Crazy game - was like two entirely separate contests. Team looked punchless early but came back with an absurdly good 2nd half to the game. Lots of encouraging signs in the last 30 mins.
- Sedins were meh ... had a few moments but not overly great. Eriksson was fine and not really any concerns there.
- Sutter line was dynamic. Hansen especially probably had the best passing game of his career. Granlund is much faster right now and using it effectively. Sutter had one of his best games as a Canuck, although he looks godawful on the PP.
- Horvat a much better game, back in a more suitable spot. Baertschi working hard but his timing just looks off. Virtanen is the biggest disappointment right now and letting that line down. Just not moving his feet, no intensity. Needs a kick in the butt to Utica.
- 4th line was terrific, and probably the only line that was good all night. Full points to Dorsett who had maybe his best game as a Canuck - made lots happen with the puck tonight. Gaunce fits that role perfectly and won all kinds of puck battles. Burrows looked heaps better.
- Gudbranson-Hutton had a poor start but got better. Hutton needs to be harder on the puck with better gap control against the rush.
- hate seeing Tanev wasted as a Sbabysitter. We really need a reliable veteran to anchor a 3rd pairing, and as soon as a top-4 guy gets hurt, things are gonna get ugly back there. That said, Larsen had a solid game tonight. Sbisa less so, and was lucky to not put the team SH late with that idiotic hit on Skinner.
- iffy debut for Markstrom. Didn't seem to be tracking the puck well and his rebound control was off, but battled through it.
Worth noting how brutal the ice was. People falling everywhere all night. Hopefully it improves.
Good start but we've seen this before. Very interested to see how we stack up against a legit quality team on Tuesday.