Caps Provide Canucks with Reality Check

Canucks vs. Capitals @ Washinton

Capitals win 5-1.

It had been nearly eight years since the Vancouver Canucks last lost to the Washington Capitals. On Thanksgiving Monday, the Canucks strolled into town looking to extend their winning streak over the Caps to six games. The last time they lost to Washington was on Valentine's Day, 2001, by a score of 4-3 in overtime.

After the first two games versus the Flames this year, which included a 6-0 opening day shellacking on home ice and a 5-4 come-from-behind overtime victory in Calgary two nights later, Vancouver was riding was sky high.

In perusing Facebook, I had noticed a Canuck faithful’s status as “...is having visions of Stanley (Cup)…” Local talk show host David Pratt, of the TEAM 1040 Radio's Pratt and Taylor Show, had a poll question after the 6-0 win, asking fans what street the parade should be held on after the cup win. His remarks and demeanor that day were downright comical. Even his co-host, Don Taylor, who is a pretty big homer in his own right, tried to get Pratt in check, reminding him that it is a long season and this was just a couple of games. He also objectively pointed out that the Flames didn’t look very good in the two outings.

On game day versus the Caps, Canuck play-by-play man John Shorthouse and colour man Tom Larscheid, were going on about how the Canucks were “technically” 8-0-1 for the season, if the pre-season were to be counted. Quite frankly, there is a reason that the PRE-season does not count….it’s the PRE-SEASON!

Despite managing to keep Caps superstar Alex Ovechkin off the scoreboard, the Canucks were badly outshot 35-10 and suffered a humbling 5-1 loss. Popular opinion seemed to somewhat sway the other way after the game. Facebook statuses now read “here we go again”, and the media were quick to point out the shortcomings of the Canucks, their lack of depth in the scoring department Daniel Sedin, the NHL's first star for the week for this season, with 5 points in his first two games, was now being criticized less than 48 hours later.

It is nice to see the fans get behind the home team, and support them, but what’s frustrating is the way the tide turns with each and every game. After a win, it’s time to plan the parade, and then after a loss, we need to fire the entire team.

We need to keep things in perspective; it’s a long season…