Snap Shots: Jacob Markstrom has been good enough for the Vancouver Canucks to win

The Vancouver Canucks have been severely outplayed in their series but Jacob Markstrom has given them a chance to win in each game.

Just as they did during the regular season, the Canucks are once again relying upon their most valuable player Jacob Markstrom. The St. Louis Blues are currently averaging 35.4 shots per 60 minutes. Right into the Markstrom hot zone as he was 13-4-0 when facing over 35 shots in the regular season.

Markstrom has had it tough in this Blues series. Markstrom has faced so many in tight shots from the Blues at 5-on-5. He is second in the league when it comes to average shot distance with 5-on-5 shots being from an average of 35.33 feet away.

As a side note, the only goaltender with 60 minutes played and closer shots against is Jordan Binnington so the Canucks need to get back to that.

Back to Markstrom, at 5-on-5 he only trails Darcy Kuemper in shots against per 60 minutes. Markstrom has been under fire for this entire series at even strength and he has been as good if not better than he was during the regular season. He has a 0.929 save percentage at even strength during the regular season and has improved to 0.949 during this series against the Blues.

He’s been the Canucks most consistent player, coming out every game and playing at the same high level each night. Without Markstrom, this team would be in even more trouble than they currently are. There’s a reason why he was named as the team’s MVP and he is showcasing it now more than ever. Coming up with timely saves and being a calming presence for the team when they need it.

After a shaky series against the Minnesota Wild, I was a bit nervous for what this Blues team was going to do to Markstrom.

He has come out and been great in every game. Looking back at the goals scored against him you have a lot to blame on the defence around him and it’s too bad because he is playing good enough for this team to win.

The Canucks are being caved in at 5-on-5, during the 197 minutes of action the Blues have outshot the Canucks by a count of 118-80 and during that time have only outscored the Canucks 6-5.

Markstrom will need to continue to be great as I doubt the Canucks have the magic recipe to be able to outplay the Blues at even strength. With some special team success they could sneak by the Blues in this series but it will depend on if Markstrom can keep his game at such a high level.