STATS

HIGHLIGHTS

GAME NOTES

• The Canucks were dominating possession even before the Oilers took the lead, and would continue to do so for most of the game. They never really looked close, though. They just couldn’t generate the quality looks the Oilers pulled off. That’s not to say there weren’t some positive takeaways. Markus Granlund had one of his best games as a Canucks playing on a line alongside Bo Horvat and Sven Baerstchi, which was easily the Canucks best of the game. Granlund alone had seven shots on goal, and generate a couple of the Canucks’ best scoring chances.
• With Granlund moved off the Sedin line, Willie Desjardins promoted fourth-line centre Michael Chaput to the twins’ right flank. That’s exactly the type of move that’s bound to draw the ire of Canucks fans, but the line actually played quite well. They conceded only two shot-attempts on the entire night at even strength, and kept play in the offensive zone for most of the night. I’m not entirely sure what Desjardins’ was trying to accomplish this late in the season pulling that move, but given that Chaput has centred the Canucks best possession-driving line as of late their may be method to this madness…
• At least, until you consider that Reid Boucher has been the Canucks’ best possession player since he joined the team in early January. Somehow, with the Canucks in full “play the kids” mode, Boucher was demoted to the fourth line after two shifts and played just 10:44 on the night. Given how badly the Canucks needed a goal, I’d have much preferred to have seen him get a chance on that line, even if only late in the game.
• We got a brief taste of a new-look powerplay unit in the third period tonight, featuring the Sedin twins, Bo Horvat, Markus Granlund, and Troy Stecher. They even abandoned the 1-3-1 formation for a moment. Why it’s taken 70 games to experiment is beyond me. The PP has been abysmal all season long and there’s a number of intriguing options that haven’t been so much as briefly considered. Why not give Boucher a look manning the point? Why not try Tryamkin out as a net-front presence? The team has absolutely nothing to lose at this point, so let’s hope the experimentation continues.
• Somehow, in a game where the Canucks dominated the shot clock and trailed for the entire third period, Brandon Sutter was -11 in shot attempts. Sutter’s always been the type of player whose underlying numbers don’t always line up perfectly with the eye test, but lately Sutter hasn’t so much as even looked good. With the expansion draft looming, I wonder how palatable that contract is looking these days.