You can follow Todd on Twitter @ToddCordell!
It took four games, but the Vancouver Canucks finally picked up their first win of the preseason.
The Canucks jumped out to a 2-0 lead and never looked back en route to a 6-1 win over the Phoenix Coyotes.
Vancouver dressed almost every NHL regular they have so the result wasn't surprising; although the Coyotes iced a pretty respectable lineup as well.
Chris Higgins, Jannik Hansen, Yannick Weber, Mike Santorelli, Tom Sestito and Jason Garrison scored for Vancouver while Roberto Luongo made 21 saves in the win. Martin Hanzal had the lone goal for the 'Yotes.
Game notes
- Luongo sure bounced back after a poor start against Edmonton. He was positionally sound, made some big saves and his rebound control was excellent. It's only preseason, but it was good to see him perform the way he did tonight.
- If Mike Santorelli hadn't already done enough to make the Canucks, he certainly has now after his performance against the Coyotes. He was good at both ends of the rink and scored the Canucks 4th goal early in the 3rd period which put the game out of reach.
John Tortorella has had nothing but good things to say about Santorelli and after the preseason he's had, he's most definitely deserving of a roster spot.
- Yannick Weber played another very strong game. He didn't play as much as he has been accustomed to in preseason, because the Canucks dressed almost all of their top defensemen, but he made the most of his ice time.
Weber scored for the second consecutive game on a bomb of a shot and also added an assist. This in just over 15 minutes of ice.
- Heading into tonight's game I thought it was pretty much certain the Canucks would send Bo Horvat back to junior. He had played fine throughout camp and preseason, but hadn't stood out enough to warrant keeping an 18-year-old in the NHL.
Because of the suspensions handed out to Zack Kassian and Dale Weise, Horvat was given another opportunity to play - even though he was expected to sit - and he made the most of it.
I thought Horvat was one of the best Canucks on this night. His ice time was pretty limited, but he was making things happen almost every shift. He was positionally sound in the defensive zone, won 86% of his faceoffs and had two assists - including a primary assist on Sestito's goal.
If he was sliding out of the picture for a roster spot, I think he put himself right back into the mix with his performance against Phoenix. Will he make the team? It's too early to say, but he certainly helped his cause with this effort.
- I thought Hunter Shinkaruk had another average game. He was buzzing at times and did have some chances, but he had strings of shifts where he didn't do much of anything. He's not the best defensive player, either, so if he's not creating offense he's probably not doing much.
David Booth is still banged up and Kassian will miss the first five games due to suspension, so Shinkaruk may very well play on opening day - even if he's sent back to junior after.
**
Eastern Conference playoff predictions.
Western Conference playoff predictions.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: [email protected]
Join the Discussion:
»