Canucks had again to rely on the short spurt to pull out this game. Happened a few times this season. Overall the team fought hard and defense came up with one of their better efforts. Often not pretty, but somehow got the job done. Game where the team had few stars, but did work extremely hard.
Good
Miller - Never perfect but thought there was drive in his play. His heaviness play was important against the Oilers. A major part of the first period rally and he was better on defensively.
Hughes - was the first star. Most important offensive player in this game. Little preview of the upcoming US - Canada tilt and that might occur in the middle of trade war.
Garland - heart and soul effort. Just gives it his all. And even as a little guy, he goes where others would fear to thread. Drew McDavid into a little UFCing during the last minute melee to help secure the win
Poor
Boeser - all been said. Passing, usually something he is good at, has also fallen off. Seems lost at the moment. Has real problems getting feet moving.
Others
Cassals - his line did a good job of keeping Oilers boxed up in their own zone. Rotated the forecheck well and one unit keeping constant pressure on the puck. Maybe I'm looking or hoping for something positive, but Hoglander seems to have found a bit of a niche on the this line.
Forbert - Got to the puck quicker and mostly moved the puck out of his zone better. Had problems handling Drasaitl on the PK but everyone does. Looking better and getting more reliable. If you can limit down what he has to do, he can be perhaps serviceable.
Myers - mixed bag. Got abused by McDavid on the first goal and sloppy at times. But generally pushed the Edmonton's attack to the outside (which is huge against the Oilers). Kind of dumb at the end of the game.
Pettersson - can't question the work ethic but it is so depressing the way he hasn't developed into the superb offensive player we supposed him to be. At this point, you have to wonder if somehow his offensive game has been, in part, deconstructed by the system within which the team plays. That's open to debate but does IMO seem a factor. Pettersson worked hard in this one and, from a defensive point of view, was effective.
We'll see if the NHL has the balls to deal with the petulant McDavid. Really no different, and seemingly even more direct, than the Soucy cross-check earlier this season. (like McDavid was actually hit from behind and his head driven down in that incident) Might be the League will look for some loophole (like the game wasn't officially over) to get him off the hook. Definitely Garland should have hit the deck and writhed in pain to make some League action more likely.
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