Thought the team played a very good, all round game and with a little more touch around the net they could have put Sabers away earlier. Really no passengers in this one and a step up in play by some.
Pettersson - good two way effort. Moved the puck quicker and with less hestitation. Long term, the team needs to find players that better suit his game if you're going to max out his talent. Might be some present assets can grow into being those type of players as well. Think he needs a little size on his line.
Myers - sort of epitomized the Canuck defense in this game. Kept teams largely to the outside and moved puck up from the back quickly. Soucy had the one were he got walked but he was, again, good deep in his end. Defense, in general, was as strenght in this game.
Lindholm - not perfect but skating was much better. Looked good on PK (which was an important element in this game) and stayed central to the play in every zone for most of his shifts. Don't see him scoring much but if he can provide smart puck management and defense. he should be aid moving forward.
Mikheyev - good on forecheck and getting pucks out of his zone. Best asset is skating and getting back to using it.
Garland - work continues to create chances - much as almost anyone else. Critical to any success team has. Might have shared some fault fot the first goal against
Hughes - should have got more assists - set people up cold. Whenever the team started to let down, Hughes went into hyperdrive and brought team back into the game.
Others
Hronek - having a great game, I thought, till he started giving up chances in the third. Really team was near air tight till Dahlin sifted his way through Hronek to score.
Boeser - gifted chances but missed them all. Have to think there are lot of mid range scorers - say usually in the 20 goal range - that could score at least as much and do it cheaper. Maybe trade Boeser to get someone like this or help elsewhere just to get cap room . I know this has been beat to death but the Canucks have to be open to this.
Aman - not a bad game but I believe it is now near confirmed that he can't score at this level. Funny b/c he looks so confident in that aspect in the AHL
Podkolzin - looks legit NHL but you do wonder about the ceiling. Can he ever score? Canucks need to start getting more offense from the lower lines and Podz might be the most likely to do this.
Some recent criticism of the Canucks recent play needs to recognize that they have been playing against teams on a roll. Colorado certainly is and maybe the best team in the League. Washington is playing well and pushing a hard for the playoffs. Buffalo looks to be finally rounding into the team that their personnel suggests they can and should be (given them a couple of years and they'll be trouble). The Canuck have been close in all these games and you have to acknowledge that they're playing against teams presently playing good hockey.