Vancouver Canucks: 3 keys to victory against Smashville

After one of the best Canucks games in the last four years, the boys in blue will host one of the titans of the western conference. Here are the keys to victory over the Nashville Predators.

Some game on Wednesday night, eh? Since we are supposed to be about positivity these days, that game against the rebuilding Rangers was fantastic. The Vancouver Canucks had 55 shots on goal and erased a 3-0 deficit on the backs of their young and old players.

Maybe if the team had some decent goaltending, they may have won the contest in overtime. But, alas, the Canucks did end up losing. That was the kind of game that every fan can enjoy, even the fans that have been carrying a Team Tank membership card since 2014.

For the goaltenders, it was nightmare that they quickly want to forget. I didn’t expect Travis Green to be so happy with the collection of defensive breakdowns, but apparently the secret to putting a smile on his face is 55 shots.

Despite the loss, it was a good way to end a brutal month. The Canucks only won four of 14 games in February and the schedule does not get any easier from here. With the Preds coming in for their final game of the season series against Vancouver, the Canucks could find some inspiration for a win.

Vancouver is 1-1 with Nashville this year and the first meeting is the most memorable. It was the gutsy effort the team pulled out after learning Derek Dorsett would have to retire from hockey. On top of that, Daniel Sedin scored his 1000th career point. That game was fantastic from start to finish, capped off with a game of hot potato from the Sedin line before an empty net goal.

As for the second game…let’s just say we won’t talk about if for the sake of positivity.

Lineup Notes

Injuries

Per Rotoworld: Loui Eriksson (upper body); Chris Tanev (leg); Markus Granlund (ankle); Brendan Gaunce (lower body)

Keys to Victory

A huge game from the goaltender

I will be a little more kind to the goalies compared to Travis Green on this one. As much as I love a good comeback, the Canucks can’t always depend on that strategy to win. Playing the Predators is a lot different from playing a gutted Rangers team.

Whomever gets the start (it doesn’t particularly matter), I hope they throw away Wednesday’s game and come ready and focused for tonight. The Canucks don’t take 55 shots every night, so just in case that doesn’t happen, I would like the goaltenders to stay sharp.

The Predators can punish with their top nine forward group and their blueline. This game must be difficult for the likes of P.K. Subban, Roman Josi, Filip Forsberg, Ryan Johansen, Kyle Turris and the rest of Nashville’s front line assault.

Anders Nilsson stole that game in November with 29 saves. I believe he or Jacob Markstrom can seize this opportunity. Someone has to.

Feed the hot hands

Daniel Sedin has 20 goals this season. If you thought the twins were done, think again. There is without a doubt that they should be brought back next season. Honestly, who is going to replace the guys that are second and third on this team in points?

The Canucks still rely on them to produce offence and the forward group already lacks depth. Removing them won’t do this team any favours. Those two are still so much fun to watch and it is incredible when they can create havoc on the ice with their passing.

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Are there times where they make too many passes and we’re screaming at our televisions “Take a shot”? Sure. But you can’t deny that overall, they are still very enjoyable to watch. It certainly beats having to watch a team play trap hockey and cross their fingers that they might squeak out a win. The twins are embracing their new role and they are thriving in it.

Brock Boeser finally got the monkey off his back. Before last night’s game, Boeser only had 3 goals in his last 14 games. For the last couple of weeks, we can see his wrist is bothering him, but he’s playing through it. Some were wondering if he hit that rookie wall in 2018 and I would have to agree.

That’s why his pair of goals last night were so important. You can quibble over goals that weren’t credited to Boeser, but without a doubt, he desperately needed those goals. This is how Boeser will break through his rookie wall. The Calder Race appears to be over from a points perspective, but there is one avenue of hope.

If Boeser can score 11 times in the 18 remaining games of the season, this could sway the voters out east. Mathew Barzal‘s point totals won’t be caught, but since he is a playmaker, most of his points are assists. Barzal only has 18 goals on the year. Maybe, just maybe, a 40-goal campaign draws more eyeballs by the time the vote happens.

11 goals may be a tough ask, but if anyone can do it, Boeser can. He hasn’t let injuries stop him before and I don’t think he will let that happen anytime soon. Give Boeser that puck and give him as many chances as possible to score. You are more likely to win games this way as well.

Keep playing the kids

We are at the point of the season where these games don’t matter. We want to see the kids play to see what we have. Many of them will be waiver-eligible soon, so the coaches should know who is likely to stay with the team and who should be sent down.

Yesterday’s game showed that you can win with the kids in the lineup. Don’t you find it interesting that one of the most exciting games of the season did not have Eriksson, Granlund or Gaunce in the lineup?

I like watching Brendan Leipsic with Horvat and Boeser. Seeing Nikolay Goldobin play with the Twins is what I have waited for all season. I wasn’t thrilled with Tyler Motte (except for that PK shift), but at least he is younger than Markus Granlund.

By playing the kids, we can see what we have and know that we can comfortably move some people at the draft. On top of that, the kids play an exciting game that nearly resulted in a win. There will be lots of mistakes, but the hockey is much more enjoyable to watch. And that is a win in itself for the fans.

Next: 3 reasons why fans are getting frustrated

Keep playing the kids, Travis Green. It looked like you had a lot of fun last night in a wild game. It’s time we end a lost season on a positive note. See, I can be nice to the Canucks every now and then. Enjoy the game.