WASHINGTON, D.C. - If you were looking for talking points, there was no shortage of them here Thursday. And goodness knows, Vancouver loves its talking points when it comes to the Canucks.
You could debate the missed penalty call that preceded one goal, the Canucks’ key injuries in the face of the Washington Capitals’ superior depth, Vancouver coach Willie Desjardins’ decision to play fourth-liner Derek Dorsett on the first line — all game — or Pavel Bure’s inclusion in a pre-game tribute to Alex Ovechkin from 500-goal scorers.
But all the talking after a 4-1 Vancouver loss is background noise to one screaming, indisputable truth: the Capitals have the best record in the National Hockey League and are Stanley Cup contenders, and the Canucks are not.