Three takeaways from Canucks satisfying 3-1 win over Nashville Predators

#1: The line of Elias Pettersson, Nils Höglander and Vasily Podkolzin impress

Pettersson got two goals in Washington D.C. and that must have been a huge relief for him.

Canucks fans were hopeful that the two goals were the start of him getting out of his funk. Fortunately, Pettersson had more to deliver in Nashville.

Demko made a stretch pass to Nils Höglander who then found Vasily Podkolzin skating down the ice. His shot was stopped by David Rittich but Pettersson put in the rebound for his third goal in two games. Maybe, just maybe, Pettersson is back. He’s giving that John Wick energy. We shall see if his scoring streak continues.

Pettersson is starting to look more confident. He is more noticeable out there and his passing was very good against the Predators. Pettersson doing his dekes again and isn’t losing the puck as much as before.

“I think everyone can see now the confidence with the puck,” said Boeser on Pettersson per Harman Dayal of The Athletic. “That’s the Petey we all know and love.”

I could be wrong, but this was the first time this season Höglander, Pettersson and Podkolzin were put on a line together. They did really well in the game.

After Pettersson’s game-tying goal, they look like they wanted more. They had a very good shift in the Predators zone where they were moving the puck well, winning battles and getting more high danger scoring chances. Pettersson almost got his second but he hit the crossbar.

The line showed great energy and hustle all game. According to NaturalStatTrick, the line of Höglander, Pettersson and Podkolzin had a Corsi For percentage of 75% together. Höglander led the team in Corsi For with 73.68%.

Boudreau had some interesting words on Höglander on Tuesday morning.

“He needs to learn how to play the game,” said Boudreau per Jeff Paterson of the Rink Wide Podcast. “He has skill and he might score 40 someday, but if you’re going to hover around the 20-goal mark you better learn to play at both ends of the ice.”

Höglander was on the ice for only three shots against and that was the least among Canucks forwards tied with Podkolzin. Höglander’s line spent a lot of time in the offensive zone and you can’t be bad at defence if you spend a lot of time there instead of the defensive zone.

Pettersson, Podkolzin and Höglander should probably stay together for now.

#2: The fourth line provides scoring once again

The Canucks fourth line consisting of Matthew Highmore, Juho Lammikko and Tyler Motte has impressed during the road trip. They have provided depth scoring for the Canucks and Boudreau has liked them so much he has decided to play them more so it seems they are the third line now.

Once again, the fourth line got on the scoreboard. Motte couldn’t take the pass but he goes after the puck with the strong forecheck and then he centres it to Lammikko. Somehow, the puck went past Rittich. That is Lammikko’s third goal of the season.

Motte, Lammikko and Highmore did have a good game though not as good as the two games in Florida but they still were good. This line has been at winning puck battles and on the forecheck and they displayed some of that in Nashville.

It is also nice to see the fourth line provide some scoring. In fact, Motte is the Canucks leading scorer on the road trip.

The fourth line doesn’t have to be expensive to be effective.

#3: Thatcher Demko was good between the pipes

Demko didn’t have the best road trip but that doesn’t mean he was bad.

He wasn’t his usual self in the 5-2 loss to the Florida Panthers but he got progressively better each game. Demko has played all five games on the road trip and has started six straight games. He was supposed to have a rest against the Carolina Hurricanes but Halak entered the COVID protocol before the game.

Demko made 31 saves against the Predators. His best save was stopping Michael McCarron on a breakaway late in the second period. Demko has been very good at stopping breakaways all season and he didn’t look fazed on this one.

Demko was once again there when the Canucks needed him the most. The All-Star goalie has been their best player all season and will need to continue to be as they continue to push for a playoff spot.

Other notes

• Quinn Hughes once again was a treat to watch when he had the puck. His passes were accurate and once-again his skating looked as smooth as ever. Hughes got his 29th assist of the season on Boeser’s power play goal. He is now eighth in the NHL in the assists category.

• Tucker Poolman got some time on the power play which I never thought I would see.

After nine games on the road, the Canucks will finally play at home (At 50% capacity.) for the first time since December 14 when they host the Florida Panthers on Friday. Puck drop is at 7:00 PM.