Vancouver Canucks: 5 New Year’s Resolutions
Protect the net
The Canucks’ offence is not the team’s only problem: Vancouver’s 107 goals against rank 24th in the league.
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While blaming the goalies seems way too easy, it is true that neither Ryan Miller nor Jacob Markstrom have been at the top of their game lately. Miller’s .909 save percentage is well below the .916 league average, Markstrom’s .917 is only slightly above. So, what can be done about that?
Whatever the problem might be for Miller and Markstrom, changing their individual performances is something nobody can do. They are likely doing their best — either they can turn it around or they cannot. Nothing the team can change as a whole.
Therefore, the goaltenders need their defence to help. The Canucks’ 30.8 shots against per game are sixth-most in the NHL. Vancouver needs to find a way to get that number down to help their goalies.
With the Canucks’ current injury woes, the defence has been decimated, but they need to find a way to help Miller and Markstrom — or whoever else is in net.
Next: #3