Canucks Army Postgame #56: Buffalol
7 years ago
The Canucks’ play has been frequently criticized this seaso, and rightfully so. But to their credit, the effort has always been there, for the most part. After losing a heartbreaker yesterday in Boston, the Canucks beat the schedule loss tonight with one of their best performances of the season. They outplayed the Sabres at both even-strength and on special teams- against the league’s best power play, which is no small feat. Mike Chaput had two goals and the Canucks came away with two points in one of the more entertaining tilts of the season.
STATS
HIGHLIGHTS
GAME NOTES
- Ben Hutton has been the subject of a lot of criticism this season, most of it unfair. He’s looked behind the play at times since returning from injury, and it looked as though that unfair criticism might continue when he was on the ice for a defensive breakdown that lead to the Sabres’ first goal. (Hutton was not at fault for the goal, but that doesn’t always matter in the eyes of the media.) That’s why it was so nice to see him get the assist on Horvat’s power play goal. He’s been better than his recent struggles would have you believe. Hopefully that assist can help get his confidence back to where it was when he was turning heads as a rookie.
- One of this regime’s biggest flaws has been the way it elevates what should be depth players into roles they aren’t suited for. The play of the Canucks’ fourth line in the past month or so has been a testament to what can happen when role players are deployed in a manner suited to their skill set. When Michael Chaput was playing in the top-six, he was a drag on his linemates, and the team as a whole suffered. Since Chaput has been moved down the lineup, the Canucks have had arguably the best fourth line in hockey. Ironically, Chaput scored both his goals without his regular linemates, and both as powerplays were expiring. Still, he’s played well and it’s nice to see him get rewarded.
- Special teams were a huge factor tonight, as the Canucks had one offical PP goal, as well as the two aforementioned goals Chaput potted as Sabres’ penalties expired. The Canucks also kept the Sabres’ league-best powerplay at bay, going 3-for-3 on the kill. After all these years, Alex Burrows’ troll game is still very much on point. He clearly got under Robin Lehner’s skin tonight, causing a scuffle in front of the Sabres’ net and drawing a roughing penalty. The two were yapping at each other all night, but Burrows got the last laugh, scoring the game winner on a furious Lehner. I’m not sure what he said to set Lehner off, but I hope it involved mocking his well-publicized support of Donald Trump.
