Canucks: 3 takeaways from 5-2 loss versus Senators
The Vancouver Canucks arrived in Ottawa for a Thursday night for an All-Canadian bout against the Senators. Here are three takeaways in the 5-2 contest.
After a very nice come from behind victory against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night, most people would think the Vancouver Canucks would have no problem taking care of business in Ottawa on Thursday. That wasn’t exactly the case, and the Canucks lost what could have been a very valuable two points to one of the worst hockey teams in the National Hockey League.
It’s a real head-scratcher when the Vancouver Canucks, just a few days ago, completely embarrassed the league’s best franchise by a score of 9-3, but for the life of them, can’t manage to solve Brady Tkachuk and the struggling Senators. Whatever the case may be, Vancouver tends to have a tough time winning hockey games against less talented squads, and that has to stop now.
Before the game got going in Kanata, there were a handful of questions that needed answers. How would Thatcher Demko respond to the Ottawa offence? Would Quinn Hughes get another assist for most helpers by a Canucks rookie? How about Tyler Toffoli? Would his hot streak continue in blue and green?
Quinn Hughes breaking Canucks record
He’s been the league’s highest point-producing defender since the All-Star break. Yes, you heard that correctly. The smooth-skating, left-shot d-man, who’s just 20-years-old is number one in points on the back end league-wide. The kid is relentless, and he’s just getting started. His impact on this team might even be bigger than what Elias Pettersson was capable of last season.
With 16 seconds remaining in the second period, down two nothing, the Canucks leading scorer ripped home a beautiful goal on the man-advantage, and the primary assist came from the blade of Hughes himself. It’s the 43rd assist of his rookie campaign, which is a brand new franchise record. With 43 helpers, Hughes takes sole possession of most assists by a Canucks rookie, and there are still 19 games left on the Vancouver regular-season schedule.
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On the exact same play, his 51st point of the season just so happened to be his 24th point quarterbacking the first unit powerplay. With that stat alone, he also holds the record for most power play points by a rookie in Canucks franchise history. Think about that for a second. This incredible defender just broke two Canucks rookie records, two big records I may add, and it’s only game 63.
Tyler Toffoli is red hot
If you think the J.T Miller trade looks good now, then you better get a load of this guy, Mr. Toffoli. Talk about a win-win trade deadline acquisition. Through three games played prior to Thursday’s action, the 27-year-old already had five points and was riding a three-game point streak with his new club. Could the Scarborough native stay red hot against the Sens? To put it simply, yes.
After the club let in an early third-period goal, they were trailing by two and the top line was seriously applying pressure against Ottawa in an effort to mount a comeback. Miller, already with a power play marker got an excellent shot off and Toffoli miraculously made a difficult deflection goal in front look easy. His net-front presence showing up big time, just another tool in his nifty kit of hockey knowledge.
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Toffoli could have arguably been the hungriest player on the Vancouver roster. He was anywhere and everywhere trying to find a win and push the streak to three. He got the team within one, got some good look chances later on, but just couldn’t tie the game. He did, however, lead the team in shots. He finished with six pucks on target, a takeaway, a hit and 17:34 of ice time. He wants to win, and he’s the perfect player for the playoff push. He now has six points including four goals throughout his first four games playing for the Canucks.
Tyler Myers’ struggles don’t help rookie Thatcher Demko
Travis Green has done everything he can to give Tyler Myers his own defence line. In a perfect world, with a $6 million dollar price tag, you would think Myers could be the head of his own defence pair, but after a horrible showing on Thursday skating with his usual linemate on the third pairing, it is becoming more and more clear that the 6’8 giant is better off paired with Hughes or Alex Edler.
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When the final horn sounded in Kanata, Myers skated off the ice with a nasty -4 rating. He was on the ice for every goal against, not including the empty netter scored late in the game. I don’t care what the excuse is, that’s not good enough, especially when you’re the highest-paid player on the team and you’re defending in front of a rookie goaltender.
Yes, Demko didn’t play his best game either, but no player should ever finish a game with a +/- rating as godawful as that. To put this in perspective, when the Canucks put up nine against the Bruins, only one player was a -4. That says a lot! Nearly half the amount of goal against, but a seriously bad performance for Myers. Having him on the third pair worked with MVP Jacob Markstrom in goal, but Green has to switch things up while Demko mans the crease.
Final thoughts…
The Canucks didn’t get the result they wanted, but there is no time to dwell on two lost points. Vancouver is back in action on Saturday night in the center of the hockey universe. Puck drops in Toronto at 4 PM.