everybody. We can all be better. Our defenceman can be better. Our forwards can be better. Our goaltending can be better.”
Phoenix is ninth in the Western Conference and six points behind Vancouver. Doan says the Coyotes need to get back to their winning ways.
“Right now we are not very good. We haven’t been very good for a while. We have been fooling ourselves with finding ways to comeback and get points and tie games and get to overtime for the last month and a half. We haven’t been good enough. We have to be better as a group.”
Canucks have recalled Kellan Lain and he is expected to make his NHL debut tonight. The 6’6 forward has 11 points in 35 games for the Utica Comets in the AHL this season. He also was leading the team in penalty minutes with 85.
Puck drop tonight is at 6 p.m. and you can watch the game on Sportsnet Pacific.
