John Tortorella: "Worst game of the year" as Canucks popgun offence fails to dent Tampa Bay

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      Vancouver Canucks coach John Tortorella was his usual blunt self after last night's 4-2 loss at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

      "I think it was probably our worst game of the year," he declared. "We deserved to lose that one."

      Tortorella called a time-out in the first period to wake up his listless players, but it didn't have a great effect.

      He described Tampa Bay as a "quick team" who played well.

      The coach didn't mention that while it may have been the most dismal game for the Canucks' top players, it wasn't such a bad performance for the third and fourth lines, which each chipped in a goal.

      Canucks fourth-line centre Zac Dalpe scored his first goal of the season and had a 73 percent ratio in the face-off circle in less than eight minutes of ice time.

      Third-line right winger Brad Richardson notched his eighth goal of the season, recorded three hits, and blocked three shots during his 14:33 on the ice.

      But a lacklustre effort from the Sedins and the second line of Ryan Kesler, Mike Santorelli, and Chris Higgins sealed the Canucks' fate.

      A power-play goal by Nikita Kucherov at 19:57 of the second period also didn't help, giving Tampa Bay a 3-2 lead.

      The Canucks came on strong at the start of the third period, but couldn't convert several scoring chances. 

      When a deflection by Tampa Bay's Alexander Killorn gave the visitors a 4-2 lead, the Canucks never recovered, looking fairly flat through the rest of the game.

      Eddie Lack blocked 29 of 33 shots in the Canucks' net.

      Ben Bishop was solid in goal for Tampa Bay, stopping 28 of 30 shots fired in his direction.

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