Post-Game Talk: Home Opener: Canucks 5, Flames 2. The Alien has landed.

Melvin

21/12/05
Sep 29, 2017
15,198
28,055
Montreal, QC
All pre season we were getting all these power plays but mostly looked horrendous. Then the season starts and we are out pped 7-1 and somehow win 4-2.

Gotta give it up to Sutter, Motte ,Beagle, Granlund, tanev and Markstrom on the PK. Hell of an effort.

I was stunned when I looked at the stats and realized Pettersson only played 9 minutes. He stood out every shift, backchecking and forcing turnovers with his stick. The goal and assist were alright as well.

The D mostly looked terrible and I am going to worry Boeser's back is still bothering him of he keeps looking like this.

Flames D looked almost as bad as ours.

Anyone miss Sam Gagner?
 
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BenningHurtsMySoul

Unfair Huggy Bear
Mar 18, 2008
24,792
9,882
Port Coquitlam, BC
Fantastic debut by Pettersson. He's likely to be the team's best player by the quarter pole, if he isn't already.

Boeser looks terrible. They really need to sit him for a few weeks, he's clearly not healthy.

Tyler Motte was great tonight in a penalty killing role, looking like an excellent pickup from the Vanek trade.

Jake was garbage tonight aside from the goal, he needs to seriously up his intensity.
 
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me2

Go ahead foot
Jun 28, 2002
37,903
5,595
Make my day.
You could say penalties are why Elias only got 9 minutes but he had the 3rd least even strength minutes as well.

He is clearly a much better player than Motte, Granlund etc. and should see more minutes at even strength.

Just the first game though so hopefully Mr. Green works on that
Motte is attached to Sutter. If Sutter gets minutes, Motte gets minutes. You would need to get Green to cut Sutter's minutes.
 

Canuckle1970

Registered User
Mar 24, 2010
6,841
5,853
I expected a loss - I just hoped it wouldn't be a total beat down. But EP's debut was great (with limited minutes), Marky kept us in it with some great saves early in the game, and the PK was exceptional.

I am a pig in mud right now.
 

SillyRabbit

Trix Are For Kids
Jan 3, 2006
7,525
6,308
If Boeser is still hurt, not only do they need to take him out of the lineup, but they need to get him whatever treatment necessary, even if it’s a surgery.

Hell, if Boeser has to miss the entire season with rehab, they should do it. This season is a write-off anyway.

He’s arguably the most important player in the entire organization, they should be treating him with the utmost of precaution and thinking about the future.
 

Breakers

Make Mirrored Visors Legal Again
Aug 5, 2014
21,367
19,707
Denver Colorado
That Horvat line looked invisible in my opinion.
--
They did have a couple nice chances, but really it was a continuation of the preseason.
 

Johnny Canucker

Registered User
Jan 4, 2009
17,750
6,116
Was at the game (actually still here while wife shops at Canucks store).


Good - Petterson, Markstrom, Gudbranson , Motte, Edler , Tanev , penalty Kikl

Bad - Erickson , Virtanen , Brock, Bo, Sven.

At this play, Brock doesn’t score 20 this year. No chance. He’s only a good shooter. Does nothing else. And not fast enough to get in those spots. Like I said last year. PP specialist.
 

BloatedGuppy

Registered User
Jun 29, 2007
4,307
232
Vancouver
About as picturesque a win as you could ask for from this hockey club. Flames played pretty poorly but poured it on late.

GOOD
  • That's about as pretty a first goal as you're ever going to see in the NHL. Pettersson was very dangerous despite seeing very little ice time.
  • The penalty killing put in a yeoman effort tonight, particularly the forwards.
  • Jay Beagle had a nice tip on the Leipsic goal and played a chippy but controlled hockey game. Lots of energy.
  • Troy Stetcher had some flashes of excellence and was a standout on defense.
  • Granlund actually showed some jam in front of the net tonight. I noticed him doing things, and not in a "oh god it's Granlund again get him off the ice" way.
  • Like the passion from Pouliot on the Pettersson goal. He did good work as a decoy, and got off a rocket of a shot at one juncture. Still a complete fire drill in his own end, sadly.
  • Goldobin did what Goldobin is going to need to do to enjoy an NHL career...produce. He was sponging points off Pettersson tonight, but they all count in the end.
  • Motte played with the same vigor and intensity that he brought to the preseason. Would like to see him be a little more controlled on the PK, but he did a lot of good things tonight.
  • Markstrom could have been first, second and third stars based on game impact. Looked completely dialed in and was unlucky not to get a shutout. Made some absolutely tremendous saves to preserve the victory.
BAD
  • Eriksson picked up two points while doing very little, and still looks like an anchor that needs to be hauled around on offense.
  • Horvat line felt out of sync all evening. Baertschi was invisible and Brock looked lumbering and a bit slow to react to developing play. They got absolutely hemmed territorially as the game wore on.
  • Edler and Gudbranson both got unceremoniously undressed a few times on the evening. I like that Gudbranson brought his physical game, but could do without the bonehead penalties.
  • On the subject of penalties, other than Sutter's hook they were all more or less deserved. A lot of lazy hooks and questionable decision making. You like to think a team that employs Tkachuk wouldn't be capable of playing 60 minutes of near spotless hockey on the other side of the ledger, but stranger things have happened.
  • Virtanen's redemption goal was a thing of beauty, but he played a largely halting, tentative game tonight. Back probably still ailing him.
UGLY
  • The Canucks scored 4 goals at 5 on 5 and added an empty net, despite being outmatched in power plays seven to one. All five goal scorers were under the age of 24. Not going to find anything ugly to complain about on an evening like that. For this team, in this season, that's a fairy tale outcome.
 

WetcoastOrca

Registered User
Jun 3, 2011
38,142
21,936
Vancouver, BC
Gotta give major props to the penalty killers. Great game by Sutter, Beagle, Motte and Granlund. Just outstanding along with the defense on the PK and Markstrom.
Petterson comes as advertised. What a first game! Can’t wait until we get more PP’s and he gets a chance to show his stuff. Two points in limited ice time. Hopefully his minutes improve when we don’t have as many penalties.
That Virtanen goal was amazing! He just turned on the jets. Hopefully we see more of that.
 

M2Beezy

Objective and Neutral Hockey Commentator
May 25, 2014
45,284
30,119
Was at the game (actually still here while wife shops at Canucks store).


Good - Petterson, Markstrom, Gudbranson , Motte, Edler , Tanev , penalty Kikl

Bad - Erickson , Virtanen , Brock, Bo, Sven.

At this play, Brock doesn’t score 20 this year. No chance. He’s only a good shooter. Does nothing else. And not fast enough to get in those spots. Like I said last year. PP specialist.
LOL called it :laugh:

What a garbage analysis :laugh:
 

Canadian Canuck

Hughes4Calder
Jul 30, 2013
14,223
3,972
Kamloops BC
Fantastic debut by Pettersson. He's likely to be the team's best player by the quarter pole, if he isn't already.

Boeser looks terrible. They really need to sit him for a few weeks, he's clearly not healthy.

Tyler Motte was great tonight in a penalty killing role, looking like an excellent pickup from the Vanek trade.

Jake was garbage tonight aside from the goal, he needs to seriously up his intensity.
Agree with everything except Virtanen...were we watching the same game??? He was fantastic, playing fast with intensity and being physical. Not sure why you think he was garbage?
 
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Peen

Rejoicing in a Benning-free world
Oct 6, 2013
29,639
24,983
Gudbranson and Pouliot's game tonight is an example of why +/- is such a shit stat in small quantities.

the whole defense was bad. markstrom saved their ass
 

Peen

Rejoicing in a Benning-free world
Oct 6, 2013
29,639
24,983
Agree with everything except Virtanen...were we watching the same game??? He was fantastic, playing fast with intensity and being physical. Not sure why you think he was garbage?
He was bad.

He scored a nice goal after playing like trash
 
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Ori

#Connor Bedard 2023 1st, Chicago Blackhawks
Nov 7, 2014
11,578
2,173
Norway
Vancouver struggled due to bad refs. or bad penalties - I believe it was a mix this morning, but they had momentum out of it too and scored. So pre season don`t mean anything that`s certain.. It felt great to win the first home game, because they have like 6 on the road games now! :)
 

Melvin

21/12/05
Sep 29, 2017
15,198
28,055
Montreal, QC
If Motte continues his play and roussel returns they will have a decision to make. He is no longer waiver exempt.
 

Dr Good Vibes

Registered User
Jan 18, 2010
2,441
877
Almost everyone on the roster had a good game tonight. Markstrom had an amazing game. Pettersson is God.

Virtanen looked pretty good, I thought. Had a handful of really hard hits and didn't have any bad giveaways. Obviously, he also scored. That's a great game for Virtanen IMO.

Gudbranson had a good game as well. He instigated a physical matchup early, won it, and didn't have too many bad giveaways. There were a few, and he didn't stand out too much after that, but he's a part of our PK.

Our PK played great tonight. Guys like Motte and Beagle disrupted the Flames constantly and showed good hustle.

Bo and Boeser didn't look great tonight, and Baerstchi rides with those two so he didn't either. I'm not too worried. It does look like something's off with Boeser, but I wonder if it's the weight gain. He doesn't look as fast which isn't the best for a player who's already average speed-wise. I think they'll pick it up, I don't expect that line to be the big problem this year.

A very rosy evening in what I still expect to be a dreadful season.
 

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