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Wednesday, February 9, 2000
Troubled waters
After quick start, Canucks' ship is sinking
VANCOUVER -- And Brian Sutter thinks he's got troubles ...
Well, he does, actually. His team is winless in five (0-4-1-1). His defence corps could best be described as skeletal. He's trying to subsist without his captain, Steve Smith, his second-most reliable goal and point producer, Cory Stillman, arguably his most dependable defenceman, Tommy Albelin.
And so far, his Flames have fizzled on the road, where, just by coincidence, they have no choice but to spend the next five games.
Yet with all that taken into consideration, put back-to-back, he's living in the lap of luxury compared to the preppy Marc Crawford.
After opening the season 10-6-4, Crawford's Canucks have stumbled and bumbled to a 5-21-6 record. At the Garage, they won their first three games, but are 5-17-4-5 since. In fact, they've won just three home games since Nov. 5.
But wait! Want more? Within the division, Vancouver is a virtual non-factor -- 0-4-1 vs. Calgary, 0-4-1 vs. Colorado and 1-2-1 vs. Oilers. And one win against the Oil occurred in overtime, meaning that in 14 Northwest Division games, the opposition has taken at least one point off the Canucks in every single one. And they're 1-7-2 in the last 10 over-all.
Why, it's enough to make a longshoreman weep. Not that coach Sutter could be caught dabbing the corners of moist eyes with a hanky yesterday.
"We've got problems of our own," he muttered. "One positive, though, is that Reggie (defenceman Robyn Regehr) had a second good practice. We're hoping he'll be ready to go."
Regehr has missed the past 11 games due to post-concussion syndrome.
Newly-acquired defenceman Stewart Malgunas could draw into the lineup if Regehr still needs a bit more time off. But buzzsaw forward Steve Begin is ready, if not tonight, to suit up for the big boys.
"Right now, we've only got one extra forward and one extra D," said Sutter. "That doesn't give you a lot of flexibility. We're going to need everyone that's here, and some guys who aren't. Begin's the 13th forward right now but believe me, he'll get his chance on this trip. He's improved a lot in two years. He's a good skater, a real irritating-type player.
"It's all hands on deck. It's going to take a lot of oars in the water to get the boat to its destination."
And while we're on the nautical theme, a moment of silent prayer, then, for the good ship Canuck, listing badly and in imminent danger of sliding to the bottom of the sea?
"We don't concern ourselves with what a team is doing, but what it's capable of," Sutter replied briskly. "When I see a team that can throw Mogilny, Naslund, Messier, Ohlund and Aucoin out there, I see a lot of potential."
Alas, what the dwindling core of Canuck faithful see is only a lot of abject misery.
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