Major changes to team dynamics seemed to be the shared characteristic for both teams tonight. The Canucks entered the game with their big-name acquisition, who hopes to bring offensive firepower while some of their impact forwards are on the shelf. Meanwhile, the Wild played their second game since Bruce Boudreau was fired.
Aside from giving up the first goal on the first shot 63 seconds into the game, the Canucks actually played quite well out of the gate. They controlled shot share and the majority of the play through the first 10 minutes especially before taking a somewhat confusing too many men penalty, which stalled things slightly for the home team.
It was another early period goal that breathed some life into this game. This time it was for the good guys. You could say that Quinn Hughes gifted Jay Beagle a goal and you wouldn&#8217;t be wrong. The assist was the cherry on top of what went down as a terrific period for Hughes, who showed a ton of jump.
Before the Wild&#8217;s next go-ahead goal came a considerable lull in play. It felt like the kind of stereotypical Wild-Canucks game fans have been treated to for the better part of the past two decades, which stood in contrast to the eventual excitement of the third. The final 20 minutes was kicked off by a goal generated by the top line off the stick of JT Miller. The action didn&#8217;t slow there. On the next shift for that line, they were able to give the Canucks their first lead of the contest.
It was a welcome sight to see play pick up drastically and give us an entertaining finish to regulation and into overtime. The extra session featured healthy doses of Hughes, Toffoli, Pettersson and Miller, but nothing came of it aside from a ticked-off Jacob Markstrom.
Pettersson and Miller each managed to score magnificent goals in the shootout, but the Canucks weren&#8217;t able to get another from Toffoli, Pearson and Horvat when they needed it and would eventually fall 4-3.
Lines
The much-anticipated addition of Tyler Toffoli into the lineup finally arrived tonight, as the newest Canuck was featured on the first line, taking the spot of the injured Brock Boeser. Tyler Motte made his way back into the lineup at  the expense of Zack MacEwen. No changes were made on the back end or in goal since the last game.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
looks like <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> will answer the call of the Wild like this <a href="https://t.co/GTz0gHgs8C">pic.twitter.com/GTz0gHgs8C</a>
&mdash; Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) <a href="https://twitter.com/patersonjeff/status/1230327834524045312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&nbsp;
Highlights
Jay Beagle and Quinn Hughes connected to get the Canucks on the board. The Calder candidate was released from the box seconds before being sprung on this two on one. Finishing off the patient passing play and ending a 42 game goal drought was Beagle.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Quinn Hughes on a 2-on-1 feathers a perfect pass to Jay Beagle who beats Dubnyk to score his 2nd of the year. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/mnwild?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#mnwild</a> <a href="https://t.co/IJXyFd3Krk">pic.twitter.com/IJXyFd3Krk</a>
&mdash; Sportsnet 650 (@Sportsnet650) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet650/status/1230350374831177728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The Wild took the lead once again on this Luke Kunin one-timer from the slot. The goal came following over two minutes of sustained pressure and a bad line change by exhausted Canucks.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
GOAL. Luke Kunin sneaks a puck past Markstrom to give Minnesota the lead.
2-1. <a href="https://t.co/J8puySElln">pic.twitter.com/J8puySElln</a>
&mdash; Hockey Wilderness (@hockeywildernes) <a href="https://twitter.com/hockeywildernes/status/1230355141913694208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
And now I give you back to back goals from Miller. The first came off a speedy pass from Toffoli, as he earns his first point as a Canuck.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
JT Miller has his career-high 23rd goal of the season and Tyler Toffoli has his first point in his first game with the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> <a href="https://t.co/wBZQvUbbs6">pic.twitter.com/wBZQvUbbs6</a>
&mdash; Vanessa Jang (@vanessajang) <a href="https://twitter.com/vanessajang/status/1230363706162204673?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Stecher then finds Miller with a pretty cross ice feed to put the Canucks up 3-2.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Stecher finds JT Miller with some time and space and he wires his 2nd of the game. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> <a href="https://t.co/L0PRWQ8Cjm">pic.twitter.com/L0PRWQ8Cjm</a>
&mdash; Sportsnet 650 (@Sportsnet650) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet650/status/1230364906714591232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Stats
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-677" src="https://hockeyhead938302948.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/cancuks-wild.jpg" alt="cancuks wild" width="1137" height="580" />
&nbsp;
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-678" src="https://hockeyhead938302948.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/cancuks-2.jpg" alt="cancuks 2" width="652" height="882" />
Game Notes
<ul>
<li>While the Hughes-Tanev pairing excelled, the Edler-Stecher pairing experienced the opposite and their underlying numbers reflected that. Stecher in particular had a rough outing and didn&#8217;t get the bounces to go his way as we saw on the last Wild goal.</li>
<li>Despite four combined power plays for both sides, no goal was scored with the man advantage.</li>
<li>Nolan Baumgartner mixed up the defensive pairings on a couple of instances. The final few minutes in the second and briefly throughout the third.</li>
<li>In a rare instance, Jacob Markstrom wasn&#8217;t the busiest goalie and it may have thrown the netminder off, at least to start. He finished with a 0.893 SV% and for the first time in a while, I can&#8217;t recall a huge game-saving stop from Markstrom.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Top Performers
<ul>
<li>Quinn Hughes was dynamic once again and if not for the penalty he took it would have been a near-perfect game for him. In addition to his multiple clean zone entries and instances walking the line, he finished with an assist and 6 shots. Oh, and let&#8217;s not forget the tripping penalty he drew on one of his second period offensive entries. Hughes finished with a game-high 27:05 of time on ice.</li>
<li>The top line didn&#8217;t have the best first half, but remedied that by capitalizing on chances later on. They were able to tie things up and get the goal that put the Canucks ahead at one point. They combined for 9 shots, and 3 points in what was a game they hope to build further chemistry from.</li>
</ul>

Major changes to team dynamics seemed to be the shared characteristic for both teams tonight. The Canucks entered the game with their big-name acquisition, who hopes to bring offensive firepower while some of their impact forwards are on the shelf. Meanwhile, the Wild played their second game since Bruce Boudreau was fired.

Aside from giving up the first goal on the first shot 63 seconds into the game, the Canucks actually played quite well out of the gate. They controlled shot share and the majority of the play through the first 10 minutes especially before taking a somewhat confusing too many men penalty, which stalled things slightly for the home team.

It was another early period goal that breathed some life into this game. This time it was for the good guys. You could say that Quinn Hughes gifted Jay Beagle a goal and you wouldn't be wrong. The assist was the cherry on top of what went down as a terrific period for Hughes, who showed a ton of jump.

Before the Wild's next go-ahead goal came a considerable lull in play. It felt like the kind of stereotypical Wild-Canucks game fans have been treated to for the better part of the past two decades, which stood in contrast to the eventual excitement of the third. The final 20 minutes was kicked off by a goal generated by the top line off the stick of JT Miller. The action didn't slow there. On the next shift for that line, they were able to give the Canucks their first lead of the contest.

It was a welcome sight to see play pick up drastically and give us an entertaining finish to regulation and into overtime. The extra session featured healthy doses of Hughes, Toffoli, Pettersson and Miller, but nothing came of it aside from a ticked-off Jacob Markstrom.

Pettersson and Miller each managed to score magnificent goals in the shootout, but the Canucks weren't able to get another from Toffoli, Pearson and Horvat when they needed it and would eventually fall 4-3.

Lines

The much-anticipated addition of Tyler Toffoli into the lineup finally arrived tonight, as the newest Canuck was featured on the first line, taking the spot of the injured Brock Boeser. Tyler Motte made his way back into the lineup at  the expense of Zack MacEwen. No changes were made on the back end or in goal since the last game.

https://twitter.com/patersonjeff/status/1230327834524045312

&nbsp;

Highlights

Jay Beagle and Quinn Hughes connected to get the Canucks on the board. The Calder candidate was released from the box seconds before being sprung on this two on one. Finishing off the patient passing play and ending a 42 game goal drought was Beagle.

https://twitter.com/Sportsnet650/status/1230350374831177728

The Wild took the lead once again on this Luke Kunin one-timer from the slot. The goal came following over two minutes of sustained pressure and a bad line change by exhausted Canucks.

https://twitter.com/hockeywildernes/status/1230355141913694208

And now I give you back to back goals from Miller. The first came off a speedy pass from Toffoli, as he earns his first point as a Canuck.

https://twitter.com/vanessajang/status/1230363706162204673

Stecher then finds Miller with a pretty cross ice feed to put the Canucks up 3-2.

https://twitter.com/Sportsnet650/status/1230364906714591232

Stats

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-677" src="https://hockeyhead938302948.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/cancuks-wild.jpg" alt="cancuks wild" width="1137" height="580" />

&nbsp;

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-678" src="https://hockeyhead938302948.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/cancuks-2.jpg" alt="cancuks 2" width="652" height="882" />

Game Notes
<ul>
 	<li>While the Hughes-Tanev pairing excelled, the Edler-Stecher pairing experienced the opposite and their underlying numbers reflected that. Stecher in particular had a rough outing and didn't get the bounces to go his way as we saw on the last Wild goal.</li>
 	<li>Despite four combined power plays for both sides, no goal was scored with the man advantage.</li>
 	<li>Nolan Baumgartner mixed up the defensive pairings on a couple of instances. The final few minutes in the second and briefly throughout the third.</li>
 	<li>In a rare instance, Jacob Markstrom wasn't the busiest goalie and it may have thrown the netminder off, at least to start. He finished with a 0.893 SV% and for the first time in a while, I can't recall a huge game-saving stop from Markstrom.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;

Top Performers
<ul>
 	<li>Quinn Hughes was dynamic once again and if not for the penalty he took it would have been a near-perfect game for him. In addition to his multiple clean zone entries and instances walking the line, he finished with an assist and 6 shots. Oh, and let's not forget the tripping penalty he drew on one of his second period offensive entries. Hughes finished with a game-high 27:05 of time on ice.</li>
 	<li>The top line didn't have the best first half, but remedied that by capitalizing on chances later on. They were able to tie things up and get the goal that put the Canucks ahead at one point. They combined for 9 shots, and 3 points in what was a game they hope to build further chemistry from.</li>
</ul>

Postgame: Canucks can’t tame Wild, fall 4-3 in shootout

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