VANCOUVER — With the elite gamers they are lacking resulting from accidents, the Vancouver Canucks received’t win many video games until the elite gamers who’re wholesome carry out and drive the workforce.
On Friday, J.T. Miller had 4 pictures on web however noticed his goal-less streak attain 12 video games. His linemates, Brock Boeser and Jake DeBrusk, mixed for one shot. No marvel the Canucks have been shut out 3-0 by the Nashville Predators, who’ve solely 4 wins in 21 highway video games this season however have collected half of these victories at Rogers Enviornment.
The Predators scored twice into an empty web as Vancouver fell beneath .500 on residence ice (7-8-6) in a tumultuous Nationwide Hockey League season that’s trending in direction of alarming.
The earlier evening, within the Canucks’ 4-3 shootout win in Seattle, Miller, Boeser and DeBrusk amassed solely two pictures on web, however nonetheless generated a key third-period aim for defenceman Tyler Myers.
Earlier than that, Boeser scored from Miller’s passes in 4 straight video games.
That form of manufacturing is loads to ask. However it’s what the Canucks require with centre Elias Pettersson and defencemen Quinn Hughes and Filip Hronek lacking from the lineup.
As Vancouver common supervisor Patrik Allvin stated final weekend in a year-end interview with Sportsnet: “I feel it is truthful to say that you simply anticipate your greatest gamers to be the difference-makers, and one of the best gamers while you want them. Do I anticipate extra from them? Completely.”
So, too, do Miller and Boeser anticipate extra from themselves.
“Clearly, I’m somewhat snakebit proper now,” Miller stated Friday evening. “I undoubtedly put strain on myself to step up within the scoring division proper now.
“They’re three of our extra highly-skilled gamers (who’re injured). So I feel with who we now have proper now, clearly we now have to perform a little extra as a gaggle. However the laborious factor is, you do not need to attempt to do an excessive amount of. You need to form of let the sport come to you, get on the within and rating some ugly targets.”
Even with just one shot within the ultimate 10 ½ minutes, the Canucks outshot the Predators 27-19. However they didn’t get on the within and in entrance of Nashville goalie Juuse Saros practically typically sufficient.
The Predator’s greatest save was a second-period rebound cease in opposition to Conor Garland, but it surely was additionally one of many few instances Saros was compelled to make a second save.
“We have simply acquired to discover a approach to create some offence,” Boeser stated. “I feel tonight we simply wanted to get some extra our bodies in entrance of Saros.
“Clearly, it is laborious. We all know how a lot Quinn helps our workforce on offence, and produces a lot and makes so many performs on the market. He attracts plenty of consideration, which opens different performs up. So it hurts lacking these guys. We knew it was going to be laborious with out these guys. Quinn’s our greatest participant and anytime you are lacking your greatest participant, you have to discover methods to contribute extra and get different guys to step up.
“For positive, we anticipate ourselves to be a line that may be difference-makers.”
The Canucks received in Seattle on an impressed evening by winger Conor Garland, clutch reduction goaltending by Kevin Lankinen and key contributions from gamers in the midst of the lineup.
However with Pettersson out day after day and Hughes week to week, and Hronek one other month, there may be solely a lot the Canucks can do when the optimistic storylines are in regards to the elevated play of depth defenceman Vincent Desharnais and the expansion of rookie Max Sasson.
The Canucks want their greatest gamers to be one of the best gamers. That is the case for just about each workforce in each sport. However the axiom holds very true when a few the opposite greatest gamers are lacking.
Canucks coach Rick Tocchet stated that Pettersson and Hughes will journey with the Canucks once they depart Saturday for a five-game highway journey that begins Monday in Montreal.
“Pay attention, our D are attempting, all people’s making an attempt,” Tocchet stated after Friday’s recreation. “Let’s face it, I imply, you guys can say what you need (however) we’re making an attempt. We did not rating tonight, however we had some alternatives. We did not rating.”
The Canucks energy play didn’t generate a shot heading in the right direction throughout a pair of third-period benefits.
After three straight losses, the reeling however rested Predators acquired the one aim they wanted at 16:53 of the second interval when Canucks winger Kiefer Sherwood fell throughout a puck battle contained in the Nashville blue line, giving the guests a three-on-two rush that ended when Steve Stamkos completed a give-and-go with Jonathan Marchessault by blasting a one-timer previous Lankinen.
Gustav Nyqvist and Colton Sissons scored empty-net targets for the Predators, who’ve made Vancouver an oasis throughout Nashville’s dismal season.
The Canucks contained Stamkos, Marchessault and Filip Forsberg for a lot of the recreation, however nonetheless Nashville’s high line discovered a approach to produce the profitable aim. That’s what the Canucks want from Miller’s line.
“I imply, they need to rating,” Tocchet stated. “However typically if you wish to rating a lot, you overlook about doing the little issues. Six on 5, you understand, for those who simply remove individuals, any person’s going to get the puck. I feel we’re making an attempt to fret about performs. However, yeah, in fact they need to rating. I imply, they really feel the strain, yeah.”
“I imply, it is laborious to attain,” Miller stated, “and particularly with out the fellows that usually drive offensive play plenty of nights for us. I am making an attempt to not get too wrapped up in it (mentally). Like I inform you guys on a regular basis, I’ve simply acquired to play stable hockey, and that different stuff will come. I consider that.”
