It wasn’t the prettiest effort, but the Vancouver Canucks were able to snap their three-game losing streak with a 6-5 shootout win against the Montreal Canadiens.
The Canucks, who were coming off disappointing back-to-back performances against the Calgary Flames, were desperate for a win. They entered this game sitting last in their division, and had not been able to produce much offensively.
Fortunately, they put all of these negatives behind them and were able to get the job done in the end. Here are three takeaways from Wednesday night’s home-opener:
What powerplay problems?
Canucks’ fans can take their fingers off of the powerplay panic button (for now).
After going scoreless on the man advantage during the first four games of the season, the Canucks were able to bounce back in a big way.
They capitalized on Montreal’s plethora of undisciplined and sloppy penalties, notching three goals on six chances.
Their first unit controlled much of the play, spending upwards of 90 seconds on the ice before making way for the second unit. They showed glimpses of last year’s talented form, with captain Bo Horvat leading the way on the scoresheet with two goals and an assist.
#Canucks are 10-0-0 all-time when Bo Horvat scores 2+ goals.
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) January 21, 2021
In general, they were able to enter the offensive zone quickly and consistently, maintaining good pressure and establishing quick passing plays throughout their attack. They were also able to deploy the one-timer from the bumper position to perfection.
If the Canucks want to compete in the highly-talented all-Canadian division, they will need to continue to score goals and create high-danger chances, much like they did last night.
The powerplay will be a crucial first step in that process.
The Lotto Line will be alright
Similar to the struggling powerplay, fans were ready to turn their back on the Lotto line.
No need to go down that road anymore.
The combination of Brock Boeser, J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson looked much better on the ice compared to their previous game in Calgary. They finished the night with eight shots on net and created numerous dangerous chances throughout the game.
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They cycled the puck around well in the offensive zone and seemed to have shaken off the rust from their first outing together on Monday. They were even able to draw a penalty after tiring out their opponents, which eventually led to the first powerplay marker of the night.
More importantly, they came up clutch when the team needed them most.
Down by one in the final minutes of the 3rd period, Miller was able to find Boeser in the slot, and he made no mistake wiring a one-timer behind Carey Price. Boeser finished the evening with two goals and an assist, while Miller recorded three helpers.
Even though Pettersson didn’t register a point, he looked much more confident with the puck, and his net-front presence was instrumental in the game-tying goal. It’s only a matter of time before no. 40 finds his way back onto the scoresheet, and tonight was a much-needed step towards that.
In the meantime, you can enjoy slick between-the-legs deke attempts like this:
Fingers crossed that the Lotto Line can keep this up for the remainder of the season.