Canucks gameday: Treading water but still alive vs. Vegas

The Vancouver Canucks barely escaped Game 5 with their lives intact and will need a much better all-around performance throughout the lineup for Game 6.

The Vancouver Canucks are still standing. After being brutally outplayed at every turn against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 5 and the majority of this series, somehow, someway, the Canucks are still alive.

The last time these two teams met, Thatcher Demko made his big NHL Playoffs debut in place of an injured Jacob Markstrom. There wasn’t much hope amongst Canucks Nation, but the 24-year-old Demko from San Diego stayed classy. He stopped a mindblowing 42 of 43 shots and posted a 0.977 SV% en route to victory. Travis Green will need a similar performance from his backup goalie again tonight, but the players in front of him need to help out offensively.

Hemming the Canucks in their own end for long stretches of play, Vegas has done an immaculate job of controlling and keeping them pinned down. The speed they use on the forecheck to burn past their opponent and get after the puck is unparalleled.

The Golden Knights onslaught of pressure led to them nearly tripling Vancouver in shots on goal. In fact, at a certain point in the game, the shots were 22-6 in favor of Vegas. Although the energy was there, the Canucks didn’t register a shot on goal in both the first and second periods until well past the 10-minute mark. No matter what they tried to do, Vancouver struggled mightily to penetrate the Vegas blueline.

So what can the Canucks do in Game 6 to better matchup versus the No. 1 seed in the West? That’s a good question because the Canucks appear to be giving it their all. At least the top-six anyway. Truth be told, not a single player from the Vancouver’s bottom-six has registered a point in this series. If they can somehow pitch in on the scoresheet, the Canucks might be able to force a Game 7. But I wouldn’t hold my breath.

Game notes, stats, more

• Through the first five games of this series, the Canucks have been outshot 189-131. On average Vegas is getting 37.8 shots per game, while Vancouver is registering 26.2 shots each night. With a difference of nearly 12, the Canucks need to find a way to get more pucks on target.
• Between all the teams remaining in the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Vancouver has the second-best power play which is converting at a rate of 23%. Trailing only the Dallas Stars (25.5%), Vancouver will need to bulge twine when given the opportunity on the man-advantage.
• Veteran centreman Brandon Sutter has been invisible in this series. His elite faceoff abilities have vanished and he still doesn’t have a point in this series. The Canucks need more from their $4.6 million dollar man in both the offensive and defensive ends.

Players to watch

Elias Pettersson: He’s gone above and beyond as the Canucks clutch-performer. Tied for second in playoff points with 18, the 21-year-old Swede will need to keep his foot on the gas pedal. With no help from the bottom-six, anything short of perfection from him could result in Vancouver packing their bags and flying home.

Shea Theodore: He’s got five goals and 15 points through 13 playoff games this year. The points leader for Vegas has been getting it done in all areas of the ice and he’s got the tools to zig-zag his way through the Canucks roster.

Bo Horvat: His team faced elimination the other night and I felt as if he didn’t step up to the plate. He was beaten more times than not on the faceoff circle, he wasn’t hard on the puck, and he lacks pushback when his teammates are being bullied. As an NHL captain, he needs to bring a 200ft game with more bite.

Thatcher Demko: According to Rick Dhaliwal, all signs point to Demko getting another start tonight. Whether it’s because of a Markstrom injury or not, Demko’s NHL Playoffs debut was something special and he’s earned another start. Give him the net and let him cook up some classic Vancouver goaltender controversy.

Prediction

It’ll be a scratch and claw type of game for the Vancouver Canucks, but all the pressure still remains on the shoulders of the Vegas Golden Knights. I doubt Vancouver can play as bad as they did in Game 5, so I expect a “never-die” attitude from them tonight. Demko will have to be amazing again no matter what. I’ll go with 4-1 for the Canucks with an empty-net goal.

Get your popcorn ready Canucks Nation because this is going to be an all-out slobber-knocker. The game starts at 6:45 PM Pacific time. Let’s go!