The Vancouver Canucks have began the season a disappointing 0-0-2 after they might simply be 2-0-0. They’ve had leads going into the third interval in each video games this season and have managed to get outscored 4-1 and squander two factors. They performed 20 minutes towards the Calgary Flames and 40 minutes towards the Philadelphia Flyers, so I assume the subsequent is 60 minutes? That’s what followers hope will occur in Tampa Bay on Tuesday after they face the Lightning of their first street contest of 2024-25.
Associated: It’s Clear the Canucks Must Begin Enjoying a Full 60-Minute Recreation
With that, let’s take a gander on the pocket book from the transient two-game homestand that started the marketing campaign.
Silovs Struggles, Lankinen Shines
Arturs Silovs obtained the beginning within the house opener and struggled in what ended as a 6-5 extra time loss to the Flames. He had hassle monitoring the puck by visitors and finally allowed three from mid- and long-range (in different phrases, areas that aren’t designated as high-danger). These struggles usually are not new both as he allowed 12 of those targets (six from mid-range and 6 from long-range) within the playoffs, too. Head coach Rick Tocchet advised the media after the sport that new goalie coach Marko Torenius will work with him on that earlier than his subsequent begin, which can doubtless come someday on this street journey.
Kevin Lankinen obtained his first begin in Canucks colors on Friday (Oct. 11), and whereas he completed with the identical destiny as Silovs, a one within the OT column, he had a robust evening stopping 29 photographs. He even made a highlight-reel save ala Thatcher Demko and exhibited a calmness within the crease that can be wanted till the aforementioned star returns to the web. Whether or not he will get extra begins than Silovs within the coming weeks stays to be seen, however he positively made his presence identified together with his stable efficiency towards the Flyers.
Elias Pettersson began the season with two new linemates in Jake DeBrusk and Daniel Sprong. On paper, it regarded prefer it might be a harmful and productive trio. Nonetheless, two video games in, it has been something however. In keeping with Pure Stat Trick, they’ve a 39.13 Corsi for share (CF%) and have solely generated 5 scoring possibilities and one high-danger likelihood in 11:54 of ice time at 5 on 5. Tocchet has severely restricted their time at even energy and even benched Sprong within the third interval of each the Flames and Flyers video games. Over two video games, he has seen six shifts within the third interval, with the low level approaching Friday when he solely noticed two.
Total, they noticed the bottom quantity of even-strength ice time, coming in at solely 3:55 in comparison with 7:24 for Nils Hoglander, Aatu Raty, and Conor Garland, and eight:25 for Kiefer Sherwood, Teddy Blueger, and Pius Suter. After the sport, Tocchet answered a query about that deployment, saying “Blueger’s line deserved to play extra.” This was true, contemplating they generated 11 scoring possibilities and Pettersson’s line solely had two. Clearly, after two video games, this combo isn’t working. I wouldn’t be shocked if we noticed Garland or Hoglander alongside Pettersson and DeBrusk when the puck drops on Tuesday towards the Lightning.
Blown Leads Reminding Followers of the Nightmare That Was October 2022
Followers are in all probability getting a nasty case of deja vu proper now. In 2022-23, the Canucks began the season towards the Edmonton Oilers and rapidly jumped out to a 3-0 lead, solely to lose 5-3. Then, they performed the Flyers and once more grabbed a fast 2-0 lead, and ultimately misplaced 3-2. The one distinction, they misplaced each in regulation reasonably than going to extra time and getting a degree. So, I assume the Canucks are in a greater place now with two factors after two video games, however the truth stays, the development of blowing leads was current in each situations.
Hopefully, the development stops there, and the Canucks don’t repeat it for a 3rd time on Tuesday. As most followers keep in mind, they continued it towards the Washington Capitals after they had a 4-2 lead going into the third and misplaced 6-4 (setting a nasty NHL file within the course of), and towards the Columbus Blue Jackets after they had a 2-0 lead and misplaced 4-3 in extra time. All advised, they blew leads in all however 4 video games that month and didn’t get their first win till Oct. 27, ending with an abysmal 2-5-2 file. The nice factor is, that group was approach totally different personnel and coaching-wise, so, let’s hope it’s solely a two-game nightmare, not a nine-game one.
Three Stars of the Week
1. Conor Garland
Garland solely has one purpose, however he’s been hands-down the Canucks’ finest ahead to this point this season. He has been his standard tenacious self alongside the boards, refusing to be knocked out of the play, and hounding everybody together with his forechecking expertise. Individually at five-on-five, he has the second-most scoring possibilities (six) to the chief Blueger (seven), and three high-danger possibilities, second solely to Blueger’s 5. He additionally leads the group in particular person shot makes an attempt with 11 and is in a three-way tie with Blueger and Kiefer Sherwood in precise photographs with 4. All in all, he’s been glorious and continues to play effectively past his stature at a listed 5-foot-10 (when everyone knows he’s nearer to 5-foot-8).
2. Quinn Hughes
Quinn Hughes will get the second star of the week for his efforts towards the Flames alone when he saved the sport with a blocked shot and arrange the tying purpose by JT Miller. He didn’t have his finest sport towards the Flyers, however that’s to be anticipated once you play a career-high 31:29. He skated miles in that sport – actually. In keeping with NHL EDGE, he skated 4.54 miles, which is surprisingly not the furthest he’s skated in his profession. That got here again in 2021-22 when he skated 4.69 miles on Jan. 29, 2021, in 31:07 of ice time towards the Flames.
3. Brock Boeser
The third star goes to the Brockstar. He began his 2024-25 season with a bang by scoring two targets towards the Flames and will have had a pair extra in his second sport towards the Flyers if not for some fortunate saves by Samuel Ersson. The one-timer that mainly simply hit his glove, and the short turnaround shot that caught the nook of his pad might have simply gone in if Girl Luck was on the aspect of the shooter reasonably than the goalie.
What’s Subsequent For the Canucks?
After two disappointing losses in additional time at house, the Canucks now embark on a four-game street journey that can see them play the Lightning, Florida Panthers, Flyers, and Chicago Blackhawks. They may then return to Vancouver for a short three-game homestand towards Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins, Rod Brind’Amour’s Carolina Hurricanes, and Jack Hughes’ New Jersey Devils. Hopefully, as soon as that homestand begins, they may have a couple of wins, or fingers may be nearer to the panic button than they’re proper now.
