Great road trip and might well have been the best team in this game. Some of the plays like the late one by Pettersson and Joshua reflected a tried team. Not sure the over time selection of players made good sense. Blueger was their best center and might have seen time. One thing for sure is they needed to be better on face-offs in OT.
Good
Boeser - to me, that was the best this player has looked. Had to look twice to see if that's really Boeser. Shots appears to have returned suggesting his wrist has improve. Looked like the old Boeser shot. If he keeps this up he do should begin to do much better with shots from the slot on the PP. But most importantly he didn't seem to be struggling to stay in the play. Wasn't like he was always straining to get up to speed. Much more pop in his stride.
Hronek - very good at getting to the puck and clearing his zone. Not sure he has done much to help the PP (which is in a little bit of disarray) but he was strong in every other facet of the game. Thought both him and Hughes had strong games and were at times super dominant in the offensive zone. Some of those shifts were just magical.
Myers - strongest of the his combo with Zadorov. Actually was carrying the puck with authority out of his zone and did good job of handling the Dallas speed.
Garland - first star. Unlike the other night Joshua got the puck over to Garland and Garland, of course, set him up cold on the open side. Garland was just all over the ice and I think the key to the play of the third line. Wish it was Garland breaking in with Joshua in the OT.
Joshua - turning into a stud. His game is getting stronger and stronger. Almost expect him to score. Another very good job on the PK and 5 on 5.
Hoglander - just a bull along the end boards and getting better at getting the puck out. He is improving in the kind of things Tocchet wants and in this game was actaully covering back for some of the mistakes of others. Hoping he can build on what he is doing and have a strong second half
Micheyev - not much offensively but he was using his speed to back check effectively and to get the puck smoothly through the neutral zone. Important that he can start to become a bigger factor offensively and this game showed some signs he might.
Not so Good
Cole - not terrible but lugging some and not getting to places fast enough. Game was played at high speed and at times Cole was having some trouble reacting.
Aman - Dallas used their home advantage to attack the Aman line and the Canucks were largely hemmed in their own end when the Aman line was out. Would maybe have moved Lafferty back to center and double shifted someoone on the wing b/c Aman was not able to get any kind of forecheck going consistently or get the puck out of his zone. Would bring back Kuz to play with Pettersson and get Suter back to the 4th line center position.
Others
Demko - last two goals especially were not great. Second best goalie in this game.
Miller - looked tired and played erratically. Did not look like he should have been out in OT. Seemed to be fighting it in this game.
Pettersson - getting to be the most frustrating player on the team. Plays are there but he isn't making them. Thought for sure he would do something with the 2 on 0 but he, for some reason hurried it, and made a mess of things. Seems like the effort is there but the ease with which he made plays last year simply isn't there. Has to stay on his feet and stop frantically diving around. Might mean you don't always get your stick on your puck but it does mean you stay in a position to make the next play and respond quickly in transition. In some ways he is trying too hard and forcing things and not letting the play come to him.
Overall, I thought the team, given the nature of the schedule, played a good game and maybe were nfortunate not to win. Moreover, you can't criticize too quickly a team that has the season they are having. Hopefully they can keep their focus and dispose of the Sharks (kind of trap game) and get the rest they need over Xmas.
Good
Boeser - to me, that was the best this player has looked. Had to look twice to see if that's really Boeser. Shots appears to have returned suggesting his wrist has improve. Looked like the old Boeser shot. If he keeps this up he do should begin to do much better with shots from the slot on the PP. But most importantly he didn't seem to be struggling to stay in the play. Wasn't like he was always straining to get up to speed. Much more pop in his stride.
Hronek - very good at getting to the puck and clearing his zone. Not sure he has done much to help the PP (which is in a little bit of disarray) but he was strong in every other facet of the game. Thought both him and Hughes had strong games and were at times super dominant in the offensive zone. Some of those shifts were just magical.
Myers - strongest of the his combo with Zadorov. Actually was carrying the puck with authority out of his zone and did good job of handling the Dallas speed.
Garland - first star. Unlike the other night Joshua got the puck over to Garland and Garland, of course, set him up cold on the open side. Garland was just all over the ice and I think the key to the play of the third line. Wish it was Garland breaking in with Joshua in the OT.
Joshua - turning into a stud. His game is getting stronger and stronger. Almost expect him to score. Another very good job on the PK and 5 on 5.
Hoglander - just a bull along the end boards and getting better at getting the puck out. He is improving in the kind of things Tocchet wants and in this game was actaully covering back for some of the mistakes of others. Hoping he can build on what he is doing and have a strong second half
Micheyev - not much offensively but he was using his speed to back check effectively and to get the puck smoothly through the neutral zone. Important that he can start to become a bigger factor offensively and this game showed some signs he might.
Not so Good
Cole - not terrible but lugging some and not getting to places fast enough. Game was played at high speed and at times Cole was having some trouble reacting.
Aman - Dallas used their home advantage to attack the Aman line and the Canucks were largely hemmed in their own end when the Aman line was out. Would maybe have moved Lafferty back to center and double shifted someoone on the wing b/c Aman was not able to get any kind of forecheck going consistently or get the puck out of his zone. Would bring back Kuz to play with Pettersson and get Suter back to the 4th line center position.
Others
Demko - last two goals especially were not great. Second best goalie in this game.
Miller - looked tired and played erratically. Did not look like he should have been out in OT. Seemed to be fighting it in this game.
Pettersson - getting to be the most frustrating player on the team. Plays are there but he isn't making them. Thought for sure he would do something with the 2 on 0 but he, for some reason hurried it, and made a mess of things. Seems like the effort is there but the ease with which he made plays last year simply isn't there. Has to stay on his feet and stop frantically diving around. Might mean you don't always get your stick on your puck but it does mean you stay in a position to make the next play and respond quickly in transition. In some ways he is trying too hard and forcing things and not letting the play come to him.
Overall, I thought the team, given the nature of the schedule, played a good game and maybe were nfortunate not to win. Moreover, you can't criticize too quickly a team that has the season they are having. Hopefully they can keep their focus and dispose of the Sharks (kind of trap game) and get the rest they need over Xmas.
