Weird game featuring another very poor start from Vancouver. Beaten to every puck on a chip and chase, turnover, board battle, float pass, you name it...just so slow and late to react.
That being said, the Canucks also did a great job of denying the Kraken ANYTHING off of their strong forecheck. I almost fell out of my chair when they revealed that Seattle had managed just two shots ON DeSmith after 20 minutes to Vancouver's 4.
On the game:
-Hronek and Soucy looked rough to start (who didn't), but woke up during the 2nd and 3rd periods. Felt a lot of the rough start was attributed to poor forward coverage and REALLY unfortunate bounces though. The opening goal after Brisebois' penalty saw Hronek play that entire PK near perfectly, ate a slash, stayed out for the entire two minutes, didn't look worse for wear, outmuscled guys at the net front, cleared the zone...literally perfect. Then, his broken stick off the non-call deflects his clearing pass right to the slot for Poturalski to get the tap in while DeSmith is swimming. Then 17-7 found their rhythm and just took over in the offensive zone. It was actually surreal seeing a Canucks d-pairing without #43 on it controlling and dominating with d-to-d passes and legit shots from the perimeter.
-McWard was honesty about his game after the fact. Appears to know just how far away he is from being a credible NHLer. Which is both great and terrifying. If the kid knows he's punching above his weight, struggling, and still the team's THIRD BEST OPTION on RD, and the only real option for Hughes? THen hoooo boy what a disaster.
- Wolanin had his best game, arguably. But his passing has looked nowhere as good as it was last season.
- Brisebois is steady but essentially the smaller, lighter, left-handed version of Tyler Myers. He can give the team minutes, but there's nothing there, really. If he stayed out of the box, he would've been able to flex the ONE thing this coaching staff would keep him in the NHL for: penalty killing.
- Myers had that awkward fight. Otherwise, I can't say I saw him do a single thing besides PK and a few shot attempts.
- Raty was fine, until he wasn't. Seems to think the game very well, but is also prone to those rookie boneheaded mistakes like lazy puck touches that NHLers feast on.
- Sasson is in the same tier as Raty IMO, just less offensive upside. Could be a good 4th line energy/PK guy. Just needs to shore up on the same lazy puck touches that Raty also struggles with.
- Pius Suter best player for Vancouver last night. Love his game. quietly disruptive every shift. Take a shot every time Suter forces a turnover, denies an entry, or turns an opposing cycle into a rush chance...you'll be tanked by the end of the first period. Sleeper pick for "unsung hero" of the year.
- Höglander was quiet for 99% of the game until the very end when he outworked Ryker Evans along the boards to strip him of the puck and go cross-ice to Brock Boeser for a one-timer. I think he works hard, and Tocchet will love a guy like that.
- Kuzmenko tried a lot of spinny flashy stuff. But only had one real touch during the game where he drove possession for a scoring chance on his own. Skating looks MUCH improved though, and appears to understand the zone coverage much better. Wasn't floating around too often in the d-zone last night.
- Boeser is a solid two-way player. It'll never happen, but I wish the team tried him out on the PK. He's excellent along the walls, uses his frame to box guys out quite well, and is strong enough to take draws, if needed. They need some more utility out of him beyond power play and "can roll with EP40."
-DeSmith was DeSolid DeSpite some DeSwimming in DeCrease
Anyways, I recapped the game for CA, if anyone missed it.
Is anyone else tired of preseason? I am. Or at least I'm tired of p...
canucksarmy.com
