Canucks: Jacob Markstrom needs an MVP performance vs. Blues

The Vancouver Canucks will need Jacob Markstrom to play his best hockey if they stand a chance of defeating the defending Stanley Cup champions.

The play-in round is complete and the stage is now set for the final 16 teams to duke it out for the Stanley Cup. Drawing the defending champion St. Louis Blues in round 1, the Vancouver Canucks will have to beat the best to be the best.

But what a great test for the young and talented core of Vancouver. The goal of the season was to make the postseason, and with that checked off the list, it’ll be very interesting to see how they match up against one of the league’s best playoff teams.

Of course, it would have been nice to see the Canucks battle a team considered to be less difficult to defeat than the Blues, but surprisingly, Jacob Markstrom and the Vancouver Canucks held their own this season against the champs.

In three meetings across 2019-20, the Canucks gathered five of a possible six points. The first win back in October was a 4-3 shootout victory that came from the blade of Tanner Pearson as well as an all-around team effort (Markstrom did not play). The second triumph over the champs was a 3-1 win on home ice in late January (Markstrom did not play).

Their loss, however, came in November in a tight 2-1 contest (Markstrom played). Vancouver had plenty of chances to win, but it was Tyler Myers cost them the game. He collided with both his teammates in the offensive end leaving time and space for three of the biggest and best Blues to charge down the ice, pass the puck around, and get it past Markstrom.

But that’s what it took. It took the best of an extended three-man breakaway to finally defeat Markstrom and the Canucks. But that’s my point. For whatever reason, Vancouver was St. Louis’ kryptonite, and if they can keep playing the way they did this year they should be able to hold their own in a best-of-seven series.

Outscoring their opponent 8-6 over the course of those three games, Vancouver needed their goaltenders to shut the door, and they did. Both goalies outplayed one of the hottest goaltenders across the NHL and Markstrom will have to continue to do so if Vancouver stands a chance of winning this series.

Comparing their stats from the regular-season, Markstrom (0.918%) holds an advantage with a better SV% over Jordan Binnington (0.912%), but last year’s Calder Finalist earned more wins (30), and a better GAA (2.56).

The two goalies are quite comparable talent-wise, but St. Louis holds the advantage in playoff experience and defensive depth. And trust me, Vancouver will be hard-pressed in finding their way to the net. Crashing the crease will be vital in terms of success. To get under the skin of Binnington will be the only way to do it.

The Canucks need to be better at boxing out the opposition. The Blues are a big and nasty physical team that loves to crash and bang. Keeping them on the perimeter will be an advantage to everyone. But above all else, Markstrom must stand tall and rise to the occasion. If he can’t, Thatcher Demko will be ready and waiting. He played lights out versus the Blues this year.