York Newbury: Canucks win special teams battle = win game

Nice blog New York.
Big Win.
There is life after Demko's injury.

Via Drance:

Postgame we asked Tocchet about what it means to him to have some of his top-of-the-lineup stars like Miller and Boeser step up in a game like this, with Thatcher Demko out, coming off a loss in Game 2.

His answer was telling, and focused specifically on contributions other than offensive ones.

“If you look at the Conn Smythe winner last year, Jonathan Marchessault, he didn’t score the first six games,” Tocchet said. “I think when Chicago won their Cups, I think Jonathan Toews didn’t score for eight games. Star guys are going to (go through that), but if you watch them they stick with it.

“You have to have other parts of your game. So that’s our guys and they’re learning. If you’re not scoring offensively, you’ve got to make sure you’re good in other parts of your game. Then today Millsy and Brock have a good game for us.

“That’s just a lesson for our guys, whoever, that’s struggling. Make sure the other parts of your game are really good and eventually the offence will come.”

.

Hughes isn’t just remarkably gifted with the puck, he’s a master at escaping heavy contact. On most nights he seems untouchable.

It doesn’t matter how ferociously a forechecker is hounding him, or how well a forward has him lined up, Hughes has an uncanny ability to spin off checks and duck big hits. One hundred seventy-five NHL defencemen have logged 2,500 minutes over the last three seasons and Hughes ranks in the top 50 in absorbing the fewest hits per 60 minutes, according to Natural Stat Trick. That matters for durability when you’re an undersized defenceman.

In Game 3, the Predators ruthlessly targeted Hughes. That’s unsurprising — teams have been chasing him relentlessly for a while and you’d expect an even brighter spotlight on Vancouver’s captain in the playoffs.

...

Hughes has tilted the ice in Vancouver’s favour by an absurd margin this season. But in Game 3, Nashville had a 16-8 edge in shot attempts and a 9-3 edge in five-on-five scoring chances during Hughes’ shifts. The Canucks’ transition game falls apart when their unstoppable one-man breakout machine all of a sudden looks human.

“I think our breakout strategy, partly we can hold up some players but I also think Huggy, there’s some things he can do so he doesn’t get hit too,” Rick Tocchet said after the game. “I think it’s a two-way street.”

Tocchet also pointed out that Nashville made adjustments to its transition game and that he wasn’t a fan of the Canucks’ neutral zone defence. He said that if they shore up their neutral zone defence, it’ll give their blueliners like Hughes more time to break the puck out on defensive zone retrievals.

Nice blog New York.
Big Win.
There is life after Demko's injury.
- Fidel

Canucks played a good road game, time to build on that. If they can get around the forecheck, they can create more odd man rushes and keep Nashville more in check

Thanks Yorkie.

Impressive win regardless of the SOG.

Desmith solid and if they can shut down clubs defensively like that the results will come.

Good to see JTM and Boeser show up Pettersson looked better but still...

Hopefully RT 'keeps it fresh' he has a good defensive 200' structure in place.

Good stuff, thanks NYN. Thanks for sharing the piece from Drance as well. Quinn Hughes has turned into such a great draft pick, he might go down as the greatest draft pick in Canucks history, he's that good. Didn't Reuby say "you don't win with players like him"........

Impressive win regardless of the SOG.

Desmith solid and if they can shut down clubs defensively like that the results will come.

Good to see JTM and Boeser show up Pettersson looked better but still...

Hopefully RT 'keeps it fresh' he has a good defensive 200' structure in place.


- LordHumungous

Petey played good last night, most fans just look at points, because fans are stupid, and they're obviously important (points). However. He played well last night, despite his spaghetti legs...lol. 56% on faceoffs, second most time on the PK which was 5 for 5, his CF and FF were above 50% which means he and the plugs he's playing with controlled the puck more than they didn't. It's a step in the right direction for him. Still not getting shots thru though, needs to improve on that.

Good stuff, thanks NYN. Thanks for sharing the piece from Drance as well. Quinn Hughes has turned into such a great draft pick, he might go down as the greatest draft pick in Canucks history, he's that good. Didn't Reuby say "you don't win with players like him"........
- Pacificgem

Well Rubes is about as sharp as a beach ball...

Petey played good last night, most fans just look at points, because fans are stupid, and they're obviously important (points). However. He played well last night, despite his spaghetti legs...lol. 56% on faceoffs, second most time on the PK which was 5 for 5, his CF and FF were above 50% which means he and the plugs he's playing with controlled the puck more than they didn't. It's a step in the right direction for him. Still not getting shots thru though, needs to improve on that.
- Pacificgem

Good points. Petey did show pretty well last night and I feel once he snipes one he will get his feel back for his shots. Once his shooting percentage rises again the results should come. His skating still does look a little off to me however he could be playing through a mild injury...but still looked much better last night.

Petey played good last night, most fans just look at points, because fans are stupid, and they're obviously important (points). However. He played well last night, despite his spaghetti legs...lol. 56% on faceoffs, second most time on the PK which was 5 for 5, his CF and FF were above 50% which means he and the plugs he's playing with controlled the puck more than they didn't. It's a step in the right direction for him. Still not getting shots thru though, needs to improve on that.
- Pacificgem

Could be said of everyone outside of Miller. He had half the team shots and helped set up a few others.

Petey did have that one nice shot one-on-one where he shifted to the outside and shot through the defender. Small steps.

Nice road win. Casey surprised. I thought they were gonna get killed. Take the W and move on.

Tonight let us all enjoy watching the leafs lose again!

Good stuff, thanks NYN. Thanks for sharing the piece from Drance as well. Quinn Hughes has turned into such a great draft pick, he might go down as the greatest draft pick in Canucks history, he's that good. Didn't Reuby say "you don't win with players like him"........
- Pacificgem

I remember when he was drafted someone asked Ferarro who did he compare Hughes to? He replied Bobby Orr. Everyone looked at him like he was nuts.

Petey played good last night, most fans just look at points, because fans are stupid, and they're obviously important (points). However. He played well last night, despite his spaghetti legs...lol. 56% on faceoffs, second most time on the PK which was 5 for 5, his CF and FF were above 50% which means he and the plugs he's playing with controlled the puck more than they didn't. It's a step in the right direction for him. Still not getting shots thru though, needs to improve on that.
- Pacificgem

I am going to disagree with this post a little bit. You don't really pay him that much money to be good on the PK. He is being paid to produce scoring. Joshua is very good on the PK at 900 K.

That said most top end talent in the playoffs get shut down by other teams or at least reduced productivity. He did finish the year off at a 70 pt production and if he brings that same pace into next year people will be screaming. But this is the playoffs the team got the win move onto next game and hope for the same result.

Loving Zadarov.

I am going to disagree with this post a little bit. You don't really pay him that much money to be good on the PK. He is being paid to produce scoring. Joshua is very good on the PK at 900 K.

That said most top end talent in the playoffs get shut down by other teams or at least reduced productivity. He did finish the year off at a 70 pt production and if he brings that same pace into next year people will be screaming. But this is the playoffs the team got the win move onto next game and hope for the same result.

Loving Zadarov.
- VANTEL

If you look at the first Drance quote, Tocc touches on that. Some players take a bit to get into it. I still think Petey is playing hurt, he hasn't looked right for a while now, but hopefully he's able to turn it up a bit more each game and contribute on the scoresheet (he did set up Hoglander with a great pass for what should have been a goal)

If you look at the first Drance quote, Tocc touches on that. Some players take a bit to get into it. I still think Petey is playing hurt, he hasn't looked right for a while now, but hopefully he's able to turn it up a bit more each game and contribute on the scoresheet (he did set up Hoglander with a great pass for what should have been a goal)
- NewYorkNuck

I think he is hurt also. He is missing his shot so I would not be surprised to hear his wrist is acting up again.

I'd wager Petey is hurt, probably a lot more than we really know and we won't find out until the Canucks get eliminated. I'm not as worried about his production, but it's definitely a concern.

That was a good game save the last 12 mins or so. Zadorov has the Preds looking when they come into the offensive zone now and the hit on Josi was a big one for the Canucks for sure. Petey was moving his feet last night and he did look better he’s definitely fighting it but I’m impressed that he’s not shying away from the media. Hughes took some heavy shots last night but he’s no shrinking violet he’s not afraid to be in the scrums and I think he’s starting to develop a mean streak if he could add a sneaky physical bit to his game with some well timed finished checks he will make opponents hesitate for the extra 1/2 a second. He needs to throw a reverse hit or finish a guy after they make a pass.
I feel like Nashville is going to try to change their game plan for next game as there was a lot of frustration playing against the defensive structure of the Canucks. I thought they missed Myers the other night and he played another good game yesterday.

I remember when he was drafted someone asked Ferarro who did he compare Hughes to? He replied Bobby Orr. Everyone looked at him like he was nuts.
- VANTEL

Remember about 4-5 years back when a certain someone said Hughes would win the Norris? Yeah...good times...

I think he is hurt also. He is missing his shot so I would not be surprised to hear his wrist is acting up again.
- VANTEL

Yeah he's labouring.

But...

'Zach Hyman and the Toronto Maple Leafs each have six goals through their first three games of these playoffs'

I am going to disagree with this post a little bit. You don't really pay him that much money to be good on the PK. He is being paid to produce scoring. Joshua is very good on the PK at 900 K.

That said most top end talent in the playoffs get shut down by other teams or at least reduced productivity. He did finish the year off at a 70 pt production and if he brings that same pace into next year people will be screaming. But this is the playoffs the team got the win move onto next game and hope for the same result.

Loving Zadarov.
- VANTEL

Zadorov has been nice surprise given his room issues from CGY. Lindholm looks to be coming around a bit.

Yeah he's labouring.

But...

'Zach Hyman and the Toronto Maple Leafs each have six goals through their first three games of these playoffs'


- LordHumungous

I really wanted Canucks to go after Hyman and they didn't so I then thought maybe Mikheyev will turn out the same?

Zadorov has been nice surprise given his room issues from CGY. Lindholm looks to be coming around a bit.
- LordHumungous

I really hope Canucks hire Vegas's cap advisor and we bring back Lindy and Z.

I am going to disagree with this post a little bit. You don't really pay him that much money to be good on the PK. He is being paid to produce scoring. Joshua is very good on the PK at 900 K.

That said most top end talent in the playoffs get shut down by other teams or at least reduced productivity. He did finish the year off at a 70 pt production and if he brings that same pace into next year people will be screaming. But this is the playoffs the team got the win move onto next game and hope for the same result.

Loving Zadarov.
- VANTEL

You’re always stuck on money for some reason. He’s not getting paid anything in the playoffs, no one is, they’re playing for free and a championship, they contribute any way they can.

The Canucks are up 2-1 in the series, Petey had a good comeback game after a poor game and you still find a way to complain about him. Your obsession with hating on him has become embarrassing for you. He’s one of the best young centers in the game, perhaps you should cheer for Nashville or Edmonton?

You’re always stuck on money for some reason. He’s not getting paid anything in the playoffs, no one is, they’re playing for free and a championship, they contribute any way they can.

The Canucks are up 2-1 in the series, Petey had a good comeback game after a poor game and you still find a way to complain about him. Your obsession with hating on him has become embarrassing for you. He’s one of the best young centers in the game, perhaps you should cheer for Nashville or Edmonton?
- Pacificgem

Maybe I should cheer for the teams you cheer for all 18 of them.