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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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.

2. Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser

Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser continue to carry the offensive production for the Canucks.

Let’s take a look at Boeser first.

There’s no question that the 24-year-old has been the Canucks’ most lethal forward for the first half of the season. He currently leads the team with 13 goals and 28 points, including another three-point performance to finish off the week, and he sits eighth in league scoring. He has drastically improved upon his skating and defensive contributions, and he continues to terrorize opponents with his accurate shot.

Pettersson hasn’t been a slouch either.

After a quiet and underwhelming start to the season, where he only registered one point in his first six games, the former fifth overall pick has bounced back in a massive way.

Pettersson has only been held off the scoresheet five times in the last 20 games, and is currently producing at exactly a point-per-game pace. He sits third on the team list for most points, right behind Boeser and stud blueliner Quinn Hughes, and he has erased the minus rating that he carried for most of the season.

What’s even more encouraging? It appears that neither player will be slowing down anytime soon.

The duo combined for two goals, four assists and seven shots during the back-to-back set against the Jets, and have recorded 12 points while on the man advantage this season.

More importantly, Boeser and Pettersson have rediscovered their elite form on the top line. This undeniable chemistry was on full display on Tuesday night, with Boeser entering the offensive zone with speed and winning the corner forecheck before peeking over his shoulder and finding Pettersson in the slot for an absolute dart.

Some would make a case that we should’ve included the entire Lotto Line in this second-star selection (and let’s be real, there’s clearly no criteria in this weekly piece so it theoretically could’ve happened), but it’s important to look past the point totals.

Heading into Thursday’s tilt against the Maple Leafs, J.T. Miller, who previously found himself on the top line, was tied with Pettersson for point totals this year, but also posted a minus-five rating and 14 PIM. These blemishes were supported by his consistently inconsistent play-making abilities, his streaky production values, and his uninspired, low-effort shifts.

Plus, it’s tough to highlight a player who was demoted to the third line just under a week ago.

It should be noted that Miller put up one of his best performances of the year on Saturday night, matching Boeser’s three-point performance with one of his own to propel himself to second on the scoring chart. He looked fantastic in the number one centre role due to the absence of Pettersson, winning the match-up against John Tavares, but that’s only one game.

When the Lotto Line is at full strength, Miller has been somewhat invisible.

Canucks coaching staff, management and fans have set high expectations for Miller, and he’ll need to be much, much more consistent to land his own spot on this list, especially when Pettersson comes back from injury.

Regardless of Miller’s play over the past few weeks, Boeser and Pettersson continue to carry the team on their backs, and both stars will need to do so for the rest of the year before this season really spirals out of control for them.