Post-Game Talk: [GM74] Canucks lose to Blues | 5-6 (OT) | Hughes(2), Kuzmenko(2), & Boeser

[Hit the post]

Remember when Bertuzzi dominated games back in 2003? He was motivated back then to do great things.

He sulked & pouted after the refs started to call his "push off" move in front of the net. Rather than adjust to the closer attention, he just floated.

 

[lawrence]

Burroughs - continues to show more and more range in his play. Getting to be a must re-sign

gotta keep the Vancouver boys.

 

[strattonius]

Pettersson contributes to the game, Hughes controls and dominates the game. Their impact on this game in particular wasn't even close. Come on.

Pettersson dominates as well. Dunno what you're watching it's possible to have 2 dominant players you know.

 

[VintageBure]

There’s no way this team makes the playoffs next year with both OEL and Myers in the lineup. One has to go (ideally both but that won’t happen).

 

[m9]

Who do we have to re sign? Bear has to be one. I doubt Dermott is back.

Juulsen, I assume

 

[orcatown]

Thought we we were safe at 5 to 2 but Gods were only fooling with us. Far as the draft is concerned, what could wrong, always go wrong. (you sometimes they'd find a way to move down in the draft even if we finished 16th from the bottom) Although maybe they threw us a bone in this one when blade on Hughes skate blade came off.

Good

Hughes - has gone to a whole new level over the last part of the year. Got to be a top 10 player in the League right now. Has the puck and keeps it as long as he wants or needs to. One way you know how dangerous he is, is your desire to get him off the ice when you think the team might squeeze out a loss.

Miller - beginning to look a little banged up but still another excellent game. Love how he was pissed off at Boeser when Boeser made a useless shot on the PP when other options were open

Petteresson - beginning to look as good with Kuzmenko as Naslund did with Bertuzzi. Just magic at times.

Kuzmenko - has me watching KHL stats and highlights trying to see if there is any possibility we can find another gem in Russia. Game was featured by his offensive smarts. I think he is making Pettersson a better player

Burroughs - continues to show more and more range in his play. Getting to be a must re-sign. I'd say, right now, Burroughs >>Bear. If they can sign another top end defenseman like Gavrikov then I'd say trade Bear and keep Burroughs

Joshua - whether he should be on any sort of top line is questionable but he passed that test in this game. He contributed very well.

Hronek - liked Hronek in this game despite the -3.

Meh

Bear - wasn't skating well with the puck and was too slow in moving it. Did not look on top of his game and wasn't confident with the puck.

Dries - very little in the play. Can't provide enough to justify being at this level.

Studnicka - stick skill non-existent and looks to have tunnel vision. Kind of a disruptor but nothing else. Hopefully the team will not have to put out players like him and Dries next year.

Others

Kravtsov - showing slightly better and more in the play. Has ways to go but, at times, gives an indication that he has something to work with..

Boeser - hope he keeps building on those point totals b/c he needs to be gone. His salary is so needed elsewhere in the line up. Actually glad to see him out to start overtime (made a goal against more likely) and predictably got out of position defensively on the winner. Seems to me, he is trying to prove himself rather than make the right play. Times when he takes a shot when he should be passing or gets himself out of position to get a better chance to score. He is doing better (his skating in particular) but that's coming from a very low base place. His defense remains woeful.

Glad to see we made it through this game without Binnington attacking someone.

Sorry for double mixed up post - hit the wrong key and all hell broke loose.

 

[ChilliBilly]

Agree, just being pedantic. Was loving the score at 5 - 2, please don't come back in the 3rd ... again.

Nailed it.

 

[God]

i just watched the OT goal again and although i would love to poop on myers, boeser is probably more at fault there. he's literally floating in the middle of the ice, neither putting pressure on schenn (thus forcing myers to) or staying with vrana going to the net. by the time he makes a decision to put pressure on schenn, vrana's already in front alone.

nothing would make me happier than seeing boeser succeed in a different uniform next season.

 

[1440]

We played poorly. Couldn't handle Blues forecheck and surrendered a lot of high danger chances. First time we've laid an egg in a while.

What? Canucks were dominant in this one. NST had the high danger chances at 13-6 Canucks at 5 on 5. Money Puck had the odds at 70-30 in their favour. xG were like 5-2 in favour of the Canucks. The Blues scored on a bunch of long distance shots and the Canucks were all over the net.

 

[sting101]

The attcks on Boeser are ridiculous. The OT goal was 100% on Myers. Boeser was on the inside in line with Schenn and Myers decides to switch off and go straight to Schenn. It's 3v3?? it's man on man and not only that Myers is the defenseman who had the far back positioning before he chased the puck.

Boeser had a bad give away on the earlier Vrana goal and forced a bad 5 hole shot on the PP and he gets crucified??

3 pts 11 shot attempts played almost 22 minutes made quality plays, was patient on puck and even was able to carry through the neutral zone. Get a grip some of you??

 

[racerjoe]

Yeah that OT goal is on Myers. There is no reason for him to come up, and 3 on 3 you have to take the man down low and/or guard against the middle. It's why you see long possession in OT with the play staying to the outside, because the defence should collapse and guard the centre of the ice. I just saw the highlights so I don't know who played well or bad, but that goal was definitely on Myers.

 

[VanJack]

Is Boeser being showcased? As a scorer he'll be always attractive to some teams, although his contract is a huge disincentive.

But going forward I just don't how how he survives in the system Tocchet wants to implement. Simply too soft along the wall and too big a defensive liability.

Putting Myers and Boeser on the ice at the same time in OT makes me think Tocchet hasn't entirely given up on 'the tank'.

 

[Josepho]

I still have no idea which of these teams would take on Boeser, maybe one of the really bad ones that gets Bedard or Fant?

 

[DonnyNucker]

Yeah that OT goal is on Myers. There is no reason for him to come up, and 3 on 3 you have to take the man down low and/or guard against the middle. It's why you see long possession in OT with the play staying to the outside, because the defence should collapse and guard the centre of the ice. I just saw the highlights so I don't know who played well or bad, but that goal was definitely on Myers.

The OT goal was on our coaching staff. Boeser and Myers should never see 3/3 OT again

 

[sting101]

And i'm sorrey but Hughes was outstanding start to finish while Pettersson struggled mostly until the 3rd

Burroughs is a passable 4RD and nothing more. Love his grit but dont let the fights get in the way of his play.

Brisebois was almost unplayable in this one. That turnover was in his head all game and was brutal under pressure in our zone and at the offensive blue line.

Myers skated well and played pretty good except he has his usual 2 or 3 brain farts and this game it was a winning goal against. If this was an important playoff implications game he should and would be getting torched.

Bear had one of his worst games i've seen and had his ice time chopped by Foote because of it. His partners weren't helping

Hronek was ok but made some mistakes under pressure. Certainly wasnt a -3 game in how he played but it was his worst showing to date for me also. Is so good in transition moving forward and at the offensive blueline. Hope he starts letting that shot fly

You cant win in this league with 2-3 defenseman making so many poor reads and plays with the puck. Under pressure or not

 

[racerjoe]

The OT goal was on our coaching staff. Boeser and Myers should never see 3/3 OT again

Totally fair.

 

[VanJack]

Hughes was on the ice for almost 30 minutes again tonight......no matter how brilliant (and he was in this game), it's simply not sustainable. He looked gassed in OT tonight.

This blueline needs an almost complete makeover. If Tocchet plays Hughes like a rented mule, like he is right now in garbage time, then he's courting disaster next season.

Fatigue is the biggest reason players get injured. They desperately need to find some d-men who can take some of his minutes.

 

[ahmon]

watching some of the goals against again:

Goal 1 against - Brisebois turns the puck over along the blueline, if you watch the replay he looked to his right before passing and Miller was standing right there. Not sure if Miller called for the pass or not. Obviously Brisebois is at fault there, and its a lesson for him, but Miller kinda mislead him there.

Goal 2 against- Kapanen gets a shot off and Hughes picks up the rebound and he wants to transition the puck up quick and throws it up the left boards. Beauvillier who is left wing couldn't get there, Dries couldn't get there, and even Garland right wing tried to rush to the puck and all 3 got beat to the puck by the blues player. Then it was a scramble and Faulk finished it with a heavy 1 time. Hronek didn't come out to block it -decided to allow Demko to see it. If you had to nitpick maybe Hughes could have done better as he overestimated how fast beauvillier/dries can get to the puck and Hronek maybe could have tried to block it.

Goal 3 against - was a classic Boeser play where he can't get the puck out by the boards. As a winger when the puck is rimmed out to your side, your job is to get it out. And if you try to make a better play by passing it to the middle - you have to be sure its going to a teammate or its a scoring chance against.

Goal 4 against - Thomas pp goal where he scores from walking in from the point and beats demko with a shot right by the post. Its pp and skilled players will make skilled plays. Can nitpick Brisebois could have blocked it, or Demko could have done better.

Goal 5 against - both Kravstov and Studnicka forecheck and got caught deep, to compound things Myers decide he should step up in the neutral zone, leaving Quinn on a 1-on-2 with Petey trying to come back. Myers really can't read the play and not sure that's how the coaches want those 2 forwards to forecheck.

Only logical reason Boeser is not benched, is they are showcasing him. If Kuzmenko gives the puck by the wall like that he's sitting.

What else needs to be said about Myers, he's a 3rd pairing guy paid like a good top 4, he needs to go.

Brisebois just came back from injury give him some slack and he wasn't that bad. Along the same lines Hronek was a -3 but don't think he really screwed up. So far he's moved the puck well and is fine defensively. He battles. If there anything negative its the lack of chemistry between him and the other top players that stands out - but its reasonable and chemistry takes time.

Talking about chemistry, that Petey to Kuzmenko give and go was a thing of beauty.

 

[CanucksSayEh]

Hughes was on the ice for almost 30 minutes again tonight......no matter how brilliant (and he was in this game), it's simply not sustainable. He looked gassed in OT tonight.

This blueline needs an almost complete makeover. If Tocchet plays Hughes like a rented mule, like he is right now in garbage time, then he's courting disaster next season.

Fatigue is the biggest reason players get injured. They desperately need to find some d-men who can take some of his minutes.

He played like 5 seconds in OT.

These are the minutes that the top guys get in the playoffs. It needs to be seen if this core is worth trying to make that happen.

There should be no concern for an elite 24yo minutes, who has never looked better, and will be on vacation soon. There are players who had deep runs last year, and are gearing for another run this year, that play more, don't see any issues being raised.

 

[thecupismine]

Good reminder of how far the team has to go still. Demko was poor, but half the blueline was putrid tonight. Sound structure can mask a lot of the problems, but when things go awry you need more talent to fight through it.

Hopefully Boesser's point totals give a team desperate for offense hope that he can play at a high level next season. Being able to flip him for a similarly overpaid defensemen or center would really help the team play the type of game the coaching staff wants.

More importantly, it will make sure none of our coaches gets baited to take Kuzmenko off of the first powerplay unit - when he's out there it makes a huge difference, just an insanely crafty, smart player. Keep him on there all season next year and it should be a top 5 PP unit in the league.

 

[wonton15]

watching some of the goals against again:

Goal 1 against - Brisebois turns the puck over along the blueline, if you watch the replay he looked to his right before passing and Miller was standing right there. Not sure if Miller called for the pass or not. Obviously Brisebois is at fault there, and its a lesson for him, but Miller kinda mislead him there.

Goal 2 against- Kapanen gets a shot off and Hughes picks up the rebound and he wants to transition the puck up quick and throws it up the left boards. Beauvillier who is left wing couldn't get there, Dries couldn't get there, and even Garland right wing tried to rush to the puck and all 3 got beat to the puck by the blues player. Then it was a scramble and Faulk finished it with a heavy 1 time. Hronek didn't come out to block it -decided to allow Demko to see it. If you had to nitpick maybe Hughes could have done better as he overestimated how fast beauvillier/dries can get to the puck and Hronek maybe could have tried to block it.

Goal 3 against - was a classic Boeser play where he can't get the puck out by the boards. As a winger when the puck is rimmed out to your side, your job is to get it out. And if you try to make a better play by passing it to the middle - you have to be sure its going to a teammate or its a scoring chance against.

Goal 4 against - Thomas pp goal where he scores from walking in from the point and beats demko with a shot right by the post. Its pp and skilled players will make skilled plays. Can nitpick Brisebois could have blocked it, or Demko could have done better.

Goal 5 against - both Kravstov and Studnicka forecheck and got caught deep, to compound things Myers decide he should step up in the neutral zone, leaving Quinn on a 1-on-2 with Petey trying to come back. Myers really can't read the play and not sure that's how the coaches want those 2 forwards to forecheck.

Only logical reason Boeser is not benched, is they are showcasing him. If Kuzmenko gives the puck by the wall like that he's sitting.

What else needs to be said about Myers, he's a 3rd pairing guy paid like a good top 4, he needs to go.

Brisebois just came back from injury give him some slack and he wasn't that bad. Along the same lines Hronek was a -3 but don't think he really screwed up. So far he's moved the puck well and is fine defensively. He battles. If there anything negative its the lack of chemistry between him and the other top players that stands out - but its reasonable and chemistry takes time.

Talking about chemistry, that Petey to Kuzmenko give and go was a thing of beauty.

10/10 post would read again

 

[EpochLink]

He sulked & pouted after the refs started to call his "push off" move in front of the net. Rather than adjust to the closer attention, he just floated.

and he got paid that off season too! Then he became the lazy ass floater

 

[MS]

He played like 5 seconds in OT.

These are the minutes that the top guys get in the playoffs. It needs to be seen if this core is worth trying to make that happen.

There should be no concern for an elite 24yo minutes, who has never looked better, and will be on vacation soon. There are players who had deep runs last year, and are gearing for another run this year, that play more, don't see any issues being raised.

Never mind the playoffs, it's the minutes that elite players get in the regular season.

McDavid and Mackinnon play 22 minutes/game. Crosby and Ovechkin did when they were in their early-mid 20s. Guys like Karlsson and Doughty averaged 27-30 minutes every year through their 20s basically.

This is what great players do. And if you have players showing this level of excellence who can dominate in those huge minutes, you leverage the living daylights out of it. The fact that these players are dominating in these huge minutes is an absolutely ground-shaking development but people are whining because 'too much icetime' is making the team win an extra game or two. It's bonkers.

 

[MS]

Pettersson contributes to the game, Hughes controls and dominates the game. Their impact on this game in particular wasn't even close. Come on.

Ha fair. Hughes was better last night. I think I was trying to say that Pettersson was the the best forward and Hughes the best defender but got the whole comment wrong.

 

[Hit the post]

Never mind the playoffs, it's the minutes that elite players get in the regular season.

McDavid and Mackinnon play 22 minutes/game. Crosby and Ovechkin did when they were in their early-mid 20s. Guys like Karlsson and Doughty averaged 27-30 minutes every year through their 20s basically.

This is what great players do. And if you have players showing this level of excellence who can dominate in those huge minutes, you leverage the living daylights out of it. The fact that these players are dominating in these huge minutes is an absolutely ground-shaking development but people are whining because 'too much icetime' is making the team win an extra game or two. It's bonkers.

What the eff do you know. Willie D stuck with the 1-2-3-4 in the playoff series against the Flames because of....reasons (even though the Sedins, coming of a top ten in the NHL in points *each*, were playing pretty well that post-season at the time).