Fansided

Lammikko’s line leads Canucks to 5-2 victory over Seattle Kraken

By Joshua Rey |
Feb 21, 2022; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Seattle Kraken forward Jordan Eberle (7) stick checks Vancouver Canucks forward Vasily Podkolzin (92) in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 21, 2022; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Seattle Kraken forward Jordan Eberle (7) stick checks Vancouver Canucks forward Vasily Podkolzin (92) in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports
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After a very poor effort against the Anaheim Ducks, the Vancouver Canucks were determined to bounce back as the Seattle Kraken made their first official.

The Kraken sit last in the Pacific Division and have been having a bad season with only 16 wins in 52 games. Other than the anomaly that was the Vegas Golden Knights, it is normal for expansion teams to start poorly.

The Canucks won the first two meetings in Seattle and are still undefeated against their new Pacific Northwest rivals as they beat the Kraken 5-2. I guess it isn’t a rivalry yet as the Kraken still have yet to beat the Canucks. These two teams will meet once again at Rogers Arena on April 26 for the fourth and final time this season.

Pre-game notes

Here is how the Canucks lined up against the Kraken.

Changes were made to the forward group particularly in the top six as Nils Höglander, Elias Pettersson and Vasily Podkolzin were once again put together. Head coach Bruce Boudreau said morning that they are close with one another, particularly off the ice.

Kyle Burroughs was injured in the game against the Ducks and it looks like he could possibly be out for two months with broken ribs.

Nadia Popovici attended the morning skate and was at the game. She, of course, was the fan that wrote a message on her phone that let Canucks assistant equipment manager Brian “Red” Hamilton know the mole on the back of his head was a sign of malignant melanoma, a type of skin cancer. Fortunately, Hamilton saw the message, got the mole checked out by a doctor and thankfully the malignant melanoma was in its early stages and was removed. Basically, Popovici saved Hamilton’s life.

Of course, Popovici sat behind the Canucks bench.

Feb 21, 2022; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks head coach Bruce Boudreau gives instructions from the bench against the Seattle Kraken in the third period at Rogers Arena. Canucks won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 21, 2022; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks head coach Bruce Boudreau gives instructions from the bench against the Seattle Kraken in the third period at Rogers Arena. Canucks won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports /

What happened and thoughts on the game

The Canucks didn’t want a repeat of Saturday’s woeful start against the Ducks and this time they started as fast as The Flash.

Just 11 seconds into the game, Tyler Motte got Vancouver on the board. Boudreau has really liked the line of Motte, Juho Lammikko and Matthew Highmore and has refused to split them. One reason why must be because of the way they forecheck. After Motte dumps it in, Lammikko and Highmore put pressure on the Kraken and Motte buried it past Chris Driedger.

Despite the quick start, the Canucks continued to display the sloppiness from the Anaheim game. They had trouble entering the offensive zone, weren’t making good passes and got caught napping on defence.

The Kraken were quick to tie it up as the Canucks were caught on a two-on-one and Jared McCann (playing his 400th NHL game) beat Thatcher Demko. The former Canuck scored his 21st goal of the season and is on pace for career-high numbers.

Tyler Myers looked like his controller disconnected while defending here.

The Canucks also gave up a shorthanded goal from Mark Giordano as Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes were caught napping.

However, the Lammikko line got back to work in the second. Lammikko pressured Mason Appleton and Tyler Motte found the loose puck and passed it back to Lammikko and passed up to Travis Hamonic. It looked like Driedger made the save at first but Hamonic got his first goal of the season and his 200th NHL point.

Great job by Highmore on the screen here as well as the forecheck and puck movement from Lammikko and Motte.

We have to talk about this bizarre sequence. Everyone was battling for the puck but apparently, there was a rip in the space-time continuum and the puck found its way to the other side of the ice where Hamonic and Pearson were carrying it towards the Kraken zone. Hamonic almost got his second but was foiled Driedger. If he scored, the memes would have been a thousand times funnier.

Vasily Podkolzin hasn’t scored in 16 games. His last goal was on January 1 which was against the Kraken.

Fortunately, he got back on the scoresheet for his eighth of the season. The goal started with Hughes throwing a hit and Pettersson got the puck and passed it to Hughes. He then threw it on goal and Podkolzin batted in the rebound and the Canucks took the lead. Podkolzin was at the right place at the right time.

https://twitter.com/Canucks/status/1495981949810262017

The power play has in the last few games and it continued to look lifeless against the Kraken. Bo Horvat has also faced criticism from Canucks fans over the past few days for his lack of effort against the Ducks and his lack of production the past few games. (He only had six points in his last 13 games and had zero hits the last two games.)

However, the power play came alive early in the third period with a classic Horvat bumper goal which must have felt good for him.

Pearson sealed the game with an empty netter.

It was a much better effort this time around. Sure, there were still some sloppy defending and some bad passes but there was an effort to win puck battles and some quicker transitions up the ice. The fourth line really stepped up their game and you could see why Boudreau likes having them together with their forechecking and energy. They had a High Danger Corsi For of 75% per NaturalStatTrick.

Yes, the Kraken are a bad team but it was nice to see a good effort from the Canucks after that horrid game against the Ducks.

Feb 21, 2022; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Seattle Kraken goalie Chris Driedger (60) makes a save as Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser (6) battles for the rebound with defenseman Mark Giordano (5) in the third period at Rogers Arena. Canucks won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 21, 2022; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Seattle Kraken goalie Chris Driedger (60) makes a save as Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser (6) battles for the rebound with defenseman Mark Giordano (5) in the third period at Rogers Arena. Canucks won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports /

What was said

Boudreau of course was very pleased with Lammikko’s line.

“They do what you ask them to do,” said Boudreau per Brendan Batchelor of Sportsnet 650. “They can all skate. They pressure, pressure, pressure. Where they used to just hold their own, now they’re starting to score goals. That makes them even more valuable.”

Motte talked about the great play of his line too.

“We’re playing with confidence, and we’re rolling,” said Motte per Batchelor. ” It’s nice. I think we’ve earned a little bit of trust along the way too. Our line knows our job every night, and we take it to heart and try and go out and do our job the best we can.”

Motte also talked about bizarre sequence where no one except Pearson and Hamonic knew where the puck was.

Pettersson got two assists tonight and he said he is playing confidently.

“I feel great,” said Pettersson. ” I think I’m creating a lot. I feel like myself out there. Playing is fun. I’m playing with confidence.”

Pettersson also revealed he has his wrist taped earlier in the season.

“He’s never complained when I’ve put him on different lines,” said Boudreau. “As long as he continues to do what he does and make great plays and gets his shot away, I’ll be pretty happy.”

Boudreau also spoke about Podkolzin breaking his goal drought.

“I was so happy for him,” said Boudreau. “He tries so hard, and he works so hard. You love the young guys that work hard, and he always works hard.”

Advanced stat of the night

Horvat led all Canucks in Corsi For with 75% at five-on-five and shots were 12-1 in favour of the Canucks when he was on the ice.

Tweet of the night

The Motte line does need a name and I think this is the perfect one.

Other notes

  • With his two assists, that is 17 points and 15 games for Pettersson. He looks more like himself. Pettersson is shooting the puck more, making smart plays and doesn’t look lost and bobble the puck anymore. I’m thinking he’s back. People really wanted Pettersson wanted to be traded huh?
  •  Miller led all Canucks with 7 hits on the night and that was his season high.
  • Speaking of hits, Luke Schenn has thrown a hit in every game he has played this season. It looked like that streak would end but he got one in the third after going the first two periods without a hit.
  • Hamonic was the receiver of the Championship Belt in case you are wondering.

https://twitter.com/Canucks/status/1496007313249177600

How does Halak’s relief appearance affect his performance bonus?. dark. Next

The Canucks get back in action Thursday as they face the red-hot Calgary Flames.  Puck drop is at 7:00 PM.

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