With just 14 days remaining in the Vancouver Canucks season, this would be a great time to start thinking this season over.
The Vancouver Canucks still have seven games left to play in the 2015-16 season. With the Canucks now officially eliminated, it is time to look back with an attitude of learning and not so much the “what if” mentality. Folks, we got a long offseason ahead of us to do that. And whenever you do think over this season, please have drinks on your table. They will help a lot.
Just 14 more days of hockey and Vancouver will be free from the Canucks. In another 20 days or so afterward, I am sure most of us will long for some Canucks hockey, though. So here it is, the Canucklehead Lament, with 14 thoughts for the last 14 days of the season. There is more to a season than just the points, you know.
Thought #1: Looking at the Goods — the Netminding
Whatever you say about the skaters on the Canucks roster, the netminding has been up to the NHL standards. Not saying that Ryan Miller and Jacob Markstrom have given the Canucks the elite-level netminding the city had enjoyed for so long with the likes of Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider, but the truth is, these two have been the best players not named Sedin. More on that later.
Here are some numbers to mull over, courtesy of War-On-Ice.com.
Ryan Miller is third in save percentage in 5v5 close situations at .946. Adjusted, he is second only to Brian Elliot at .947. Jacob Markstrom has tied Ryan Miller in all-situation save percentage at .917, which is good to be in the top-30 of the league, meaning that Markstrom is playing a starter’s game.
And please. The netminders have made 5-1 losses feel better by making them 3-1’s and 2-1’s. Let’s thank them for creating a competitive environment, at least score-wise, for the new core to develop in.
Next: Thought #2: Setting Expectations for the Next European Pros