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CanucksArmy Post Game: Da hockey Gaud
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Photo credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin - USA TODAY Sports
Mar 30, 2018, 02:05 EDT
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Puck Drop

There’s been quite the hype train this week in Vancouver, starting on Saturday when Adam Gaudette’s season at Northeastern came to an end. The speculation came to an end rather quickly with the Hobey Baker hopeful putting pen to paper and turning pro.
Thursday night, Gaudette made his pro debut against Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers. Starting out on the 4th line Travis Green looked like he was going to ease Gaudette into the lineup, in an attempt not to overwhelm the twenty-two-year-old centre.
I didn’t take long for Gaudette to hit the ice, and all in all his first shift was a successful one. No, he didn’t score, but he looked the part and was involved in the play.
Jacob Markstrom was the star of the show early on in this one, making a pair of big saves early to keep the Canucks from falling behind.
Markstrom kept the game scoreless until 8:27 of the first when Connor McDavid reminded us of why he’s the best player on the planet. McDavid turned on the jets and made Sam Gagner appear to be standing still as he flew around him, avoided Michael Del Zotto and beat Markstrom.
After twenty, it was still 1-0 Oilers.

2nd Period

With the Canucks being ravaged by the flu, quarantine protocols were in effect. It worth noting Sam Gagner is said to be one of the sick Canucks as he appeared flatfooted on the first-period goal by McDavid.
There wasn’t much going on in the second period, to the Sedin’s did have their moments. Heading into what could be the final handful of games for Daniel and Henrik, it’s worth taking the time to appreciate what they’ve meant to this city and franchise. The future Hall of Famers are the best the Canucks have to offer throughout the history of the franchise.
The lone goal of the period came off one such Sedinery. Tho Daniel’s one-timer set up by Henrik was stopped, Gagner scored his third goal in the last four games. Once again making a great read off the Sedin’s, finding himself wide open with the rebound right on his stick.
The game stayed tied at one, headed to the third.

3rd Period

The Canucks came out and took the lead early in the second. Exactly two minutes into the period, Derrick Pouliot took a heads-up feed by Nikolay Goldobin coming right down main street. From there, Pouliot showed good patience to wait out Cam Talbot going wide left and firing the puck into the open cage.
Jussi Jokinen picked up a second assist on Pouliot’s go-ahead goal, making him the Canucks third-leading scorer in the past dozen games. Is that a compliment to Jokinen who came to the Canucks with just a single goal on the year, or an indictment of the Canucks barren offence? I’ll let you decide.
Bo Horvat nearly squeaked one past Talbot short side, but Andrej Sekera was there to pull it off the line with Goldobin looming over him. Team Tank catching a break, possibly keeping the dream alive?
Alas, it wasn’t to be, this is the closest the Oilers would get to tieing the game up.
The Canucks hot streak couldn’t come at a more inopportune time, with the season lost the only thing left to hope for is the dream of Rasmus Dahlin. With the Canucks picking up a few wins down the stretch, the odds of the team picking first overall for the first time in franchise history grow smaller by the day.

The Numbers

Quick Hits

  • In his NHL debut, Gaudette was predictably sheltered. Playing on the fourth line Gaudette saw 10:39 of ice time, tho he did lead his line in minutes. He had three shot attempts, one hit, and one blocked shot.
  • Tyler Motte was third among Canucks forwards play  18:03, a full four minutes more than either of the Sedin’s. Anyone still think the Sedin’s are coming back? There’s been some talk of a reduced role; what does that look like? They’re already playing third line minutes with the team littered with injuries, does that mean they’re not the first unit power play?
  • Jacob Markstrom continued his strong play as of late, allowing just one goal and stopping all ten high danger shots he faced. His 97.2 save percentage was 6.7% above his expected numbers. He also had a loft 2.42 Goals Saved Above Average, meaning a league average performance would have seen him allow 3.42 goals against.

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