The Canuck Way
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Canucks: 3 takeaways from game 4 loss to St. Louis

By Lucas Celle

EDMONTON, ALBERTA - AUGUST 17: Oskar Sundqvist #70 of the St. Louis Blues is stopped by Jacob Markstrom #25 of the Vancouver Canucks during the second period in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on August 17, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images)
EDMONTON, ALBERTA - AUGUST 17: Oskar Sundqvist #70 of the St. Louis Blues is stopped by Jacob Markstrom #25 of the Vancouver Canucks during the second period in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on August 17, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images) /
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The Vancouver Canucks defend against Jaden Schwartz  (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images)
The Vancouver Canucks defend against Jaden Schwartz  (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images) /

O’Reilly emerges as the player of the game

The 2019 Conn Smythe and Frank J. Selke winner has been a prevalent force all series long, but game four was easily Ryan O’Reilly‘s best night so far. He was everywhere on the ice, winning puck battles, finishing in tight, and creating chances for his team. Most importantly, he was clamping down on Pettersson’s line whenever he was out there against them.

Since the Canucks contained home-ice advantage, head coach Travis Green had the luxury of making his line changes last, thus keeping his top line away from O’Reilly for most of the night. I don’t think the 29-year-old seemed to mind though, as all it inadvertently did was allow O’Reilly to feast on Vancouver’s other lines with his relentless two-way ability and offensive flare.

He showed a soft touch on his first goal, roofing it over goaltender Jacob Markstrom to put the Blues on the board, and followed it up with a display of quick hands again to put them up 2-1 five minutes after relinquishing the lead.

Overall, the Clinton, Ontario native finished with a goal and two assists for three points on the night and had his hand in on every goal St. Louis scored. At 5-on-5 with O’Reilly on the ice, the Blues out-attempted the Canucks 22-11 outshot them 10-4. He led the charge for a team that had all their best players step up in a crucial game.

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