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HTTN attempts to find meaning in Monday’s woeful display

-written by Shane Koka

On Monday, the Canucks ventured down to sunny Florida to take on a significantly improved Florida Panthers squad for their first and only meeting of the season.

Unfortunately, tonight’s game was contested on the ice, not on paper and Panthers’ back-up netminder Scott Clemmensen backstopped the Panthers to the upset victory. Here are three notes from tonight’s game:

1. Doc Brown Approved this Game

You’re forgiven if during tonight’s game you read a name on the back of a jersey or heard the announcer call a name and wondered if you had accidentally played something old off your PVR.

The list of players that have played for both teams is extensive: Roberto Luongo, David Booth, Chris Higgins, Mike Duco, Alexander Sulzer, Mikael Samuelsson, Marco Sturm, Ed Jovanoski, and Mike Weaver have all been Canucks and Panthers. And that doesn’t even include the guys on the farm!

There are so many that we made a name for them.

The Canthers: A growing affliction that is impossible to stop. We won’t rest until we find a cure.

2. It’s a Trap!

Boy, this was the classic trap game. Coming off Saturday’s emotionally charged victory over the hated Boston Bruins, the Canucks were primed for a letdown.

They knew it, we knew it, and the Panthers knew it. Alas, knowing it, and being able to something about it are often two different things. The Canucks looked a step slower than normal and were sloppy throughout.

Even with each Panthers defenseman turning the puck over in the first period (they gave it up more easily than a sleazy prom date with daddy issues), the Canucks only generated ten shots towards Clemmensen’s net, resulting in only one goal.

What is it about trap games? Against Calgary, the Canucks seemed to be more concerned with Christmas than hockey. Tonight, they seemed more interested in South Beach than the game (which, I guess, makes sense).

3. Twins No Show = Canucks No Go

It’s become painfully obvious that this team is heavily dependent on their top two players, who only registered two shots between them tonight.

When the Sedins are scoring, the powerplay is working and the Canucks usually roll to victory. When they are held pointless, the team is 1-6-2 this season, being outscored 22-10 in those games.

Inexplicably, the Twins have been held off the scoresheet by the Panthers, Avalanche, Flames, Blue Jackets and twice by the Blues. The Canucks need their best players to be their best players not only against elite opponents, but against the lesser ones too.

Let’s be honest: if Floridians are wondering when Dolph Lundgren cut his hair, started to play hockey and became the Canucks’ best player, the team has problems. (BTW, are they actually called Floridians? Sounds like a group of toothpaste activists.)

It’s Dale Weise, right? Nope!

-Note: follow Shane Koka on Twitter @ABMiV604