Yeah I know it’s late. Sue me.

Let’s start with a moment of silence for Eddie Lack’s GAA and SV%, shall we?

Lack’s save percentage, a dismal .862, is 59th in the NHL after three appearances. His 4.62 goals against average is 61st overall. Keep in mind there are only 30 teams in the NHL. Sixty-two goalies have seen ice time this season, and the only guy with a GAA south of our boy Eddie’s is Viktor Fasth of the Edmonton Oilers, whose two-game, 5.19 goals against average would lose him the backup spot on most junior benches.

The Avs started the season with the punch of a newborn koala. Despite adding proven snipers like Jarome Iginla and Danny Briere in the off-season, Colorado’s first goal of the season came at 3:08 of the second period — of their third game. They had won just one game in their first seven before meeting the Canucks. As we all know, Vancouver is a polite town, and that Eddie Lack is a pretty affable guy. If someone needs off the schneid, the Canucks are the ones to help them out.

BOOM. 7-3 Avs.

Canucks 1, Avs 0: Henrik Sedin from Daniel Sedin and Radim Vrbata, 0:10 of the first period.

For the second game in a row, the Canucks get off to a fast start — off the opening face-off, Henrik bats the puck down into the Colorado zone. Vrbata hustles behind the Colorado net and conjugates it to Daniel on the far boards. Dank zips the puck into the slot where Henrik goes skate, tape, back of the net. The top line is shining so far this year, and here’s one of the reasons for it: they’re ready to go whenever the other team gives them a bit of room to breathe. Last year the Canucks held back and let the other guys come at them — this year, they barge forward screaming “Winterfell! FOR ROB AND CATELYN AND NEDDARD AND BLOODY, BLEEDING WINTERFELL!”

Canucks 1, Avs 1: Jarome Iginla from Matt Duchene and Nick Holden, 14:28 of the first period.

The Avalanche have their way with the puck down low as the Canucks get to running around in their own zone. Shawn Matthias, in particular, meanders back and forth waving his stick at the puck. He just looks lost out there — one wonders if he’s partaken of Denver’s famous, recently legalized agricultural export prior to the game. Holden pinches down the left boards, shovels a pass behind the net to Matt Duchene. He dipsies past a tired Chris Tanev, doodles a pass into the slot through three sluggish defenders, and Jarome Iginla lets loose with a dandy backhand high glove on Lack. There ain’t a goalie in the league who can stop this shot. This is a guy with 560 NHL goals on his resume, and you let him have the puck unmolested five metres in front of your goaltender? Frankly, fellas, you deserve to lose this game.

Canucks 2, Avs 1: Alexandre Burrows from Nick Bonino and Chris Higgins, 17:23 of the first period.

Against the flow of play, the Canucks regain their lead. The Avs are outshooting the Canucks by a 2-to-1 margin, but the second line chips in with a goal that needs review. Good work on the end boards by Chris Higgins — he Smeagols his way clear of Tyson Barrie on a shoot in, and gets the puck to Nick Bonino on the left face-off circle. The Pizza Man one-times the puck into the slot, off the skate of Alex Burrows into the net. Referee Tom Chmielewski immediately waves it off, but linesman Darren Gibbs steps in with a different point of view. A discussion and review ensues; the new NHL rules about directing but not kicking the puck are enforced, making this a goal. So far this season, the Canucks seem to have some calls going their way. Too bad Burrows’ second of the season is just about the last thing to go in Vancouver’s favour on this night.

Canucks 2, Avs 2: Jamie McGinn from Matt Duchene and Tyson Barrie, 6:06 of the second period.

The Canucks kill a penalty to Luca Sbisa, and get the puck down into the Avalanche zone — all is good so far. A slow line change, however, gives Matt Duchene a full head of steam up the right flank, and for the second time in the game he just plain makes Chris Tanev look silly. Dipsy to the inside, doodle outside, and a dandy pass into the slot. McGinn doesn’t have 560 NHL goals, but you probably still shouldn’t let him rip a wrister from eight feet. Should Lack stop this one? Probably.  The puck doesn’t go bar down like it did on Iginla’s goal — it’s hip height, right about where Lack’s blocker should be if he’s not on his knees waaaay too early. But let’s take a look at defensive coverage for a second, shall we?

Chris Tanev is moving both his feet and his stick — a picture of futility, sure, but at least he’s trying. Check out Sbisa, Alex Edler and Linden Vey coast through the play, though. Those three just watch Duchene and McGinn blaze into the zone, not a stride of the skates between them. Sbisa and Vey don’t even have their sticks in a passing lane; seriously, Luca, what the hell are you doing with that lazy right arm way out there? Awful D, boys. Once again, the game is tied but you’re not building any confidence with this positioning.

Canucks 2, Avs 3: Erik Johnson from Tyson Barrie and Nathan MacKinnon (PP), 8:48 of the second period.

Kevin Bieksa whiffs on a backhanded clearing attempt during an Avs 5-on-3; five seconds later — and just three seconds before Bonino’s high sticking minor is set to expire — Erik Johnson’s point shot hits the twine high glove. Gabriel Landeskog sets up at the top of the crease, and Lack gets caught looking over the wrong shoulder of the screen. Hey, did I mention that the Canucks always like to help a guy bump a slump? Johnson is the second Av of the night to score his first of the season.

Canucks 2, Avs 4: Daniel Briere from Tyson Barrie and Marc-Andre Cliche, 2:05 of the third period.

Seriously, the guy’s name is Cliche? Goes to figure, really. This whole scoring play is cliché. The Canucks, 29th in the league in face-offs this season, lose a defensive zone draw. Lack, whose stats, as mentioned, haven’t been great, allows a rebound to tumble out of the bread basket. Vancouver, most notably Luca Sbisa and Yannick Weber, fail to pick up Daniel Briere floating at the side of the net. Come on guys, this is Briere’s bread and freaking butter. Bouncing puck, goalie on his arse, two seconds to spare, he’s going to bat that baby home more often than not.

Canucks 2, Avs 5: Matt Duchene from Jarome Iginla and Erik Johnson, 5:55 of the third period.

In the first game of 2014-15 that Colorado has scored four goals, why not give them five? Duchene is having a stupid game — damnation, this guy is talented. The Canucks are pressing to make it a one-goal game, and the top line gets stripped of the puck. Dan Hamhuis sees Iginla and another blue and purple abomination jersey turn up ice, and wisely starts backing up to defend the two-on-one. Alas, it’s Duchene who gets the puck at centre ice with the jets on. Goodbye 2-on-1, hello clear cut breakaway. Before you can call Lack a poor bastard, Duchy has gone through the wickets on the backhand.

Canucks 3, Avs 5: Daniel Sedin from Radim Vrbata and Alex Edler, 10:09 of the third period.

One thing about this Canucks team so far: even when they lose, they’re at least trying to make games interesting. Under Torts the whole bench would have sagged like middle aged male side boob. (You’re welcome.) But this year, assistant coach Perry Pearn has made it his mission to make sure the team doesn’t quit on each other.

The top line got blistered by Duchene’s breakaway goal, so they make good and score their second goal of the game. Off a face-off, Hank draws Zach Redmond to the slot, providing a screen. Daniel’s slapshot from about two metres inside the blueline drifts past Semyon Varlamov, making it a two-goal game with half a period to go.

Canucks 3, Avs 6: Gabriel Landeskog from Ryan O’Reilly and Zach Redmond, 12:56 of the third period.

Blame Yannick Weber for a wimpy backcheck on the dump-in. Blame Chris Higgins for a lazy-ass skate through the neutral zone, allowing Gabe Landeskog a hectare or two to set up for a one-timer. Blame Alex Burrows for unnecessarily screening Eddie Lack. Blame Lack for being tired after seeing more than 40 shots in just his third game of the season. Blame the young Avs captain for firing a fricking rocket short side. Wow, what a shot.

Canucks 3, Avs 7: Jarome Iginla from Alex Tanguay and Jan Hejda, 19:16 of the third period.

Okay, this is a quality play by one of the game’s all-time great scorers. Alex Tanguay’s point shot is destined to land somewhere east of Rockport, but Iginla casually reaches to his backhand and tips it back toward the net. For the second time in the game, Iggy puts the puck off the metalwork and in. Do I like seeing another team put up a converted touchdown against Vancouver? No. But let’s be frank: I’d rather see a skilled team like the Avs firing on all cylinders than sitting up on cinder blocks with no clue what’s wrong with the engine.

If the Canucks can’t skate with good teams in this league, they need to improve. This game along with the loss in Dallas suggest this is the case. We haven’t even seen what they can (or can’t) do against true powerhouse teams like Chicago, Anaheim and L.A.