The Canuck Way
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Quadrelli Report: Vancouver Canucks’ scorers quiet in loss to Flames

By David Quadrelli

CALGARY, AB - OCTOBER 05: Vancouver Canucks Center Bo Horvat (53), Right Wing Brock Boeser (6) and Center Elias Pettersson (40) talk between whistles during the third period of an NHL game where the Calgary Flames hosted the Vancouver Canucks on October 5, 2019, at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB. (Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CALGARY, AB - OCTOBER 05: Vancouver Canucks Center Bo Horvat (53), Right Wing Brock Boeser (6) and Center Elias Pettersson (40) talk between whistles during the third period of an NHL game where the Calgary Flames hosted the Vancouver Canucks on October 5, 2019, at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB. (Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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CALGARY, AB – OCTOBER 05: Vancouver Canucks Center Bo Horvat (53), Right Wing Brock Boeser (6) and Center Elias Pettersson (40) talk between whistles during the third period of an NHL game where the Calgary Flames hosted the Vancouver Canucks on October 5, 2019, at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB. (Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CALGARY, AB – OCTOBER 05: Vancouver Canucks Center Bo Horvat (53), Right Wing Brock Boeser (6) and Center Elias Pettersson (40) talk between whistles during the third period of an NHL game where the Calgary Flames hosted the Vancouver Canucks on October 5, 2019, at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB. (Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The Vancouver Canucks lost their second game of the season at the hands of the Calgary Flames. Here’s what I noticed during last night’s game.

The Vancouver Canucks are not having the most ideal start to the season, but it’s still early. I’ll have more in the coming days discussing this start to the season further, but let’s focus on last night’s game.

Canucks go with a top-nine

Well, that didn’t take long. After getting criticized widely by fans for sending Sven Baertschi down to the minors and compiling a bottom-six forward group that looked eerily similar to the one they had last season, the Canucks decided to go with the top nine forward group that everybody knew they were capable of compiling.

Adam Gaudette willed his way onto this roster, and it’s obvious that he needs to play. Although he was scratched for the first game of the season, Gaudette found himself centring the Canucks’ third line, with Brandon Sutter moving to the wing on Jay Beagle‘s line and Loui Eriksson being a healthy scratch.

It was a welcome sight to see a player who earned his spot get a chance in the lineup. It is well known to Canucks fans and management alike that Gaudette needs to play in order to further develop. The question was whether or not he would be playing in the AHL with the Utica Comets or with the Canucks to begin the year.

Well, Gaudette got his chance last night, and kept his foot on the gas pedal. Gaudette was playing with the same energy and hustle that got him a spot on this team out of camp in the first place. He was good at both ends of the ice, generating office, and getting in hard on the backcheck all night long.

112. Final. 0. 104. 3

Additionally, Sutter looked right at home skating on the wing alongside Beagle and Tim Schaller on the Canucks’ shutdown line. Gaudette’s play last night should see him remain in the Canucks lineup for the home opener.

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