Canucks: 3 takeaways from exciting 4-2 win against Washington

After a tough 4-1 loss against Carolina just yesterday, the Vancouver Canucks headed to America’s capital to face Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals.

With the powerplay being at the top of everyone’s mind, head coach Bruce Boudreau made sure to address it in the pre-game presser.

https://twitter.com/Canucks/status/1482764116414672899?s=20

"“We can be as fancy as we want and as cute as we want but if you don’t shoot the puck you’re never gonna score.”"

The Canucks had lost all three games on their current road trip so far, while their powerplay provided no help whatsoever in the process.

Conor Garland was a scratch for this game and was placed into the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol.

Alex Chiasson stepped in for the energetic Garland on the third line.

https://twitter.com/BatchHockey/status/1482783764749053954?s=20

Boudreau also elected to pair Tucker Poolman with Quinn Hughes together again, describing that he was “pleasantly surprised” at how Poolman played next to Hughes in Raleigh.

With Boudreau having some history in Washington, the bench boss also received a few questions about #8,  specifically what the keys are to stopping him.

"“Ask him not to come on the ice, that’s the first thing.”"

Ovechkin must have missed that quote from his ex-coach, burying his 756th career goal on his team’s first chance on the powerplay to put the Capitals in the lead a little over halfway through the first period.

The Canucks were still able to go head-to-head with the hosts in the first period, showing some good aggression and offensive prowess at times and eventually outshooting the Caps 16-11 by the end of the opening frame.

The Canucks played a more positive game in the second period, with Thatcher Demko back-stopping the team but, more importantly, were finally able to get goals from the struggling Elias Pettersson.

Petey scored two typical EP40 goals, first patiently releasing a lethal shot past Ilya Samsonov on the glove side, and then adding a high-IQ bank shot behind the net.

https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1482810131561734147?s=20

Not only did Pettersson finally get some points on the scoresheet, but the Canucks also finally led a game for once on this road trip.

Bo Horvat contributed to the team’s powerplay success, contributing a goal that was nothing less than a snipe with a little over a minute left in the second period.

The Canucks seemed to allow the Capitals a lot more of the possession in the third, which unfortunately cost them another PP goal from Tom Wilson.

However, an empty-net goal from J.T Miller with just under a minute left in the game solidified the Canucks’ first victory out of the last four games.

Boudreau was a happy man as he expressed his feelings towards his players after the big win.

Without further ado, here are the three takeaways from Sunday’s 4-2 win in Washington.