The Canuck Way
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Quadrelli Report: Horvat nets three in Vancouver Canucks win over Wings

By David Quadrelli

DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 22: Bo Horvat #53 of the Vancouver Canucks scores a third period goal past goaltender Jimmy Howard #35, Justin Abdelkader #8 and Trevor Daley #83 of the Detroit Red Wings during an NHL game at Little Caesars Arena on October 22, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 22: Bo Horvat #53 of the Vancouver Canucks scores a third period goal past goaltender Jimmy Howard #35, Justin Abdelkader #8 and Trevor Daley #83 of the Detroit Red Wings during an NHL game at Little Caesars Arena on October 22, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MICHIGAN – OCTOBER 22: Quinn Hughes #43 of the Vancouver Canucks tries to get around the stick of Filip Hronek #17 of the Detroit Red Wings during the third period at Little Caesars Arena on October 22, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. Vancouver won the game 5-2. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – OCTOBER 22: Quinn Hughes #43 of the Vancouver Canucks tries to get around the stick of Filip Hronek #17 of the Detroit Red Wings during the third period at Little Caesars Arena on October 22, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. Vancouver won the game 5-2. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

The Canucks may have found their power play lines

The Canucks power play really could have been a lot better to begin the new season. After going 0-7 on the power play against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday, the Canucks shook up their personnel and their formation.

Rookie defenceman Quinn Hughes replaced Alex Edler on the point, and Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser were no longer on their off-wings. It’s a change that has seemingly worked for the Canucks, as they went 1-3 on the power play against the Rangers on Sunday, and struck twice on five chances last night.

They look much more dangerous with Hughes at the point, as the mobile defenceman adds entirely different threats to the Canucks’ first unit. In particular, his shiftiness and elite-level hockey IQ work effectively at keeping opponents guessing as to what his next move could be.

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“It’s a new setup for our power play, so we haven’t had a lot of training with the (unit), we’ve only had two games with it and I think they’ve been really good games,” said Elias Pettersson of the new-look first unit.

The Canucks are hoping this shake-up of their power play will finally be able to make it as good as everyone had hoped it would be this season. So far so good.

The importance of momentum

Against the New York Rangers, the Canucks got off to a hot start right out of the gate after a poor effort against the New Jersey Devils just a day before. In the third period, the Canucks were heavily pressured by the Rangers, and were lucky to hang on for the win.

If it hadn’t been for the performance of Markstrom in the third period, the Canucks likely would not have come away with two points on Sunday, and the same can certainly be said of last night’s tilt.

These victories do a lot for a team’s momentum and wins like last night’s show what kind of culture this new Canucks team has. The Canucks teams of old may have simply mailed it in after being down by two goals heading into the third — but not this group.

This team is hungry to win and they want to win for each other. Come from behind victories like last night’s help build momentum for a team. Finishing up a road trip 3-1 before heading home for two games is a great time to have momentum on your side. The Canucks play the Washington Capitals this Friday, puck drop is at 7 PM from Rogers Arena.

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