Canucks Recap: Three stars of the past week (Feb 27th – Mar 6th)

It’s been a tale of two teams for the Vancouver Canucks.

The club played four games this week, but each contest was wildly different. After a convincing, shutout effort on Monday night against the Winnipeg Jets, the Canucks returned to Bell MTS Place exactly 24 hours later, hoping to lock their second only back-to-back win of the season.

It didn’t go exactly as planned.

The team put up yet another unconvincing performance, filled with last-second goals, minimal bottom-six scoring, costly turnovers, and glaring defensive issues. The fanbase started to prepare for the absolute worst shortly after the loss, impatiently waiting for Auston Matthews and co. to steamroll into town and swiftly take care of business, much like they did to the Edmonton Oilers.

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• Canucks kick off 2023 with disappointing 6-2 loss to Islanders
• 2nd period penalty trouble sinks Canucks in 4-2 loss against Winnipeg

Again, that didn’t go exactly as planned either.

The Canucks were able to come away with two back-to-back victories in convincing fashion, a feat that hadn’t been accomplished this season since the Ottawa Senators came to town, and they even kept Matthews and other Toronto superstar Mitch Marner away from the scoresheet.

Games played:

• Vancouver Canucks (4) @ Winnipeg Jets (0)
• Vancouver Canucks (2) @ Winnipeg Jets (5)
• Toronto Maple Leafs (1) @ Vancouver Canucks (3)
• Toronto Maple Leafs (2) @ Vancouver Canucks (4)

And don’t forget to add on the Friday morning video press conference from general manager Jim Benning, which might go down as the most frustrating, trivial address in recent Canucks history, depending on how the rest of the season unfolds.

Like we said, it’s a confusing time to be a Vancouver Canucks fan right now.

Nonetheless, the team was able to secure six out of a possible eight points this past week, and are taking the right steps to stay close with the Calgary Flames and to keep their distance from the lowly Senators. And, as a result, we’ve had a higher-than-usual amount of players to choose from for this weekly segment.

Let’s take a look at The Canuck Way’s three stars of the week.

1. Thatcher Demko

It’s officially Thatcher Demko’s crease to lose.

The 25-year-old netminder suited up for three of the four games this week, and he was easily the team’s best player in all three contests. He stopped 95 of 98 shots faced, including a 27-save performance against the Jets for his first-ever career shutout.

What’s been most impressive about Demko’s play thus far is his ability to produce big saves when the team needs it most. It’s no surprise that the Canucks are still unable to compete for the full 60 minutes every night, and their glaring defensive struggles rear its ugly head at least once a period (and that’s being generous), but Demko has been up to the task.

Take the third period against the Jets on Monday night.

The Canucks entered the final frame with a three-goal cushion, which, for most teams, would be a comfortable and commanding lead. Of course, we know first-hand that the Canucks are not like other clubs in the league, and you’d be lying if the thought of the Canucks giving up four unanswered goals didn’t cross your mind.

Luckily the unthinkable didn’t happen, but, had it not been for Demko, Winnipeg might’ve actually come away with the two points, and Vancouver fans would’ve undoubtedly checked into group therapy.

During the final 20 minutes of that tilt, Demko was peppered with 15 shots, including this grade-A chance from sniper Kyle Connor.

Winnipeg’s forward group applied relentless amounts of pressure for the bulk of that period, and Demko, yet again, was able to show glimpses of his heroic bubble performance from August. The same could be said during the two-game set against Toronto.

Demko has started 17 of the team’s 28 games so far, and his goals saved above average (GSAA) ranks 14th in the league for goalies who have played in at least 500 minutes at all strengths, according to Natural Stat Trick. So far, he has posted a .913 save percentage, which is higher than veteran netminders such as Tuukka Rask, Frederick Andersen, and yes, even Jacob Markstrom.

As we hit the halfway mark of the season, head coach Travis Green should realize that he’s no longer working with a 1A/1B tandem. Holtby has been well below-average, particularly in his last few starts, and his .893 SV and 3.56 GAA is reflective of that. If the coaches, management and ownership continue to ride the false hope that this organization can make a splash in the playoffs this year, they’ll need to put all of their faith in the consistent services of Demko between the pipes.

3. Nate Schmidt

It would be an understatement to say that Nate Schmidt got off to a rocky start in Vancouver.

In his first 21 games with the Canucks, he only registered three points, and was victim to a bushel of truly unlucky bounces that found their way to the back of his net.

But Schmidt is a veteran blueliner, and he has positively responded by turning his game around in a huge way.

Schmidt recorded four points in the past four games, including a goal and an assist on Monday night, and he is tied for the team lead with a plus-three rating. He hasn’t made many, if not any, defensive blunders in the past week, and he is the only blueliner who can properly block a passing attempt or shot while laying out his body on the ice (yes, we’re talking to you, Alex Edler and Tyler Myers).

Schmidt has also rediscovered parts of his game that made him one of the best offensive defenceman in the league for the past few years. He has excelled at quickly moving the puck out of his own end, and his intelligent vision has been on full display every time he steps over the boards.

He hasn’t been afraid to complete the simple plays, like throwing the puck onto the net to get a deflection, or clearing the zone as quickly as possible during a crucial penalty kill.

And there’s no question that the coaching staff haven’t taken notice.

Schmidt averages just over 20 minutes of ice time this season, and will continue to be rewarded with meaningful shifts as long as he can keep up this effective, high-energy style of play.

It’s been quite some time since a defenceman made his way onto this list, but we’re all hoping that Schmidt can continue to be a regular visitor here during his tenure in Vancouver.

Honourable Mention #1: Jake Virtanen

No, your eyes are not deceiving you. Jake Virtanen has finally cracked this list.

The 24-year-old Abbotsford native has been, without a doubt, the Canucks most disappointing player this season, but he was able to show brief flashes of excellence on Thursday night against the Maple Leafs.

Virtanen scored two goals in the contest to go alongside three registered shots and a plus-one rating, and he finally looked like he belonged in the top-six forward group alongside Bo Horvat and Tanner Pearson on the second line.

He logged just over 15 minutes of ice time, and was able to provide a tough, speedy style of play that management, coaches and fans have been longing to see.

Of course, it’s too little too late for Virtanen at this point, and many of us don’t expect this performance to carry into the upcoming two-game series against the Habs, or throughout the rest of the season, for that matter. But hey, at least his trade value skyrocketed for a brief moment?

Take note, Bob Murray.

Upcoming games

• Monday, March 8th – Montreal Canadiens @ Vancouver Canucks (7:00 pm PST)
• Wednesday, March 10th – Montreal Canadiens @ Vancouver Canucks (8:00 pm PST)

Who do you think played well this week? Make sure to drop a comment below!