Kind of win you don't need. Canucks, of course, can't lose when they should. As in the past few years the team doesn't know how to tank and instead looks for garbage wins. Just the way it is. Kreider did a lot to gift us this game.
Good
Motte - guy is excellent skater and that's crucial in the present NHL. Funny that the low profile Vanek trade worked out better than the higher profile ones like the Burrows trade. Points out how much better we might be if so many other players had been moved (Hamhuis, Vrbata, Richardson etc., etc,) instead of being lost for nothing. Sometimes you get lucky but you have to create chances for that luck as well. Motte was pretty clearly the best Canuck in this game
Markstrom - not a lot of work but again very solid.
Levio - nice pass on the Boeser goal and good on the forecheck.
Edler - thought he was good defensively and moved puck mostly fairly well. Far from perfect but still important in the win
Biega - hardly took wrong step in this game. One thing Biega does for the younger players is to provide a passing outlet.
Stecher - big improvement over the last couple of games. He is increasingly showing himself to be very good one on one.
Poor
Goldobin - so little pep in his game. Sluggish puck movement and shoved around in one on one play.
Virtanen - yes he scored but he was fighting the puck all game and looked lost at times. Stick handling remains an issue.
Pettersson - got to be said - he was liability in this game. Not finishing the season well and looks overwhelmed physically. Hopefully team not playing him injured
Others
Beagle - had some good moments on the PK and provided some needed physicality
Pearson - some decent shifts in the third but overall was AWOL. Needs to get more involved
Granlund - not great but one of his better efforts. Seems to always do better against the bottom feeding teams. Steps up in class and he's negated.
Sautner - showing himself to be near NHL standard. Has good wheels and actually able to push some offense in this game. Development seems back on course
Brisebois - skating was fine and able to move puck effectively. Like to see him get more game time so that we can get a better look at where he is.
Gaudette - again flashes of high level play. Absolutely should be getting more ice time and in more situations. What is the harm in doing that at this point in the season?????
. Glad to be on board.
