Canucks: 3 takeaways from 2-1 Game 5 win over Golden Knights

The Vancouver Canucks lived to fight another day after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights 2-1 in Game 5.

I got the song Stayin’ Alive by the Bee Gees in my head right now. That’s because the Vancouver Canucks are in fact, staying alive, at least for now.

They staved off elimination on Tuesday night with a 2-1 over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 5.

The Canucks didn’t play their best game by any means, as they had trouble with the zone entries and spent more time in their own zone instead of on the attack. Vegas was buzzing all game, determined to finish the series.

However, the young Vancouver team and their resiliency came through once again. Here are three takeaways  from the big victory.

1. Thatcher Demko steals the show

Backup goalie Thatcher Demko got the start in favour of Jacob Markstrom, who was sidelined with a lower-body injury, according to Rick Dhaliwal of TSN 1040.

It’s fair to say Demko stole the the game for the Canucks. He looked calm and focused in net, constantly making huge saves against the Golden Knights. The Canucks were breaking, but Demko helped keep them afloat.

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His best save (or I guess I should say saves) was probably on this scramble in the first period.

Demko didn’t let the pressure of a first career playoff start get to him. and he looked confident and poised throughout the evening. He was making remarkable saves with the pads, glove and blocker.

We don’t know much about Markstrom’s injury, and there is a chance Demko could start again in Game 6.  We’ll just have to wait and see.

2. Brock Boeser wakes up

Brock Boeser has been quiet in this series. With one goal in his last ten games, the Canucks desperately needed him to get back on the score sheet.

Fortunately, he did just that in Game 5, and it came at a crucial time.

Just 27 seconds after Shea Theodore opened the scoring in the second period for Vegas, Quinn Hughes took the puck out of the defensive zone, passed it to Boeser and then gave it to J.T. Miller while driving to the net.

Miller then returned the puck to Boeser, who made no mistake with the tip.

Boeser also got an assist on on the game-winning goal in the third period. He took the shot through traffic, and Elias Pettersson was there for the tip.

It was good to see Boeser finally get on the score sheet after going through a drought the last few games. His play has recently improved, and the Canucks need that production to continue. Maybe head coach Travis Green should put Boeser back with Miller and Pettersson to reunite the “Lotto Line.”

3. The Canucks had trouble getting shots

There’s no denying that the Golden Knights were the better team on Tuesday. Demko simply saved the Canucks from elimination in this one.

Vancouver struggled to create shots and quality scoring chances.  It took them over half a period to finally get a shot on goal. They were also outshot 28-10 through two periods.

The Canucks were entering the the zone too passively, and they made a lot of bad passes.  As a result, they had a tough time testing Robin Lehner. Turnovers at the blue line and in the neutral zone happened far too often, and the Canucks were trapped in their own zone for long sequences.

They need to work on their zone entries and look to crash the net more for scoring chances. They must also find a way to generate pressure in the offensive zone, get more shots on target and get better clearances from the defensive zone.