Mark Spector

Mark Spector is a columnist for sportsnet.ca

Alex Burrows was one of several Canucks who could not stand up to be the difference maker Sunday.

One night the Canucks beat the best, the next they disappear against a last-place club. What gives?

VANCOUVER -- So, when do you start to wonder?

When is the security derived from a gritty, well-earned win over first-place Washington replaced by anxiety over another loss to the 15th-ranked team in the West?

When can we tell if these are the old, easily satisfied Canucks, a group that can find a way to grow fat on winning one playoff round? Or if head coach Alain Vigneault has a club with the character, guts and will to play with the Chicago Blackhawks come April or May?

The former was on display last night in Vancouver, where two nights after they'd beaten one of the very best teams in the National Hockey League the Canucks lost to one of the worst. A 3-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues was the third time in their past four losses the Canucks fell to a last-place club.

"I don't know how anybody could suggest the team we played against tonight is not a good team," said a protective Canucks coach Alain Vigneault. "We're in a tough conference. Sometimes you go out there and bust a gut and don't play as well as you can, but it's not from lack of trying. There are some good teams in our conference and people should give them a little more credit than what they're doing right now."

Roberto Luongo was not quite as charitable.

"It's frustrating that we get a big win the other night and can't back it up with another great game," Luongo said after Sunday's defeat. "We can talk about it until we're blue in the face before the game. But talking about it and executing are two different things."

Whichever way you fall on the issue, know this: The Canucks themselves are more than just a little concerned that with Christmas upon them, they have not in any way picked up where they left off last spring.

The ink wasn't dry on the game sheet from that 3-2 win over the Capitals and the Canucks were already stressing over what kind of effort would follow against St. Louis. Because, of course, a one-goal victory over Alexander Ovechkin and the boys was surely something the Canucks could build on, no?

"Every time we get a win we say that, right?" Luongo told us after the Capitals game on Friday. Like his teammates, he was merely OK on Sunday night at GM Place, outplayed by Ty Conklin at the other end of the rink.

"A few times I've really thought we were building traction, gaining momentum -- and we've found a way to disappoint one another," Vigneault said Friday night. "Obviously (Washington) was an elite team, we played a really strong game ... we found a way to win."

As defenceman Kevin Bieksa's struggles continue -- he seems to be directly responsible for a goal per night these days -- no one stepped up and grabbed the St. Louis game by the throat.

There is enough talent here that when the Sedins are lagging, linemate Alex Burrows can usually make something happen. Or Ryan Kesler's second line can make the difference. Or Rick Rypien and the boys can take a skill game, turn it their way, and pound the two points out of an opponent.

But on Sunday night at GM Place nobody stood up to be the difference maker. They were all aware of the pattern, but no one was able to break it.

"Timely saves, timely goals are huge to build that confidence and the momentum that you need to get on one of those rolls," Vigneault had said. "We got those timely moments, those pressure moments in a game (on Friday) that help you to believe in yourself. To get yourself going."

Those elements were as tangible a flying reindeer on Sunday, as the Canucks waltzed through a home game like a team in search of an easy night.

So far this season Vancouver has lost to the league's worst club, the Carolina Hurricanes, and the worst four in the Western Conference (the Blues and Anaheim twice each, Edmonton and Columbus.)

It is Dec. 21, and Vancouver has still not been inside the Top 8 in the West.

For the only Canadian team to make it past the first round of last year's playoffs, it's time the Canucks figured out that in order to get back to Round 2, they're going to have to qualify for Round 1.