Canucks: 3 takeaways from 4-2 win against Seattle (October 23rd)

Bo knows, Garland continues to impress

There’s no doubt that Demko was Vancouver’s most dominant player on Saturday night, but Horvat and Garland weren’t too far behind.

Let’s start with Horvat.

It had been a fairly slow start for Horvat heading into Saturday night’s contest, with the captain having registered just one goal and one assist in five games. However, like we’ve seen great leaders do so often, Horvat came up clutch when his team needed him most.

To be frank, the Canucks had no business winning this game, but that didn’t stop Horvat from performing at an elite level throughout the contest. The 26-year-old took full advantage of Vancouver’s few momentum swings in the game, with his first tally coming shortly after Demko’s flurry of spectacular saves at the other end. Horvat’s goal was also Vancouver’s first shot on net in over 15 minutes of play.

The play all started with Garland, who intercepted the clearing attempt and quickly found Horvat in the open slot. The assist extended Garland’s point-streak to six games, further cementing his status as an early fan favourite for the season.

The duo continued to carry the offence in the third period, and were easily the most dominant and high-intensity players in the final frame. Both forwards were eventually rewarded for their efforts, with their tallies helping the Canucks earn two points that honestly seemed out of reach for most of the evening.

Garland’s goal, in particular, was a huge celebration for the Canucks’ fanbase. The 25-year-old has been energetic and determined all season long, and has been playing well beyond his 5’10” stature. Garland is currently tied for the team lead in points with three goals and five assists but, given the way the first line has underperformed over the first six games, has also been a key to this team’s success well beyond the scoresheet.

Powerplay finally strikes

It’s been quite the rollercoaster for Vancouver’s powerplay this season.

The team has performed well under its lofty expectations on the man advantage and currently sits 16th in the league with a success rate of 21.6% in the first six games, which includes two goose eggs against Detroit and Buffalo earlier in the week.

The first unit, in particular, has struggled mightily out of the gate. Led by Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes, the primary unit has been unable to effectively move the puck through the neutral zone while up a man and, as a result, have been unable to properly execute set plays and generate quality scoring chances in the opponent’s end.

The struggles continued on Saturday night, with head coach Travis Green also raising a few eyebrows by slotting Alex Chiasson onto the top powerplay line instead of Brock Boeser. The unit did have a few good looks against Seattle’s penalty kill, most notably thanks to a sneaky back-door play from Pettersson, but Chiasson wasn’t able to capitalize on the glorious opportunity.

Green finally came to his senses in the third period, reuniting Boeser with his usual powerplay linemates after Lammikko drew a penalty on Carson Soucy with just under 10 minutes remaining. Much to the relief of the fans and coaching staff alike, the primary unit was finally able to capitalize on a powerplay opportunity, with Hughes and J.T. Miller pairing up for some nifty passes that eventually led to Horvat pouncing on the rebound for the game-tying goal.

The Canucks still finished the contest with only one goal on four powerplay attempts, but what’s more important is that the team, particularly the first unit, was able to take advantage at the most opportune time.

Let’s hope the Canucks can build on this man advantage momentum moving forward.

Other notes:

• Vasily Podkolzin was a healthy scratch for the second consecutive game. The Russian rookie hasn’t necessarily fared poorly in his first four outings with Vancouver but, given the team’s current winning streak, might have to wait for a loss before Green gives him another look in the line-up.
• The Lotto Line was once again a non-factor on Saturday night, with Pettersson, Boeser and Miller still trying to establish dynamic offensive chemistry together. Pettersson, in particular, has definitely been out of sorts to kick off the new hockey campaign, but fortunately the team has still been able to find ways to win. The trio did perform well on the powerplay, and were able to create a few dangerous chances in the third period, but will need to be much better if the Canucks want to gain serious ground in the wide-open Pacific Division.

The Canucks will be off on Sunday and Monday before finally returning to Rogers Arena on Tuesday night to take on the Minnesota Wild. Puck drop is set for 7:00pm PST.

What were your thoughts on the Saturday night showdown in Seattle? Let us know in the comments!