The Statistics
Game Highlights
Kempe scores to put #LAKings up 1-0#Canucks pic.twitter.com/j03fReXEVB
— Ryan Biech (@ryanbiech) September 21, 2017
Tanner Pearson with the break on the PK and scores to put #LAKings up 2-0#Canucks #NHLChinaGames pic.twitter.com/ylq8pzBfCa
— Ryan Biech (@ryanbiech) September 21, 2017
?? scores on the PP to cut the lead to 3-1#Canucks pic.twitter.com/OGASWYSTeP
— Ryan Biech (@ryanbiech) September 21, 2017
Markus Granlund follows up on his shot to cut the lead to 3-2#Canucks #NHLChinaGames pic.twitter.com/yQYMySf0vv
— Ryan Biech (@ryanbiech) September 21, 2017
Pearson with his second of the game to put #LAKings up 4-2#Canucks #NHLChinaGames pic.twitter.com/RL8LVUmPvp
— Ryan Biech (@ryanbiech) September 21, 2017
Game Notes
- The Canucks went 1 for 11 on the powerplay today, which is frankly embarrassing. The first unit consisted of the Sedins, Vanek, Gagner, and Edler, and the second had Horvat, Baertschi, Burmistrov, Eriksson, and Hutton. As you’ve likely inferred, neither units were threatening. Of the two, the latter looked better today. That’s not to say the Sedins with Gagner and Vanek won’t work, but the man-advantage simply looked more threatening with Horvat, Baertschi, and Burmistrov on the ice. There might be a particular player in North America who could improve the powerplay, however.
- It’s been publicized that playing Sam Gagner with the Sedins was a definite possibility. Although the trio didn’t necessarily have an exciting game, there was chemistry displayed at times. Gagner isn’t a pure shooter, which contradicts the typical linemate the Sedins have had in seasons past. He can play their passing game, however, and there were a few times where they had legitimate even-strength scoring opportunities. The area of concern would be the skating as neither of the players are considered hard checkers. This, as was shown, can lead to times where a player gets caught and puts the line in trouble.
- Alex Burmistrov looked good today. He spent a solid amount of time on the powerplay, but he impressed at even-strength too. He skated well and moved the puck effectively, and there looks to be some chemistry between him, Horvat, and Baertschi on the powerplay. If he keeps up his play, it would be hard to keep him off the opening-night roster. He also had this goal which was waved off as it went in after the horn:
Everyone was skating…but the clock wasn't ticking. pic.twitter.com/9UssivGRgJ
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) September 21, 2017
- Thomas Vanek didn’t look particularly impressive, although that could be said about a number of players . He made an erroneous pass which led to the Kings’ shorthanded goal, and he didn’t look threatening on the power play either. There was a quick 5-pass play in the third period with the Sedins that could’ve ended up in a highlight reel goal, and that was promising.
- I know the league is cracking down on penalties, but wow are they getting tough. There were five penalties total in the first period, four of which were slashing and holding. In last year’s league, one could easily deem them soft calls. Through all the pre-season games, the referees have been consistent. If this is one of the league’s attempts to increase scoring, it appears it could work with the abundance of powerplays that can occur in one period alone.