Starting to think the team may be for real. Just a lot better than anyone thought. Still a few players short of real contender but don't look like the train wreck e we suspected.. Like nearly everyone hoping for at least one more year of tanking but might as well enjoy the ride.
Good
Markstrom - early saves again important. Little to criticize about his play this year. Has seemingly arrived as bona vide starting NHL goal tender.
Horvat - thought he led the charge in the second to get the lead back. So consistent
Roussel - played well both ways. Has been a player that has very much added speed to the line up. Slot him in anywhere and he contributes
Edler - best player in the game. Handled McDavid and played big. Nice goal and good puck movement on the PP. It's too bad this isn't Edler every game
Tanev - made plays all game - especially with the stick check - that turned the game around and got the Canucks on offense. Him and Edler were very good. (and had to be given the presence of McDavid)
Gudbranson - got watching McDavid on the second goal and left his check alone in front but otherwise was going to the body well and eliminating people on the rush. Thought he showed some jump and was quickly getting puck up to the forwards.
Motte - when team gets bottled up in their end, Motte seems to be the player getting the puck out of trouble. Also creating offensive chances with speed. Player is somewhat a reminder of Hansen and maybe like Hansen can develop a little more finish around the net. Appears to be close to producing some goals.
Not Good
Goldobin - basically a no show. Lackadaisical and looked not ready to compete. Not in the play 5 on 5. Made the one pass to Pettersson on the PP but that was it.
Pouliot - like playing a man short. Play whirled around him as he plodded around trying to keep up with it. Canucks playing a fast moving game to reduce time in their own end but every time Pouliot got the puck things bogged down and Canucks reduced to scrambling the puck out. Coverage was often dreadful. Don't know why Biega is in ahead of him even if he has to switch sides. Nothing could be much worse than Poo.
Others
Virtanen - not really bad but one of those games were he, at times, zoned out when he had the puck and didn't seem to know what to do with it.
Levio - could see some of the glitches in his play in this game. Gets standing at times and at other times glides out of the play. You wonder about focus.
Boeser - scores three points but still, to me, struggling with skating and making too many errant passes. Seems to get off balanced and lacks the smoothness he showed last year. Everything seems to be going in but I think overall play needs to improve. Makes you think he can get huge point totals if he can pick up his skating.
Pettersson - can always make a couple of plays that can turn a game in your favour. Has brilliant shot along with everything else. However, in this game made some defensive gaffes that hurt the team.
Gaudette - no shortage of speed but needs to be more measured how he uses it and improve his control of the puck. Looks near to being an effective player. Have to like the way he is trending.
