How A Defeat To The Avalanche Has Turned Into A Positive For The Canucks
The Canucks continue to look back on their blown lead against the Avalanche and are using it as a learning lesson moving forward.
Photo by Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports - How A Defeat To The Avalanche Has Turned Into A Positive For The CanucksWhile losses sting in the moment, they can sometimes be seen as a positive given enough time. That is the case with the Vancouver Canucks overtime loss to the Colorado Avalanche on March. 13, 2024, when Vancouver gave up a 3-0 lead to lose 4-3 in overtime. Over ten days later, this loss continues to remind the team how tough it is to win against the league's best and the importance of closing out games in the third period.
Since the game against the Avalanche, the Canucks are 3-1 and have given up seven goals in those four games. Vancouver has also done a great job of limiting shots, with Casey DeSmith facing an average of 20.5 per game during that time. Even though they are facing teams below them in the standings, the Canucks are showing they can put forward strong defensive efforts and limit their opposition's chances when up in the third.
As for how the Colorado game plays a role in Vancouver's recent games, well, players have mentioned that game specifically in postgame over the past week. Most recently, Conor Garland mentioned the Avalance game when discussing the team's defensive play during their 4-2 win over the Calgary Flames. The Canucks winger said: "It's game the game, you know, we didn't five games, I believe, against Colorado, so it's just to game the game. We have to be locked in and dialled." This call back to the Avalanche game shows that it is still on the player's mind and is still being used as a learning lesson almost two weeks later.
Rick Tocchet also agrees that the loss to the Avalanche has had a positive effect on the group. Tocchet said, "There's always learning moments, game to game. I thought that was a game where we were playing one of the best teams in the league, and we let our foot off." He also pointed out that he hopes his team learns from the experience and is better prepared next time they are put in that situation. Judging by the way Vancouver has handled their last three games, which have all included carrying leads into the third period, it is safe to say the players have not only understood the message but are applying what they learned from the Colorado game.
Another point Tocchet brought up was the communication he has with his players. The Canucks coach said, "For me as a coach, when players tell me the situations that they learn from, it helps me out because I can relate to them or give them the speech and the message, but if it's not going and they're not getting it, that means nothing. So when a player is recognizing it, and they're seeing it, that obviously means the message is there." This quote shows that the players are interested in learning and fixing mistakes so that they don't happen again. It also signifies a buy-in from the team and using the coach's experience to ensure they have success in the future.
With 11 games remaining on the schedule, the question is, can Vancouver apply the lessons they learned against the Avalanche when they face off against potential playoff opponents? Three of their next four games are against teams currently in a playoff spot, which includes matchups against the L.A. Kings and Vegas Golden Knights, who the Canucks could see in their first round. If they can shut down these teams as they did against the Buffalo Sabres, Montréal Canadiens and Calgary Flames over the past week, it will go a long way in showing they are playoff-ready and that they are unwilling to allow a similar situation like what happened against the Avalanche occur again.
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