Three takeaways from fun Canucks 4-0 win over LA Kings
#1 The special teams were special!
As we already know, special teams have been a big struggle for the Canucks all season. The penalty kill ranks dead last and its 64% is the worst by an NHL team in the first 25 games in league history. The power play ranked 22nd heading into the game.
The Kings were heading into the game with the 12th ranked power play and they scored three times Sunday night in Edmonton. The goals all came on a five-minute major taken by Conor McDavid.
The Canucks penalty kill is now being run by Walker and Boudreau even said that a player asked him if he could be on the penalty kill at morning practice.
Bruce Boudreau on a #Canucks player asking him to play the penalty kill at practice today:
— Sekeres and Price (@sekeresandprice) December 7, 2021
“I’ll try you on the PK, but if it doesn’t work, don’t ask me again.” https://t.co/lluLbW4WxY
Who could that be? It could have been either Elias Pettersson, Bo Horvat, or Vasily Podkolzin as they all got time on the penalty kill.
However, Pettersson said after the game his name was on the list to attend a meeting on the penalty kill.
Elias Pettersson says he saw his name on the list to attend the PK meeting, and that’s how he found out he was killing penalties. So it seems that he wasn’t the mysterious player that Boudreau mentioned who asked him to play on the PK. #Canucks @Sportsnet650
— Brendan Batchelor (@BatchHockey) December 7, 2021
The penalty kill killed off the Kings’ two attempts. Can you believe it? They were perfect on the night!
They were attacking the puck carriers, winning the battles, and even skating up the ice. Before they were just standing around and struggling to get the puck out. Boudreau took note of that and made sure that wasn’t going to happen.
Boudreau ethers the previous PK set up before tonight's game:
— Satiar Shah (@SatiarShah) December 7, 2021
"Evidently the sitting back wasn't working"
Pettersson even got a shorthanded penalty shot but he missed the net.
my pov of pettersson's penalty shot pic.twitter.com/2SoYSJnDjn
— clarissa! (@quinnsedgework) December 7, 2021
Podkolzin made sure to get the puck and get it out of the zone quickly. He only get 17 seconds of shorthanded time and Pettersson got 39 seconds. Yet, they still made a big impact on the penalty kill. Maybe they should be on the kill more often.
The power play also came to life and so did Brock Boeser.
Boeser broke his goal drought of 13 games. After a nice passing play by J.T. Miller and Tanner Pearson, Boeser’s shot went off Drew Doughty’s skate and past Cal Petersen.
Miller ➡️ Pearson ➡️ Boeser 🚨
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) December 7, 2021
CUE THE HOCKEY HUGS! pic.twitter.com/mSPRTATpdq
“I think I’ve had some good chances during this scoring drought, hitting posts and crossbars, and then that’s the one that goes in,” said Boeser per Sportsnet 650’s Brendan Batchelor. ” It’s crazy how this game works.”
Miller got on the scoresheet with an absolute rocket of a one-timer.
https://twitter.com/Canucks/status/1468088422719918080
The power play was getting shots through and they moved the puck well.
#2 The line of Conor Garland, Elias Pettersson, and Vasily Podkolzin impresses
This line that should stick together for now.
The line of Pettersson, Podkolzin, and Conor Garland looked dangerous. They were connecting their passes, got plenty of scoring chances, and made sure the Canucks got plenty of offensive zone time.
The trio brought skill along with grit and they were a big reason why the Canucks forecheck was aggressive.
Per NaturalStatTrick, Pettersson, Podkolzin, and Garland had a 47.06% Corsi for, 76.71% expected goals for, 63.64% scoring chances for, and 100% high danger chances for.
Pettersson looked more like his usual self. He was making good passes, not bobbling the puck and not turning it over. The only thing he needs to do is shoot more as he looked hesitant to shoot on the power play.
Podkolzin looked great defensively and offensively. He was pressuring the puck carriers to lose the puck, helping with the counterattack, and trying to make plays of his own.
Garland continued to provide the skill, grit, and offence that he has brought all season. He got the Canucks second goal of the game.
Garland cues more hockey hugs! pic.twitter.com/8eYWJIgxNX
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) December 7, 2021
#3 Thatcher Demko stood tall once again
You know he was going to be part of the three takeaways.
Surprisingly, this was only Thatcher Demko’s second regular season shutout of his career. (He had one in the playoffs against the Vegas Golden Knights and that was technically his first.)
He stopped all 31 shots from the Kings. He once again made sure to stop the high danger chances and one of them was a breakaway save on Alex Iafallo. Just another day at the office for him.
“It’s a weird day,” said Demko per Thomas Drance of The Athletic. “It just felt weird, it’s the only way I can describe it, end of the day a decision was made and you could feel Bruce’s energy right away.”
Demko now leads the league in starts and minutes played.
will be interesting to see what a coaching change does (if anything) for Thatcher Demko's usage. Shutout may sway the new boss and can't blame him. Coaches like goalies that stop pucks. But Demko now leads #NHL in starts (21) and minutes played (1232:51)
— Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) December 7, 2021
It’s safe to say Boudreau is going to be pretty happy knowing he has Demko as the starter.
Other notes
- Jason Dickinson even tried to get on the offence by joining the rush and taking some shots. Only one was on goal however.
- Pearson led all Canucks with six shots on goal. The former King had a HDCF of 66.67%
- It was refreshing to see the Canucks not give so many odd-man rushes for once.
Next. The Jim Benning era was a dysfunctional one for the Canucks. dark
The Canucks homestand continues as the Boston Bruins come to town on Wednesday. Note the start time is 6:00 PM.