The Canuck Way
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3 takeaways from the Canucks 4-1 victory against the Winnipeg Jets

By Joshua Rey

Jan 30, 2021; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko (35) is congratulated by Vancouver Canucks forward J.T. Miller (9) on his win against the Winnipeg Jets at the end of the third period at Bell MTS Place. Mandatory Credit: Terrence Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 30, 2021; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko (35) is congratulated by Vancouver Canucks forward J.T. Miller (9) on his win against the Winnipeg Jets at the end of the third period at Bell MTS Place. Mandatory Credit: Terrence Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Vancouver Canucks win. (Terrence Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
Vancouver Canucks win. (Terrence Lee-USA TODAY Sports) /

After a three-game sweep of the Ottawa Senators at home, the Vancouver Canucks are back on the road. They hoped to ground the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday night.

The Canucks did get the job done with a 4-1 win and it was their best performance of the season as they didn’t let their foot off the gas pedal, managing a full 60-minute effort. The Canucks outplayed the Jets and for once didn’t look too bad defensively. Brock Boeser scored twice including the empty netter, Nils Hoglander got one and so did Zack MacEwen.

Mason Appleton scored the only Jets goal and this game would have been a blowout if it weren’t for superb goaltending from Connor Hellebuyck.

The Jets were a team the Canucks struggled against. They lost their last ten against Winnipeg and their last win against them was on December 21, 2016, in a 4-1 win at Rogers Arena. Bell MTS Place has also been a house of horrors for them as their last win there was March 12, 2014. That was a 3-2 shootout win and Chris Higgins scored the overtime winner.

Pharrell Williams’ Happy was on top of the Billboard Charts and 300: Rise of an Empire (It wasn’t really good.) was the biggest box office hit in theatres that day. Yes, it has been that long.

The Canucks got lots of time in the offensive zone and were in control particularly in the second and third periods. Here are three takeaways from Saturday night’s big win.

Nils Hoglander continues to impress

Hoglander has been having an exceptional rookie season so far. He has been one of the most consistent players on the Canucks roster. He has battled hard, played with lots of energy and provided some offence. Hoglander looks like a man on a mission every shift.

He didn’t take an off night in Winnipeg. The rookie battled well along the boards, played with great acceleration and showed a lot of compete and tenacity. His battle for the puck is like a dog on a bone. He just wants it, and he wants it badly.

The 20-year-old got the Canucks second goal of the night after a very hardworking shift. He brought speed into the zone, showed some excellent stickhandling and was just determined to find the finish. His nose for the net positioned him in front where he was able to bat the puck into the goal with some great hand-eye coordination as the puck trickled over the back of the net before falling in front of the goaltender who didn’t have enough time to know where it was.

Hoglander has settled in nicely on a line with Bo Horvat and Tanner Pearson. That line had a Corsi For percentage of 76.47%. Canucks fans are raving about him on social media and for good reason too. I wonder what his nickname should be?

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