Quadrelli Report: Vancouver Canucks’ scorers quiet in loss to Flames
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.
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.
Strong game for Myers, Hughes, Gaudette, and Horvat line
Tyler Myers isn’t known to be a physical player, but he was active and throwing his weight around last night. He had a moment where he emphatically shoved Mark Giordano down after receiving a cross-check to the back from the Flames’ captain, as both players skated off for a line change.
Tyler Myers and Mark Giordano getting into it late in the 2nd period. #Canucks #Flames pic.twitter.com/BUi8GhDIxB
— Sportsnet 650 (@Sportsnet650) October 6, 2019
He also showed that it’s really, really hard to clear a puck over a person who is 6’8. He stopped two Flames’ clearing attempts by jumping 20 feet in the air to glove the puck down. Okay, maybe it wasn’t 20 feet, but you get the point — Myers is really, really, tall.
Despite making a turnover that cost the Canucks a goal, Myers had a strong game, registering six total shots on goal when all was said and done. Additionally, Quinn Hughes had another strong game. He was pushing the offence and was moving the puck extremely well, as we’ve quickly become accustomed to seeing from the 19-year-old defenceman.
One question that remains is how long it will be before Hughes is given a shot at quarterbacking the Canucks’ first power play unit? The power play has failed to convert on its first ten chances of the season, so a change may be in order.
As mentioned, Adam Gaudette had a strong game, and appeared to elevate the play of Jake Virtanen. Up until the third period, Virtanen almost looked lost on the ice, but later in the game, was skating hard and playing the way the Canucks so badly want to see him play consistently.
Hopefully, it’s the beginning of some chemistry between Gaudette and Virtanen, who have played together on a line in the past. Speaking of chemistry on a line, Bo Horvat, Tanner Pearson, and J.T. Miller have been one of the Canucks’ more consistent lines through two games.
Pearson had 11 shots against Edmonton, and the line as a whole has just looked good out there so far. The next time we’ll see them play together, Horvat will likely be wearing a C on his jersey. The Canucks will unveil a captain at their home opener on Wednesday when they host the L.A. Kings. Puck drop is at 7 PM(ish).