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.