The Canuck Way
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
CALGARY, AB – OCTOBER 05: Vancouver Canucks Center Elias Pettersson (40) directs a teammate into position before a face-off 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 Elias Pettersson (40) directs a teammate into position before a face-off 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) /

Top six has to be better

All this talk of the bottom six, but what about the Canucks top six forward group? While there have been moments where they’ve been buzzing late in games in an attempt to make a valiant comeback, the simple truth is, the Canucks top six, namely Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson, have to be better for the Canucks to start winning some games.

That’s not to pick on them or target them, either. If the Canucks want to have success, they need their scorers to start scoring. Neither Pettersson or Boeser have really found their stride, but the Canucks have also run into two hot goaltenders during this Alberta road trip.

Boeser had six shots on goal last night, and in my opinion, it’s only a matter of time before both he and Pettersson arrive and make their presence known, but something needs to change. Whether that involves trying J.T. Miller on the first line instead of Micheal Ferland for a game, or just unambiguously urging Pettersson and Boeser to shoot the puck more, something needs to change.

Both Pettersson and Boeser have shown flashes, and rather than panic that they haven’t scored yet, just think about how terrifying it’s going to be for opposing goaltenders and teams alike when these two guys really get going and hit their strides. When that will happen, however, remains to be seen.

Home/Analysis