Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet was honest when he discussed what his team and coaching staff need to change as they go through the final stretch and into the playoffs.
Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet was honest when he discussed what his team and coaching staff need to change as they go through the final stretch and into the playoffs.
"It's just a mental toughness; there's going to be some blips in the, in the schedule, and this is not the time to have them," Tocchet said to the Canucks media today. "It's a result-oriented business, don't get me wrong, but the process of a stapled type of game, we've lost that a little bit. I know it's a 2-1 hockey game, but it wasn't; it wasn't a committed game from a Canuck, our group. We didn't do the staples and all the stuff that we want to move this thing along, and there are 14 games left. That's why the urgency has to come now. We can't wait two, three, or four more weeks. You just can't. That's the warning."
Tocchet was asked to explain what needs to change in order to help get his team back playing the "Canuck way."
"Individual meetings. The leadership group has got to take hold of the team. Coaches have to maybe coach a little differently now. There are a lot of different things you do sporadically," He explained. "When do you do days off? How hard do you practice? I mean, you can't be full throttle all the time. There's just a lot of different maneuvering. We're all in this together, and that's the only way we're going to get out of it."
The Canucks fell 2-1 to the Washington Capitals last night, and Tocchet recognizes that every game is crucial. There is a different mentality in March and for success in April, their play needs to be better now.
"These guys have bounced back before, but this is a different part of the season," Tocchet said. "This is March now, and there are a lot of desperate teams, so you have to play a little more desperate, a little more committed, you know? A little better back checking, better changes. These are the little things that we've let slip, and when you let those things slip, the results aren't going to be in your favor."
He continued explaining that he feels like players on his team are waiting for others to do something.
"We're just kind of waiting around. Then, when we're frustrated, it looks like some guys are, and I'm not using the word quit, it's just they just kind of get slower and slower," Tocchet said. "That's when adversity hits is when you got to face it. You gotta fight pressure with pressure. If the pressure hits, go find it. You can't hide from pressure. I think right now we're just kind of waiting."
This Canucks team does not have much playoff experience. This adversity is good to have now, but as Tocchet says, they can't wait around to solve it. This is the time to fix their mental issues and get back to doing what makes them successful.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.
- Follow Max on Twitter: @Real_Max_Miller
