WDYTT: What’s it going to take to finish the Blues?

How quickly the tables can turn, even here at WDYTT, the most consistent hockey column on the internet.

At the tail-end of last week, this author suspected they’d be strolling into CanucksArmy today to ask one simple question of you all — how good did it feel to sweep the St. Louis Blues?

Now, five games into the series, it’s a slightly different ballgame.

Following last night’s improbable Virtanen-and-Motte-fueled victory, the Canucks are up 3-2 and just one win away from the second round.

But the defending Cup champs are going to do anything in their power to make sure they don’t have to leave the bubble quite yet. With their opponents’ back up against the wall, can the Canucks rise to the occasion and find yet another gear to close this series out?

And if so, what’s it going to take?

Game Six is set to go tomorrow, and Game Seven will follow (if necessary) on Sunday.

In the interim, we’re asking you:

Last week, we asked:

Your responses (most of which were recorded following Game One) are below!

For me, it’s a tie between Sutter and Loui. I think for pretty obvious reasons. They’ve both been very strong and playing a role they should be. They were both good in the series with the Wild and they continued that into Game 1. Very pleasantly surprised.

Tyler Motte has to be at the top of the list of surprises…Team leader in hits and shots blocked in the Minny series, a buzzsaw out there, and last night his line completely dominated two shifts in the St Louis zone.

Unsung hero so far, IMO.

I’d say the play of the entire bottom-six and the third D-pair. Consensus was that these guys would get smoked in the Minny series (didn’t happen) and crushed by the Blues, (again, didn’t happen, at least not last night). Goes to show that regular season and playoffs are two completely different beasts, as our bottom-six was getting buried analytically all season long.

There’s honestly lots so far that I’ve found surprising:

1) Juolevi played with poise and intelligence and skill in the, what, six minutes he’s played? A mere month ago I was wondering if he’d ever see play in the NHL.

2) Sutter looks effective, dangerous, and is even a bit faster than I expected.

3) Petey’s pushback isn’t 100% surprising as he’s a competitor and learns fast and does what it takes to win, but it’s been good to see.

4) Eriksson’s effectiveness has been good, even though he’s still putting up straight zeroes on the stat sheets, he’s looking better doing it, and even has 9 SOG (none dangerous IIRC). He’s quietly doing a lot to help the Canucks win / not lose.

5) Virtanen’s play has been surprisingly soft and unmotivated – I’ve been holding out for him to show his real value in the playoffs, but this “real value” isn’t what I expected. I’ve been a huge optimist on him for a long, long time… but no more.

6) Gaudette’s start was not what I expected AT ALL. I really expected him to have a Bo-like extra gear for the playoffs.

7) Green really has the players playing a great system, moving the puck well (and quickly) – their passes to break out of the zone have been excellent and they’ve been using this to attack with speed, resulting in both goals and drawing penalties. The players that have needed to be good have been good, the players that have needed to provide depth or grit or hard checking have been doing all that; those with advertised weaknesses (e.g. Myers’ speed) have had those weaknesses exposed, BUT what I’ve really noticed about this team is they’re a LOT greater than the sum of their parts. I’d credit the coach and the leadership on the team coming from both the vets and the young’uns alike.

Overall: I’m surprised at how much this team has come together to be better than anyone guessed, and to get good results. Go Canucks!

Hughes.

I’m impressed with Hughes, but we already knew the kid was idiotically good so that doesn’t count.

So, Sutter. He’s showing us what a healthy Sutter looks like, the guy that Benning thought he was trading for in 2015.

It has to be Quinn. The numbers he is putting up are in line with HOF D-men debuts. How he controls the puck, creates space, and puts passes right on guys’ tape is beyond expectations. I was wondering if he would have playoff jitters.

NOPE.

The unsung hero is definitely Pearson. Five points in five games is nice. All even strength. In contrast, Hughes has seven points with five coming on the PP. Nothing too flashy from Tanner, but he plays a solid game and does well along the boards.

Sutter would be the talk of the town if he buried some more of his chances. He’s been close/

Hughes has been fantastic obviously, not just his points, but his defending has been excellent, also. He just shuts down pressure before it even happens.

Horvat looking like a leader. Scoring big goals and playing key minutes.

To start, Loui and Sutter look like guys providing the veteran leadership that young players need. The Rooster is getting under the opposition’s skin and, again, one must laud the reliable old tandem of Eddie and Tani especially on the PK. But the Calder triplets, and Bo in particular, look as though born for the playoffs thus far. If Marky can maintain the form he displayed last evening, and Pearson plays like an unsung hero, they could pull it off…. but it’s still too early.

Entertaining so far.

I’m just enjoying hockey, I don’t have a problem with anything.

I’ve missed half the games so far, but have been impressed with the entire team. Veteran savvy from Sutter, Eriksson, Roussel, Pearson, and Beagle has certainly been impressive. The young stars have shown their skill, both special teams have been excellent. Let’s enjoy the ride.

Quinn Hughes, even though we had high expectations… He’s leading all D-men in scoring in the entire NHL right now and is taking over games… He’s exceeded even the loftiest of expectations over the last five games.

Pearson in definitely the unsung hero. It would seem expectations are always low for this guy, but when he puts up numbers, everyone labels him as a solid top-six. Guy’s producing and has been producing at a first line rate with a great 200-ft game for over a year now. He’s a hidden gem in our lineup, and doesn’t get near the props he should because he kind of in the middle between the spotlight on our bottom-six and the focus of our young core. Guy’s a stud and playing like one.

Lots of players have upped their games. Sutter, Louie, Beagle, and Stecher, but Horvat is the one who stands out. He is the captain and he is showing it. He is playing like he has one goal, and one goal only, and he will carry the team on his back to get the Cup.

That’s what I call leadership, and that’s what I call a captain who understands what it takes to win and what it takes to lead.

Don’t understand the apparent lack of engagement from JV18. Looking for a big (but responsible) hit to see him become a factor and play to his strengths. We will need the additional physicality as this series goes on and for a deeper run. Speed + size should translate into a real playoff threat.

Lots of examples. I’m taking Eriksson as the most astonishing. He’s gone from the scrapheap and everyone’s favourite whipping boy to a meaningful contributor on the second line and PK.

Side benefit: the play of Eriksson, Sutter, and Beagle in the playoffs hopefully make it less costly to offload one or two of them this offseason.

Bowie Horvat our Captain and leader – one of the best ‘trade for pick’ deals in Canucks history. What a warrior. Thank you, Mike Gillis, your esteemed legacy lives on. Go BO!!!!!!!