The Canucks didn’t play a bad game in Tampa; they just had mental lapses and ran into all-world goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy en route to a 4-1 loss to the Lightning.
Elias Pettersson actually did have a better game. He was more engaged and had a couple of decent attempts on the net. But he needs to shoot the puck more, which was especially evident on the power play. Passing it off when he is in the slot, fifteen feet out, is not a good look. Where is that Elias who wound up for one-timers and fired everything at the net?
Head coach, Rick Tocchet, stated post game, “We weren’t ready to play in the first period. I didn’t think we won a battle. In the second and third, we had some chances but didn’t bury them, and you can’t give a team like that a two-goal lead.” Tocchet went on to say, “We just need some guys to pick it up.”
Conor Garland scored the lone Canuck goal, and was one of the better looking forwards on the night, for the Canucks. Brock Boeser had a few chances, but it was a very quiet night for former Lightning forward J.T. Miller.
Prior to the Panthers game the Canucks recalled Erik Brannstrom from Abbotsford. Brannstrom was acquired in a trade with the Avalanche for a retained Tucker Poolman contract and a 2025 4th round pick. Following that, GM Patrik Allvin announced that D Derek Forbort has left the team for personal reasons. Rick Dhaliwal, from CHEK TV, reported that it “didn’t sound long term, and he could be back in a few days.” Yours truly wishes Forbort all the best.
The game in Sunrise, Florida against the Panthers, was as good as the Canucks have looked this season. J.T. Miller roofed the overtime winner over Sergi Bobrovoskys shoulder to give the Canucks a 3-2 win. Miller is now second overall in overtime winners, in Canucks history, with 10, trailing only Daniel Sedin, who had 16 OT goals. They played fast and physical hockey, and gave the Panthers more than they could handle on this night.
Kevin Lankinen looked sharp all night. This guy is a good, solid, goaltender, with a .932 save percentage through two games. He’s poised, calm, and stops the puck. Give him the reins, Tocc.
Quinn Hughes was outstanding, on both defense and offense. He scored a beauty goal on a slapshot from the point after stepping around a Panthers defender, and finished the night with 9 shots on goal. He also assisted on Miller’s game-winner.
Kiefer Sherwood was a physical presence all night, laying 10 hits on the Panthers. He’s a very smart agitator type player, the kind you like on your team but dislike playing against.
Rick Tocchet was quoted post game, “We’ve got some work to do, but thought there was some good stuff in there.” That’s vintage Tocc keeping his players grounded.
The line of Miller-Pettersson-DeBrusk looked good, and was dangerous all night. Hopefully they get a good run together to further develop their budding chemistry.
The Canucks are now 1-2-2 as they head to Philadelphia, to take on the Flyers, on Saturday night at 4 pm Pacific.
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