<p>There’s nothing wrong with falling; just make sure to pick yourself back up. And that&#8217;s precisely what the Vancouver Canucks did this week.</p>
<p>After dropping both games in our last three-star installment, the club bounced back with a sweep, securing wins in all three matchups and improving to 7-2-1 over their previous 10 games.</p>
<p>With 71 games in the books, they haven&#8217;t quite clinched a playoff spot, but they&#8217;re close. Assuming they get a bit of help, they could have a shot at doing so on Monday when they host the Los Angeles Kings.</p>
<p><a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/casey-desmith-taking-canucks-starter-role-growing-confidence-numbers-back-it">Casey DeSmith</a> has stepped up admirably to fill the massive shoes left by Thatcher Demko, backstopping all three wins this week. Of course, the Canucks&#8217; recent defensive game certainly aided in that success. DeSmith&#8217;s top performance came on Saturday, where he made 22 saves, but he was forced to make just 16 and 15 saves, respectively, in his previous two starts earlier in the week.</p>
<p>He was good, but the team&#8217;s defence was great, which is why DeSmith falls just short of a selection this week.</p>
<p>Last week, we highlighted the full line of J.T. Miller, Brock Boeser, and Ilya Mikheyev in our three-star selection. This week, we&#8217;re doubling down on the full-line theme, but this time, we are focusing on the other half of the team&#8217;s top six.</p>
<h1>Third star: Conor Garland</h1>
<p>Conor Garland kicked off the week&#8217;s scoring with his 14th goal early in the opening period against the Buffalo Sabres, courtesy of a typical Garland dig.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Conor Garland kicks off the scoring with a jam play at the side of the net!</p>
<p>1-0 Vancouver <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LetsGoBuffalo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LetsGoBuffalo</a><br />🎥: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/8pE4W69fVE">pic.twitter.com/8pE4W69fVE</a></p>
<p>&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1770273759896990150?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>He added another goal versus the Montreal Canadiens and wrapped up with two assists against the Calgary Flames on Saturday night, finishing second on the team with four points by week&#8217;s end.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">🚨Canucks Goal🚨</p>
<p>Conor Garland with the snipe!🎯<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoHabsGo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoHabsGo</a><br />🎥: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/gyIDYIFSy8">pic.twitter.com/gyIDYIFSy8</a></p>
<p>&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1771019862661276026?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Since Garland&#8217;s ice time on the power play is somewhat limited, we will focus on his impact at even strength this week. He finished second among forwards in Corsi with a 58.21%. He was one of just six players to play all games during the week without conceding a goal at 5v5.</p>
<p>With 15 goals and 36 points, it may not be a career year statistically, but he&#8217;s already provided the most blocked shots in his career with 31. Garland is tracking to put up his best plus/minus rating and is on pace for his fifth consecutive 40-plus point camping despite offering one of his worst shooting percentages to date (9.3%).</p>
<p>Dubbed the team&#8217;s &#8220;Toyota Corolla&#8221; by our own Wyatt Arndt, Garland consistently gets the job done. Elias Pettersson had hit a rough patch in recent weeks and was in desperate need of a spark. What does Rick Tocchet do? He adds Garland, and suddenly, things happen. Coincidence?</p>
<h1>Second star: Nils Höglander</h1>
<p>His linemate, Conor Garland, may have finished second among forwards in 5v5 CF%, but Nils Höglander led the group with an impressive 64.38% CF% for the week, second only to Quinn Hughes. Impressively, his number peaked at an incredible 85.71% against the Montreal Canadiens.</p>
<p>Sure, he contributed just two points, both of which were highlight-reel goals. Höglander earned his spot as this week&#8217;s second star because he was a factor in all three victories. Heck, he finished second on the team in hits with 11.</p>
<p>His remarkable story grows as he continues to prove the anti-top-six narrative pushers wrong and now sports a career-high 22 goals, all scored at even strength. Despite averaging just 11:45 per night, he leads the entire league in goals among players with an average ice time of 15 minutes or less. Jake Neighbours comes closest with 25 goals while averaging 15:33 per game.</p>
<p>Both of Höglander’s goals this week came in the <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/stanchies-hoglander-breakout-game-three-stride-rule-tocchet-structure">final game,</a> with the first stemming from a beautiful cross-ice tic-tac-toe play from the trio just 48 seconds into the game.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="de" dir="ltr">Nils &quot;5v5 King&quot; Höglander makes it 1-0 less than a minute in!!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Flames?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Flames</a> <a href="https://t.co/qRYlClLS6e">pic.twitter.com/qRYlClLS6e</a></p>
<p>&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1771722166616064021?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>The second goal, however, was all Nils. The young Swede outmaneuvered his fellow countryman, Jacob Markstrom, to score one of the prettiest goals of the season.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Nils Höglander with the nifty move for his second of the night 😮‍💨 <a href="https://t.co/54gFCDBzxG">pic.twitter.com/54gFCDBzxG</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1771738518609354877?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>The goal even earned attention from EP40 himself.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">“He faked me out. I thought he was going to shoot. Then he did what he did. I was fired up.”</p>
<p>🗣 Elias Pettersson speaks on Nils Höglander&#39;s breakaway goal and the overall effort in tonight&#39;s win over the Flames.<a href="https://twitter.com/theprovince?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@theprovince</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> <a href="https://t.co/3CNN1uXPEP">pic.twitter.com/3CNN1uXPEP</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) <a href="https://twitter.com/Canucks/status/1771772795569283537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>With just 11 games remaining, Höglander is now just three goals away from hitting the coveted 25-goal mark, which begs the question: Was Patrik Allvin&#8217;s best trade deadline move simply sticking with this kid?</p>
<h1>First star: Elias Pettersson</h1>
<p>Elias Pettersson has been playing “red light, green light” all year when it comes to his production and overall effort level.</p>
<p>This week, he was <em>definitely</em> running on green.</p>
<p>Perhaps it was Daniel Wagner&#8217;s motivational words that ignited something within him. Maybe it wasn&#8217;t.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Daniel Wagner (<a href="https://twitter.com/passittobulis?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@passittobulis</a>) tells the story behind his question to Elias Pettersson earlier this week 😂</p>
<p>Presented By | <a href="https://twitter.com/FourWindsBrewCo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FourWindsBrewCo</a> <a href="https://t.co/4gAPZnUpNK">pic.twitter.com/4gAPZnUpNK</a></p>
<p>&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1770933405418684769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Whatever the reason, it proved effective as Pettersson led the charge with two goals and three assists, two of which were primary assists.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Elias Pettersson scores on the power play! That&#39;s his second point of the game! </p>
<p>2-0 Vancouver <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LetsGoBuffalo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LetsGoBuffalo</a><br />🎥: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/GgQF8vDGbl">pic.twitter.com/GgQF8vDGbl</a></p>
<p>&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1770293112495358257?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>You know it&#8217;s a good week when your empty net goal is even an impressive one&#8230;</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Elias Pettersson puts this game away with his second goal of the game! </p>
<p>3-1 Vancouver<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LetsGoBuffalo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LetsGoBuffalo</a><br />🎥: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/CEnGVi0dN2">pic.twitter.com/CEnGVi0dN2</a></p>
<p>&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1770308067122713007?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>When Pettersson is on his game, he&#8217;s one of the most electrifying players in the league, and this week was no exception. He not only topped the team in point totals but also finished just behind Höglander in all situations Corsi with 64.12%, consistently outplaying his opponents with an 84-47 advantage in chances.</p>
<p>Additionally, he dominated the scoring. Pettersson outscored his opponents by a wide margin of 50-17, leading the team with an 81.55% expected goals for percentage (xGF%) and 25-5 high-danger chances.</p>
<p>He even got into the dirty stuff, recording seven hits and three blocked shots.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Elias Pettersson does his best Kirk McLean impression as shot blocks continue to be the game plan for the Canucks in front of DeSmith. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Flames?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Flames</a> <br />🎥: Sportsnet | NHL <a href="https://t.co/sUfeoXcipQ">pic.twitter.com/sUfeoXcipQ</a></p>
<p>&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1771750367430160633?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>With his five points, he now sits tied with Don Lever for 12th in all-time scoring in Canucks history, just two points behind Alex Edler for 11th place.</p>
<p>The Canucks will close out their long-winded home stand, hosting the Kings, Dallas Stars and Anaheim Ducks this week.</p>
<div><a class="text-accent" href="https://app.greatclips.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"><img decoding="async" class="w-full" src="https://i0.wp.com/publish.theleafsnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/02/54669-002-GC-Logo-727x404-CA3.jpg?resize=727%2C404&amp;ssl=1" alt="" /></a></div>
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There’s nothing wrong with falling; just make sure to pick yourself back up. And that's precisely what the Vancouver Canucks did this week.

After dropping both games in our last three-star installment, the club bounced back with a sweep, securing wins in all three matchups and improving to 7-2-1 over their previous 10 games.

With 71 games in the books, they haven't quite clinched a playoff spot, but they're close. Assuming they get a bit of help, they could have a shot at doing so on Monday when they host the Los Angeles Kings.

<a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/casey-desmith-taking-canucks-starter-role-growing-confidence-numbers-back-it">Casey DeSmith</a> has stepped up admirably to fill the massive shoes left by Thatcher Demko, backstopping all three wins this week. Of course, the Canucks' recent defensive game certainly aided in that success. DeSmith's top performance came on Saturday, where he made 22 saves, but he was forced to make just 16 and 15 saves, respectively, in his previous two starts earlier in the week.

He was good, but the team's defence was great, which is why DeSmith falls just short of a selection this week.

Last week, we highlighted the full line of J.T. Miller, Brock Boeser, and Ilya Mikheyev in our three-star selection. This week, we're doubling down on the full-line theme, but this time, we are focusing on the other half of the team's top six.
<h1>Third star: Conor Garland</h1>
Conor Garland kicked off the week's scoring with his 14th goal early in the opening period against the Buffalo Sabres, courtesy of a typical Garland dig.

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1770273759896990150

He added another goal versus the Montreal Canadiens and wrapped up with two assists against the Calgary Flames on Saturday night, finishing second on the team with four points by week's end.

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1771019862661276026

Since Garland's ice time on the power play is somewhat limited, we will focus on his impact at even strength this week. He finished second among forwards in Corsi with a 58.21%. He was one of just six players to play all games during the week without conceding a goal at 5v5.

With 15 goals and 36 points, it may not be a career year statistically, but he's already provided the most blocked shots in his career with 31. Garland is tracking to put up his best plus/minus rating and is on pace for his fifth consecutive 40-plus point camping despite offering one of his worst shooting percentages to date (9.3%).

Dubbed the team's "Toyota Corolla" by our own Wyatt Arndt, Garland consistently gets the job done. Elias Pettersson had hit a rough patch in recent weeks and was in desperate need of a spark. What does Rick Tocchet do? He adds Garland, and suddenly, things happen. Coincidence?
<h1>Second star: Nils Höglander</h1>
His linemate, Conor Garland, may have finished second among forwards in 5v5 CF%, but Nils Höglander led the group with an impressive 64.38% CF% for the week, second only to Quinn Hughes. Impressively, his number peaked at an incredible 85.71% against the Montreal Canadiens.

Sure, he contributed just two points, both of which were highlight-reel goals. Höglander earned his spot as this week's second star because he was a factor in all three victories. Heck, he finished second on the team in hits with 11.

His remarkable story grows as he continues to prove the anti-top-six narrative pushers wrong and now sports a career-high 22 goals, all scored at even strength. Despite averaging just 11:45 per night, he leads the entire league in goals among players with an average ice time of 15 minutes or less. Jake Neighbours comes closest with 25 goals while averaging 15:33 per game.

Both of Höglander’s goals this week came in the <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/stanchies-hoglander-breakout-game-three-stride-rule-tocchet-structure">final game,</a> with the first stemming from a beautiful cross-ice tic-tac-toe play from the trio just 48 seconds into the game.

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1771722166616064021

The second goal, however, was all Nils. The young Swede outmaneuvered his fellow countryman, Jacob Markstrom, to score one of the prettiest goals of the season.

https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1771738518609354877

The goal even earned attention from EP40 himself.

https://twitter.com/Canucks/status/1771772795569283537

With just 11 games remaining, Höglander is now just three goals away from hitting the coveted 25-goal mark, which begs the question: Was Patrik Allvin's best trade deadline move simply sticking with this kid?
<h1>First star: Elias Pettersson</h1>
Elias Pettersson has been playing “red light, green light” all year when it comes to his production and overall effort level.

This week, he was <em>definitely</em> running on green.

Perhaps it was Daniel Wagner's motivational words that ignited something within him. Maybe it wasn't.

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1770933405418684769

Whatever the reason, it proved effective as Pettersson led the charge with two goals and three assists, two of which were primary assists.

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1770293112495358257

You know it's a good week when your empty net goal is even an impressive one...

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1770308067122713007

When Pettersson is on his game, he's one of the most electrifying players in the league, and this week was no exception. He not only topped the team in point totals but also finished just behind Höglander in all situations Corsi with 64.12%, consistently outplaying his opponents with an 84-47 advantage in chances.

Additionally, he dominated the scoring. Pettersson outscored his opponents by a wide margin of 50-17, leading the team with an 81.55% expected goals for percentage (xGF%) and 25-5 high-danger chances.

He even got into the dirty stuff, recording seven hits and three blocked shots.

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1771750367430160633

With his five points, he now sits tied with Don Lever for 12th in all-time scoring in Canucks history, just two points behind Alex Edler for 11th place.

The Canucks will close out their long-winded home stand, hosting the Kings, Dallas Stars and Anaheim Ducks this week.
<div><a class="text-accent" href="https://app.greatclips.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"><img class="w-full" src="https://i0.wp.com/publish.theleafsnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/02/54669-002-GC-Logo-727x404-CA3.jpg?resize=727%2C404&amp;ssl=1" alt="" /></a></div>
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