Quadrelli Report: Vancouver Canucks split wins with Flames in preseason action
Last night the Vancouver Canucks were in split-squad action. They won their game in Calgary by a score of 3-2, and lost the game in Victoria by a score of 4-3.
Last season, I had the three takeaways articles after almost every Vancouver Canucks game after I began writing at The Canuck Way. This will be similar, just with a more personal touch to it. Let’s get into the first post-game report of the preseason.
Brogan Rafferty, PP1 Specialist?
When the Canucks signed right-handed defenceman Brogan Rafferty at the end of last season out of Quinnipiac University of the NCAA, they wanted to get some good looks at him. Unfortunately, since he came so late in the season, the Canucks were only able to suit him up for two games.
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In those two games, however, Rafferty showed great poise, and seemed to be doing everything right. There was a memorable shift with Quinn Hughes, where the two worked the puck nicely in the offensive zone.
The Canucks got an early power play and Rafferty got an opportunity to further show off his skills. He began the man advantage off well, registering a shot that tested the Calgary goaltender early on. He turned the puck over later on that shift trying to pull of an infamous Canucks power play drop pass.
Later, Rafferty made a nice defensive play when the Flames found themselves on a shorthanded two on one. Rafferty waited the perfect amount of time before dropping to the ice to block the pass. Rafferty was one of the few noticeably solid Canuck defencemen last night, and I’m sure the team would like to get a further look at one of their young defencemen.
Although he will likely start the year in Utica with the Comets, it’s good to see Rafferty have a solid game like he did last night.