Anders Nilsson says there isnB次元官网网址檛 a quick fix for the Vancouver Canucks and their leaky defence.
After an unexpectedly bright 14-10-4 start to the season, the Canucks have surrendered an NHL-high 36 goals while suffering regulation losses in six of their last seven games.
B次元官网网址淓veryone, including me and the whole team, hasnB次元官网网址檛 played at their best level these last few weeks,B次元官网网址� said Nilsson, who allowed six goals in TuesdayB次元官网网址檚 7-5 home loss to the Montreal Canadiens. B次元官网网址滶veryone needs to step up. Me personally, I know I can play better. I know I need to play better.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 no shortcuts.B次元官网网址�
ItB次元官网网址檚 been ugly at times, with defeats of 7-1, 6-1, 5-1 and that 7-5 setback B次元官网网址� games where VancouverB次元官网网址檚 goalies have often been scrambling in the crease or stretching in futile attempts to stop a wide-open opponent as the clubB次元官网网址檚 defensive structure thatB次元官网网址檚 been hampered by a number of key injuries collapses around them.
B次元官网网址淲e havenB次元官网网址檛 managed the puck as well B次元官网网址� given up some odd-man rushes, some backdoor plays,B次元官网网址� said Canucks first-year head coach Travis Green. B次元官网网址滻tB次元官网网址檚 hard for goalies when youB次元官网网址檙e giving up east-west, grade B次元官网网址楢B次元官网网址� chances. Those are tough saves to make.
B次元官网网址淔or the most part when our goalies have good sight lines and see the puck, theyB次元官网网址檝e done a good job saving it.B次元官网网址�
The netminders are far from innocent victims, with both Nilsson and Jacob Markstrom guilty of soft goals at key times, but Green has been loath to point a finger in their direction.
B次元官网网址淚f youB次元官网网址檙e trying to get me to pin this on goaltending, IB次元官网网址檓 not going to do that,B次元官网网址� Green said Wednesday. B次元官网网址漁ur goalies are not going to sit there and say theyB次元官网网址檝e been standing on their head.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e going to sit there and say, B次元官网网址榃e need to play a little better.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
Heading into WednesdayB次元官网网址檚 action, Vancouver had surrendered at least eight more goals than any other team since Dec. 7, with the CanucksB次元官网网址� 5-on-5 save percentage sitting at a league-worst .876 over that span.
Since the Canucks beat the Carolina Hurricanes on Dec. 5, NilssonB次元官网网址檚 5-on-5 save percentage stands at .891 in his four appearances, including three starts, while MarkstromB次元官网网址檚 sits at .848 in his four starts.
Among goalies across the league with at least 13 appearances, Markstrom ranks 27th with an overall save percentage of .907, while Nilsson is 30th at .905.
Nilsson said itB次元官网网址檚 not a coincidence the Canucks, who visit the San Jose Sharks on Thursday, and their goalies both find themselves in a funk at the same time.
B次元官网网址淓verything is connected,B次元官网网址� said the Swede. B次元官网网址滱t the beginning of the year we played really good as a team structurally, and both me an Marky were playing really good. The team has been struggling a little bit, and both me and Markstrom have been struggling a little bit, too.
B次元官网网址淚f the team plays good, usually the goalie plays good. If the goalie has a shutout, itB次元官网网址檚 not just because of the goalie B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 because the whole team has been playing good in front of us.B次元官网网址�
ThereB次元官网网址檚 no doubt injuries have played a factor in the deluge of goals the Canucks have surrendered.
No. 1 centre Bo HorvatB次元官网网址檚 broken foot has coincided with the slide, while checking centre Brandon Sutter (upper body) and top-pair defenceman Christopher Tanev (groin) are also on the sidelines.
Asked if there needs to be tweaks or changes to the CanucksB次元官网网址� structure with so many key pieces out B次元官网网址� perhaps pulling back on GreenB次元官网网址檚 aggressive system that encourages defenceman to jump up in the play B次元官网网址� captain Henrik Sedin instead doubled down on what made the club successful early on this season.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not being as aggressive as we need to be,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址漌hen we play at our best, weB次元官网网址檙e on our toes, our forecheck is really good. When we have that in our game itB次元官网网址檚 like everything falls into place. Right now weB次元官网网址檙e in between a lot of times, and weB次元官网网址檙e not skating hard enough to get in on the forecheck.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 easy sometimes to look at what happens in our end, but it starts in their end with a good forecheck. That needs to be our focus.B次元官网网址�
Notes: Vancouver re-assigned forward Michael Chaput to the AHLB次元官网网址檚 Utica Comets on Wednesday. B次元官网网址� Green wouldnB次元官网网址檛 say whether or not defenceman Ben Hutton, who was a healthy scratch against Montreal, would draw back into the lineup in San Jose. VancouverB次元官网网址檚 only victory in last seven games was FridayB次元官网网址檚 4-3 overtime win against the Sharks.
Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press
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