Have to be happy with the win but Canucks were real sloppy at times (and give Nashville some credit for the way they choked off the middle on the Canucks). Led to lot of shaky play by the Canucks coming out of their zone with many turnovers. Sometimes you are on a losing streak but you can see a team is coming together and then you start picking up wins. At other times, you are on a win streak but errors are creeping . But you continue to win for awhile. Yet inevitably you start to lose. Tochett has got the task of making sure they understand there was a lot wrong in this game and get them back to focusing on sticking to their systems and reducing mistakes.
Goal-tending (and lack of it by Predators was huge factor in this game). Also Canucks started moving the puck up the side negating some of turnovers as the game went along
Good
Pettersson - still see important faults in his game (was weak on the first goal against, took too long to make a pass or a shot, etc) but in the end you don't win without his talent. I'm just thinking how good he is going to be when he starts putting everything together. His line not good defensively in this one
Hughes - elite player - even in kind of ordinary game, like this one, is clearly the best player.
Beauvillier - showing he can get back and play defense. Still having problems taking it wide around defenders but other-wise showing good speed and determination.
Demko - big factor in win - key saves at important points. Would be my first star.
Lafferty - killing it in the face off circle and being a good glue player. Looks to me like he could play higher in the lineup
Not So Good
Boeser - hated his defense in this game. Gives up way too much room to the player he is supposed to cover and was very poor reacting to dangerous situations in his zone. Again looking sluggish in his skating and getting little on his shot. Shot, in fact, appears to be totally gone.
Hoglander -shows very little smarts with the puck and forces his passes and makes plays leading to 3 on 2s against (not the only one doing this - especially in the early going). Penalty was brain dead and he just seems out of control much of the time. Think his defense is better (still not that good however) but just too much random stuff. Maybe if you give him time, he relaxes some and starts figuring things out.
Others
Myers - two good steady games. Errors have dwindled and did provide some heavy checking in this game
Freidman - playing more and was fine in the 1st and 2nd. Fell off in the third and forced off the puck some
Soucy - like others got forced back into his crease at times but overall used reach to knock pucks away and keep pressure on people coming out of the corners. Made the safe efficient play most of the game
Miller - seemed to have burr under his saddle all game. First period penalty was a joke (Forsberg grabbed his stick) and he had reason to complain. But even before that seemed frustrated and moody. Luckily the refs made am nice make out call on Forsberg. Maybe Miller's weakest effort of the season but still he is crucial for any success.
One of the histories with the team is that they can get lazy on home strings. Like I said, Tocchet and crew can't let that happen. Now is the time to bank points.
