The internally screaming Braden Holtby has got it right here with the Canucks’ terrible defense

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You have to feel for the former capital Braden Holtby.

The Vancouver Canucks were beaten by the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. The Leafs scored five consecutive goals before Brock Boeser scored an insignificant PP marker late in the third period. The Leafs won 5-1 and improved to 9-2-1, while the Canucks fell back to a poor 6-9.

To be blunt, Vancouver’s defense this season has been horrifying. Players often look lost in the system game and tonight was no different.

Three goals in particular almost sum up the Canucks evening tonight.

Here, Wayne Simmonds is wide open for the net on a PP.

Here’s Auston Matthews revolving around a cone-like Canucks defender.

Here Matthews is scoring again after JT Miller gave up after a pass on the boards by Holts.

Holtby’s body language said it all after Auston scored again. He’s like that Scotty, beam me somewhere other than here.

“Everything looks difficult for our team,” said Canucks head coach Travis Green according to Thomas Drance of The Athletic. “It’s not coming easy and maybe that’s a mental thing.”

Vancouver has given up the most goals in the league (60). Their four goals conceded per game are second worst only for the Ottawa Senators (4.33 GA / GP). The sieve-y defense has caused Braden to crater Holtby’s save rate (87.7 percent) and fall below the hockey goalkeeper Mendoza line (90%).

This meme pretty much sums up the Canucks’ defense.

During the off-season, Holtby bet on himself and signed a short-term deal with Vancouver that would likely give himself a chance to recoup money lost later due to the pandemic and a poorly defensive year in Washington. Instead, it looks like his new team would rather play shiny than good system hockey.

And last but not least:

Poor guy.

Screenshot courtesy of Sportsnet

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