Seemed to me that LA found a way to lose rather than the Canucks winning it. Once it got to OT, LA was cooked. One thing this team does have is good open ice players. In the end , however, win was all about Demko.
Good
Pettersson - such a game breaker. If we had ever draft Tkachuk to go along with him, we'd have gold. Benning was such a friggin fool and , of course , fell in love with the putz who lay down exhausted when asked to skate up and down the ice a few times
Hughes - thought the idea was to play him less??? Even when not at his best he still is just dominating in getting the puck into scoring positions.
Juulsen - another solid game and game time continues to go up. Looking like his confidence is increasing and much more willing to go to the body. Plays like this and you can conceive of him being NHL standard on, at least, a limited basis. Needs to be re-signed - not sure of what qualifying offer is.
Demko - obviously the first star. LA was trying to trade for him. If they had gotten him, they might be the favorite in the West.
Boeser - goal was fluke but he is skating and trying harder than at any other point in the season. Puck movement in this game was good. Actually broke up some plays in his end.
Kuzmenko - like how in overtime he wasn't going to give up the puck until he could get open for a shot or set someone up. Not all that good in the run of things during the first 60 but showed his skill when it counted.
Not so Good
Studnicka - if you're going to be a bottom line plug you can't give up the puck in your zone so often. There is so little direction in his play.
Podkolzin - just can't seem to make himself a factor. Team was at a constant disadvantage with him and Dries on the ice.
Aman - his line was hanging in but mostly reduced to just trying to get the puck out. Aman has to learn better how to play in these tight, physical games. Also Garland was lot less effective in this game.
Have to say this team finds ways to make it so difficult on their fans. Just when you start looking at the upper end draft talent we could get, they go on a tear. Then you hope they have build some chemistry in their late season run to nowhere and they come out the next year and butcher their season by mid-November.. It's just rinse and recycle Groundhog day over and over again.
