Canucks-Avalanche: Vancouver loses

After an embarrassing effort two days ago in Chicago, where they amassed only 10 shots in a 4-1 defeat, the Vancouver Canucks had a chance to redeem themselves in Colorado and break a three-way tie with the Avalanche and Nashville Predators.

Vancouver, Colorado, and Nashville were all tied for the final two playoff spots in the ultra-competitive Western Conference with 74 points before the puck-drop on Tuesday evening, with the Predators playing in Edmonton.

However, the Canucks lost out on this proverbial "three-horse race" with a nail-biting 2-1 loss to the Avalanche--much to Canucks haters' delight--just half an hour after the Predators finished off the Oilers 5-1.

(Though it should be said, that the suspense over the Predators game was over by the first minute of the second period. By then, winger Martin Erat had already gotten a hat trick and Nashville was cruising with a 4-0 lead.)

The Avalanche, who have been injury-riddled all year long, was without leading goal-scorer Marek Svatos and Ryan Smyth this time.

However, Colorado received a hugh lift before the game as it was Peter Forsberg's first game back in the NHL in almost a year.

Forsberg would play nearly 20 minutes (19:57), registering three shots on goal without getting a point, and didn't seem to have any issues with his injured right foot.

Colorado, who was four points out of a playoff spot the same day that Forsberg signed eight days ago, has now won four straight. The Avalanche, now 35-26-6, are in the seventh spot in the conference, with Nashville (33-25-8) holding on to the final spot.

Meanwhile, Vancouver, who will play take on the Preds on Thursday in another edition of those so-called "must-win" games, sits in ninth place, two points out. ("Must-win" must be one of those overrated words in professional sports, but of course, it's something the Canucks must agree with considering their brilliant efforts in Chicago.)

The Canucks at least showed up in Colorado, a far cry from their effort--or lack thereof--in the Chicago debacle on Sunday.

Still, despite having the best goaltender in the world--Roberto Luongo--the Canucks couldn't score enough to pull it out. And thankfully, this time they didn't go to a shootout, where they would have picked up yet another cheap point.

(And do the Canucks really want their games to go to shootouts? After all, there is this little known fact that Luongo is only average in the tie-breakers. Proof? Luongo is only 15-15 with a .714 save percentage. And that last stat is impressive if you're talking about Babe Ruth, not so for an elite NHL netminder.)

And this time Luongo didn't make any difference once again, while the Avalanche got a huge third-period goal from an unlikely source.

Paul Statsny gave the Avalanche a 1-0 lead 9 minutes into the game with his 20th goal, and John-Michael Liles(!) scored his third of the season early in the third as the Avalanche squeaked out their third one-goal victory in their last four triumphs.

To add insult to injury, the game-winner was blueliner Liles' first goal in his last 50 games--and guess who that one came against? That's right, in Vancouver on November 9th--and it came with Canucks' leading scorer Henrik Sedin in the box for a hooking infraction.

And even more amusingly, Liles' winner bounced in off forward Matt Pettinger--the Canucks' prized trade-deadline acquisition--past Luongo.

Avalanche goaltender Jose Theodore, continuing his strong comeback year after two subpar seasons, made 26 saves and improved 3-0-1 against the Canucks in 2007-08 with a GAA under 2.00. The win was Theodore's 20th of the season, and the former league MVP shut the door on Vancouver with a perfect 10-save effort in the final stanza.

Theodore was also able to shake off a hit by Pettinger--who has yet to be a factor offensievely, though he has been involved in odd plays, that's for sure--in the second period, and though he was down on the ice momentarily, bounced back and allowed just one goal the entire contest.

The Canucks' only consolations--other than the fact that they might get to join the Leafs' Mats Sundin on the golf course early this spring, that is?

They played much better, registering almost three times as many shots as they did on Sunday (27 vs. 10).

And they still lost.

Pettinger, who is pointless in a Canucks uniform--a word that could be used to describe the acquisition to begin with, much to Canucks haters' amusement, led his new team in something: hits, but did so with a measly two. And he doesn't even play defense. And if he does, then he can be excused for having just two goals all season.

The Canucks must also be happy that Northwest Division-leading Minnesota Wild lost 4-2 to Chicago, meaning they still have an outside shot at the division title--and secure the No. 3 seed in the conference--being five points back.

Good luck, Vancouver.

But while the Canucks blew their game, the competition didn't.

Not only did the Avalanche beat the Canucks, the Calgary Flames shut out Columbus 1-0 to move into a tie with Minnesota in terms of points. Both the Flames and Wild have 79, though Minnesota currently owns the tie-breaker with two more victories than Calgary.

The Flames are sixth in the conference.

So, while Vancouver continues its slide, the other Western contenders are continuing to pile up points.

We'll see what kind of effort the Canucks put forth at G.M. Place against the Predators in another one of those "must-win" affairs on Thursday!

Until then, the Canucks fall short once again.