Post-Game Talk: GM 48 | Canucks def. Capitals | 2-1 (Hughes x2) | Follow your Captain.

[Hoglander]

Team is gonna be fat and happy after this one.

 

[Hit the post]

I still have myKirk McLean happy meal toy

 

[Lupuls Grit]

He was solid. No glaring mistakes, was decently physical, and moved the puck pretty well. Had a nice solo dash too lololol.

He was over his head. Clearly not yet ready for the NHL. Some good moments but some turnovers and just seems to9 raw.

 

[Quinning]

He was solid. No glaring mistakes, was decently physical, and moved the puck pretty well. Had a nice solo dash too lololol.

I have a game plan for my Pettersson jersey if they trade him. Just change the number lol

 

[TruGr1t]

Pure Canucks hockey ... rely on standout goaltending when you can get it, Hughes creates a goal or two, get outshot, sit back, and get 4 shots in the third period.

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

Best part of the game last night.

My buddy says “Do you know Jason Brough?”

I said “Of course”.

He goes “I play hockey with him”.

I ask “He any good?”.

His response? “No”.

 

[pitseleh]

Hughes now has 21 more points than Miller, who is second in scoring.

Think the record for the biggest team lead in a season by a defenceman is 23 points, by Ray Bourque in 86/87.

 

[racerjoe]

Take a listen to Tocchet's post game from tonight. He kept going on about how frustrated he is that the players are deferring to the blueline instead of taking the puck to the interior of the ice and making a higher percentage play. Mentioned they're going to change up how they practice and start doing half an hour of purely getting to the middle of the ice.

This is where Toc is flat out wrong. The problem isn’t deferring to the point too much, it’s that besides Hughes, this defence doesn’t know what to do with the puck in any zone. In the offence, they will 90% make the wrong play, and 5% make an errand pass on a good play. It’s been horrendous to watch. Creates no offence it’s just terrible. It’s what you get when you dress guys who can’t handle the puck.

Sure, like I said when we were discussing in the Tocchet thread, they've decided that they want low-event hockey in all zones but again to me that isn't the same as turtling.

When you only have 2 play-driving forwards and they are both playing like shit and acting like petulant children at the same time, it's kind of tough to trade chances and hope you match the firepower of literally any other team in the league except maybe the likes of Chicago and San Jose.

(now you can argue Tocchet should be able to get more out of those guys and he should share some blame of letting their situation get out of control but that's kind of besides the point and also lets the man-babies off the hook a little too easily, IMO)

This is very related to the above.

We have more play drivers than just Petey and miller, Garland, Debrusk and Hogs are very good at it. But Hogs has been neutered this season, he gets benched and scratched and it’s killed any confidence. I get he was playing poorly but there is a difference in teaching and making a guy hold his stick so tight.

As to everything else… it’s tough to drive a play when you constantly have to go glass and out and our just chasing the puck. We are a team that wants to be a puck control team that is constantly chasing the puck. The worst part is even our dump ins are terrible and rarely give our forcheckers a chance to get the puck. It’s brutal.

 

[racerjoe]

To add to the above after season more of Tom’s comments, talking about not backing in… maybe if you dressed defenceman that could skate that would also help…. We have two dmen that have played pretty much all season who give up the blue.ine cause they can’t turn, and can’t skate… and now you are commenting on it?!?!

 

[pitseleh]

This is where Toc is flat out wrong. The problem isn’t deferring to the point too much, it’s that besides Hughes, this defence doesn’t know what to do with the puck in any zone. In the offence, they will 90% make the wrong play, and 5% make an errand pass on a good play. It’s been horrendous to watch. Creates no offence it’s just terrible. It’s what you get when you dress guys who can’t handle the puck.

Fully agreed. Also, even if “dump and chase, dominate 50/50 puck battles, don’t take low percentage shots, drive the puck to the middle of the ice” could be an effective offensive strategy, it seems like an awful one for the team as constructed. The forwards are basically playing three on five in the offensive zone when Hughes is on the bench and there isn’t enough skill/size in that group to make things happen when that’s the case.

 

[TruGr1t]

The entire organization has to be willfully ignoring or obfuscating the issues on the blueline at this point in terms of their public comments, I refuse to believe they're just that dumb.

 

[Diversification]

Nice win but same underlying problems remain. Need goals from someone other than QH43, Tocchet's system nerfs our forward's skill and creativity, dmen are lumbering and grenade handle the puck in their own zone.

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

My headache got the better of me and ended up passing out for most of the 2nd and 3rd period. Saw parts of the 2nd and the final 10 minutes. How did D-Petey look?

He had one glaring turnover, but was otherwise solid. Played physical, broke up plays, and had a nice rush/breakout where he showed some nice speed and confidence.

All of that was especially impressive given he was largely partnered with Desharnais, who was simply a disaster for most of the night.

 

[valkynax]

I were assembling my Dark Angels. But I was watching it on delay so... Hmmm. Warp can twist space and time like that.

I got the Inner Circle Task Force before the thing sold out in...seconds after its pre-order opened. The minis in that box are UNBELIEVABLE.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

Take a listen to Tocchet's post game from tonight. He kept going on about how frustrated he is that the players are deferring to the blueline instead of taking the puck to the interior of the ice and making a higher percentage play. Mentioned they're going to change up how they practice and start doing half an hour of purely getting to the middle of the ice.

i mean i love this but it’s been a problem for 12 months now and he’s just now addressing it with directed drilling?

 

[Quinning]

Hughes now has 21 more points than Miller, who is second in scoring.

Think the record for the biggest team lead in a season by a defenceman is 23 points, by Ray Bourque in 86/87.

This is a very bad thing. Tocchet's system is terrible. Absolutely zero offensive creativity and relies on getting bounces + going into shutdown mode when they have the lead.

 

[krutovsdonut]

friday night

I have a game plan for my Pettersson jersey if they trade him. Just change the number lol

do it with electrical tape

 

[David Bruce Banner]

The problem is are Canucks only just trying to win, or also trying to get larger sample size from Demko in order to strategize what to do with Lankinen.
I'm sure they would rather Demko come back as a legit starter with a cheap backup next season. But from the looks of it, they'll probably have to re-sign Lankinen and it won't be cheap as he's going to want to be goalie 1A/B.

I think both have proven that they wilt and/or get injured if they play too much.
The way of the future seems to be a 1A/1B 60/40 type split. But that only works for us if Demko can bring his game back up to 1A/1B levels.

 

[krutovsdonut]

that was a fun game. thank you quinn hughes for continuing to hockey in spite of all the nonsense.

d-petey was my favourite part. he was effective just by using his body to go about his business. he's super raw but i think the fact he survived is a testimony to his upside, and he is exactly what this team needs in the lineup. just the enthusiasm was awesome.

in spite of the good vibes and good time overall, that game reeked of regret.

f-petey made me sad. he's trying and not getting much done and it feels like too little too late. hughes just taking the puck off him on that zone entryis the kind of thing that does not happen to star players because they want the puck and they are taking care of it so they can do something with it.

miller to me looks like a guy who cheated on his wife and was at first defiant about it but now realizes he has blown up his world. i emphasize that is just a metaphor and i am not trying to start any rumours, but that's how he looks. he had a good thing going here and he's wrecked it and nobody else wants him and that is sinking in. i wouldn't be surprised if he makes a contrite statement saying he wants to stay and make amends next.

 

[supercanuck]

Fully agreed. Also, even if “dump and chase, dominate 50/50 puck battles, don’t take low percentage shots, drive the puck to the middle of the ice” could be an effective offensive strategy, it seems like an awful one for the team as constructed. The forwards are basically playing three on five in the offensive zone when Hughes is on the bench and there isn’t enough skill/size in that group to make things happen when that’s the case.

That sounds like the way he used to play and he doesn't know any other way. Guys like Hogz/Kuz struggle to adapt and Tocc is not flexible (non-negotiables) and also doesn't seem like he is a good teacher or motivator. On the plus side, "throwing it back to the point" when QH is on the ice is actually a good strategy, and this type of strategy also worked really well for JT's skillset when he was on his game.

 

[JanBulisPiggyBack]

I was at this game, I’ve been to plenty of games plenty
This was one of the weirdest games I’ve ever watch, neither team mustered anything, so many players were invisible, even Quinn Hughes was pretty pedestrian
I’m thrilled we won and my experience in going to the games is like an astonishing 33-2 which is crazy but of all the games I attended I can’t never say I was for lack of better word……bored? Uninspired?
Yaaay win

 

[credulous]

This is where Toc is flat out wrong. The problem isn’t deferring to the point too much, it’s that besides Hughes, this defence doesn’t know what to do with the puck in any zone. In the offence, they will 90% make the wrong play, and 5% make an errand pass on a good play. It’s been horrendous to watch. Creates no offence it’s just terrible. It’s what you get when you dress guys who can’t handle the puck.

correct. the canucks are playing 3 on 5 on offense anytime hughes isn't on the ice. part of it is personnel but tocchet also doesn't seem to understand if your only play is to go inside the opposition are just going to load up the inside to stop you from doing it. you need an alternative to keep them honest

 

[Reverend Mayhem]

We have a lot of great forwards, too bad no one can get them the puck.

 

[Lenny Levino]

This is a very bad thing. Tocchet's system is terrible. Absolutely zero offensive creativity and relies on getting bounces + going into shutdown mode when they have the lead.

Tocchet suffers from man with a hammer syndrome. To him, everything looks like a nail.

He only knows one system and will force everyone to play that system, regardless of the kind of players he has available.

d-petey was my favourite part. he was effective just by using his body to go about his business. he's super raw but i think the fact he survived is a testimony to his upside, and he is exactly what this team needs in the lineup. just the enthusiasm was awesome.

He reminded me a bit of Zadorov.

 

[krutovsdonut]

He reminded me a bit of Zadorov.

i avoided saying that but yes, he brings the same energy. if he can fight, look out.