Secondary scoring and goaltending of the utmost importance for Canucks in game 7: Canucks Conversation
2 months ago
On today’s episode of Canucks Conversation, David Quadrelli and Harman Dayal previewed game 7 tonight between the Canucks and the Oilers. Brock Boeser is out of the lineup dealing with a (fortunately non-life threatening) blood clotting issue, and the guys emphasized Vancouver’s depth as one of the main factors in giving the Canucks a chance to move on to the Western Conference Finals.
Rick Tocchet spoke at this morning’s skate and echoed a sentiment the Canucks’ locker room has been preaching all season.
“It’s a tough one but next man up. That’s the way you gotta approach it, like we have all year”
The exact lines are still up in the air, but Harm noted that Garland and Joshua’s line (presumably with Blueger in the middle) will need to show up big time.
“That line has to be on top of its game, especially because, presumably, they’re going to go up against Draisaitl,” said Harm. “The last couple games, Draisaitl has had some help on his flanks. Holloway has some speed, tenacity and a scoring touch and that’s helped Evander Kane.”
Boeser was one of the Canucks’ best playoff performers to this point in the postseason, leading the team in goals, and the impact of his absence is going to reverberate through the entire lineup.
“Every single forward is going to have to be that much better,” said Harm. “Nils Hoglander finally scored in game 6, you need the best version of him, and now that he’s gained some confidence he’s making plays with the puck. It isn’t just the goal he scored, it was his entry and how he held onto the puck instead of throwing it away or turning it over, he set Pettersson up to allow that line to maintain control of the puck in the offensive zone. For Pettersson, the last couple games it’s felt like he’s been looking significantly better. Can you unlock the best game of Pettersson’s run so far in game 7? That would make a huge difference. (Boeser’s absence) amps up the pressure on the players and top 9 to step up, because this is a team that already lacked impact wingers.”
Harm noted his keys for victory in tonight’s series-deciding game.
“The number one factor I’m looking at is; which team is going to do a better job of breaking the puck out clean and who’s forecheck is going to be more disruptive,” said Harm. “In the last two games, the biggest x-factor for which end of the ice the action is held in. In game 5, the story was how much better the Canucks were breaking the puck out, their forecheck was giving Edmonton’s defenseman troubles, and it was Vancouver’s best playoff game of this entire run. Whereas game 6, arguably their worst game of this postseason, they got back to having difficulty making those same plays under pressure.”
The guys were then joined by NHL insider Frank Seravalli, who gave his take on the biggest factor for the Canucks in game 7
“They’ve won games during these playoffs because of their belief,” said Frank “They’ve pulled out some incredible circus-like wins that they had no business doing. If you’re an Oiler fan, you had to be sitting there even in game six thinking, “If Vancouver just gets one here and starts to make Stuart Skinner think, and it’s 3-2 in the third period, all bets are off”. That part has made every game fun, and you couldn’t ask for anything more in a game 7 than to have a team like that believes in that; they just need to play even 45% of this game well and they’re going to be right in it. When they’re on, they’re as good as anyone. The way they pressure, forecheck and defend; it’s been great, but there’s been plenty of times when it’s not there. These are two inconsistent teams which is why this series has see-sawed back and forth.”
You can watch the full replay of today’s show below:
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