Vancouver Canucks: 3 takeaways from 4-3 win over Calgary Flames

It was a fast-paced and extremely exciting game last night. Rogers Arena was buzzing as the Vancouver Canucks defeated the Calgary Flames in a shootout by a score of 4-3.

It was a game the Vancouver Canucks could have easily lost. It was a game that saw the Calgary Flames take 47 shots on goal. It was a game that kept the Canucks’ penalty killers busy nearly all night and in some very key situations. Here are my three takeaways from Saturday evening’s game.

1. Troy Stecher promoted to first power play unit

It wasn’t that Ben Hutton did a bad job running the Canucks first power play unit in the absence of Alex Edler, it was just that Troy Stecher has also played extremely well during this time of need on the Canucks’ blue line — much like Hutton has.

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Stecher topped off another good performance on Thursday evening with this slick tape-to-tape pass to Elias Pettersson tying goal and send them to overtime in a wild game in Chicago.

This feed to Pettersson was all it took for head coach Travis Green to decide to put the agile Richmond native on the team’s first power-play unit for the team’s next game.

Although the power-play didn’t convert on any of their five chances tonight, it wasn’t for a lack of effort or ability to get set up in the offensive zone. Stecher had many key holds at the line as the Flames penalty killers repeatedly tried to clear the zone and sneak in a line change.

On top of keeping the play alive, Stecher was a huge part of how well the power-play moved the puck tonight. The power-play was running through him tonight, and it resulted in some great looks for Pettersson and Brock Boeser.

Tonight, it seemed the power-play did everything but score. However, if they continue to get as many looks as they did tonight with Stecher on the point, the goals will come very, very soon.

2. Jacob Markstrom steals the game

We’ve always talked about how Jacob Markstrom is a solid goalie who has the ability to keep the team in games but usually won’t steal them any games. Well, Markstrom definitely stole the game for his team last night.

As mentioned before, the Flames were able to get off 47 shots, with three getting by Markstrom. His positioning was on point, and he made huge stops at very key moments of the game.

His most impressive save of the night came on shot number 44, Markstrom’s 41st save of the night. A huge glove stop on Johnny Gaudreau late in the third period to keep the game tied at three.

Markstrom was the game’s first star and was the main reason that the Canucks came out of that game victorious. Despite facing a heavy workload — last night being Markstrom’s seventh straight start — he has proven to be up to the task.

Markstrom’s teammates showered him with praise and Pettersson even said that Markstrom was the true hero of the game, despite picking up two assists and the shootout winner himself. The Canucks will need Markstrom to continue his improved level of play if they want to remain in the playoff conversation.