The Canucks blitzed past the visiting Penguins Saturday night, using a 3 goal outburst in a mere minute and five second timeframe to build a lead they never relinquished. The Canucks forward depth looked great and balanced last night as the team looks to be developing chemistry up front. If you missed the games, here are your highlights:
Elias Pettersson scored (!!). Then Kiefer Sherwood. Then JT Miller. And then Arsheep Bains capped off the second period outburst to seal the win for the Canucks. Bains got his first NHL goal for his hometown team wearing their throwback uniforms against Crosby on a Saturday night. Pretty sweet memory to make for him!
“I can’t really even put it in words,” Bains told reporters. “It just happened so fast, and all the guys were so happy. It was a special moment. I think everyone, you know, they took time out, came over and gave me a hug. And it’s something I won’t forget.”
The team was happy for him – it’s been a long journey for Bains to make it to the NHL, and everyone on that team knows how hard it is to be there at all.
“Seeing the guys’ reaction on the bench, I think we were happier than he was,” winger Kiefer Sherwood said. “He’s been a guy that’s just put his nose down and continued to go to work. He’s an undrafted guy, so it really, really feels good for everyone to kind of support him and watch him.”
There was celebration for Bains, and also relief for Pettersson. I’m not sure if all of you know this, but Petey hadn’t scored a 5-on-5 goal for a little bit. He’s looked better as the young season has come along, and he was rewarded for that last night. Though post-game he wasn’t as excited as Bains…
“Good to get one,” Pettersson said. “Good play by Conor to find me. I just tried to get it high on the far side and luckily it went post and in.”
Getting scoring from every line is great, and that up-front depth was a clear aim after their playoff exit last year. There are still some things to settle in and some players need to find their groove, but overall it seems like a Canucks team with a different dimension.
As always, not all roses last night. The team came out a bit flat to the visiting road-weary Pens. The Canucks still aren’t doing a good enough job defending, and are a bit too reliant on Lankinen to bail them out of spots (which, thankfully he’s been doing!)...
“I’m not going to b**ch about a win, but, you know, the third period, I’d like us to a little bit more put a stamp on it,” Tocchet said.
Overall though, a solid victory. The team has won four straight and are 4-1-2 on the season – after all that panic from the first three games. The systems are coming into play, the players are buying in.
“We’re just playing the right way,” Sherwood said. “We’re always trying to be on the right side of the puck and when you’re just simple and predictable, it’s easier for each and every guy to read off and you don’t have that hesitation of what’s going to happen.
“Over the course of the season and the playoffs, depth is obviously very important. Usually, the deeper teams will win over the course of a series. It’s a huge step in the right direction when all four lines can contribute. Whether it’s on the stat sheet or not, I think it’s just about playing the right way and continuing to add to our identity.”
Adding they are. The Canucks are in action Monday night against the Hurricanes next. Til then, comments:
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