Post-Game Talk: GM14 | Canucks defeat Flames | 3-1 | Pettersson, Suter, & Brannstrom | How Swede It Is!

[HairyKneel]

I don't really count him as being in the type of situation I'm talking about, though. The Canucks went out and got a promising young defenseman with a reasonably high draft pick – that was more a bet that turned out than a throw-in or salary dump. I mean, a guy like Gélinas was picked up on waivers.

Gerald Diduck for a 4th?

 

[ChilliBilly]

If this was last year, the Canucks would've ran away with this one early in the second. Thought the team carried the flow of play for the most part, and the one goal against was against the grain. Some notes:

Petterson - best game I've seen him play this year. I wrote about speed bursts and a possible injury earlier, but I think his play has shown so far it was mainly mental. He's playing way more shifts with Hughes than earlier in the season, which has improved his confidence immensely and has him skating with more pace as he knows he's going to get the puck on his stick when open.

Garland - great penalty killing, weaker game at ES. While he carried Petey hard when he was struggling, thought Petey carried him at ES today. Same deal with Debrusk, except Debrusk was a bit more clueless defensively.

Hughes - world class, it's just ridiculous at this point. Think Hronek still gets undervalued around here, as he really enables Hughes in the offensive zone. Every other dman is way too slow in their decision making to keep up with him.

Lankinen - solid bounceback game. I think the Canucks defensive game gets underrated around here though, everytime he makes a save on a high danger shot people freak out about the Canucks giving up too many chances. Unlike our backups last year, the Canucks don't need to be in full lockdown mode at the cost of offense as he's been great.

Lekk - You see the skill and good decision making (albeit a half second behind at titmes), but he's still rough around the edges. He's in the right spot for the most part, but his stick and body work need to get better as he couldn't take the puck away on the forecheck or in the dzone today.

Third line - another solid performance. Still blows my mind they make collectively less than 6 million after being free agents this past year.

Was nice seeing Brannstrom get a goal. He's been found money, and most importantly has kept Juulsen out of the lineup.

Good evaluation. But think Juulsen is a decent 7th for the most part. Not playing as well this year, but ...

 

[Vector]

Performance Tonight

• Didn’t mind the 1st period
• Liked the way they responded in the 2nd period
• Worked on some stuff in practice that showed today; offensive Movement with the defencemen and forwards
• Played quicker and didn’t give up much; when they did give up a chance, Lankinen was there for them

Lekkerimaki

• A lot there to like; smart player
• Not a lot of panic when he has the puck and goes to the right spots
• Did a really good job tonight
• A lot to build off of
• Has to credit Abbotsford coaching staff for working with him on his defensive games
• Believes the Twins have talked to him the last couple days
• Miller talking to him a lot on the bench
• Is conscious of the defensive aspects of the game; Tocchet has a tough time for the type of player that gets back slowly and Lekkerimaki thinks about this side of the game a lot

2nd Period

• Played faster and more predictable
• Saw a lot more of guys getting inside and winning battles
• One shift after another; succession of good shifts

Bounce-Back Effort

• When they have a bad effort, they get together as a group and bounce back
• Very rarely they play 4-5 bad games in a row
• Players wanted a hard practice after the Oilers game

Powerplay

• Loved that they beat pressure with quick accurate passes
• Going to build off it
• Some spots where Lekkerimaki is almost Boeser-like
• When Boeser starts feeling better, he can teach Lekkerimaki

Pettersson

• Does see his confidence building
• Is working on his game; going on the ice early
• Starting to get his “skating legs”; attributes this to hard work in practice
• Told Pettersson he doesn’t care if Pettersson is tired in a game from a hard practice because this is for the long run
• Was a good week for Pettersson
• The last week, Pettersson is rolling up the sleeves and putting in some good efforts

Defencemen

• Better job of taking the body around the crease
• Step in the right direction

Sherwood

• Finishes checks and it’s contagious
• Has some offensive capability; not just a guy that hits but can make plays

Lankinen

• Deserved to play tonight
• Battles hard
• All he does is play good games for them

Miller

• Thought he had a really good game
• All centremen were good tonight

Interference Calls

• The referees will warn teams on the bench if there’s too much interference
• Not seeing a trend but do have to be careful if it becomes one

Game Flow

• Tough to get the 4th line out there when you have a lot of penalties
• Really helps when you get the 4th line between 10-14 minutes because it wears the other team down

 

[WTG]

Well after tonight the Canucks are tied for 8th in the league. Whereas is they had lost tonight, they would be in a 3 way tie for 11th. Early in the season, a 2 game winning steak vs a 2 game losing streak can make a massive difference on where you are in the standings.

We should be reasonably happy with how we are doing. Not ecstatic, but not suicidal either.

And not every Canucks will be lights out, nor will most of them be cannon fodder at this point.

Happy with tonights game. They were clearly the better team on all levels. Offense, defence and tending. If anything this game should have been 5 - 1.

On to Thursday.

Oh, let's face it, we should win all 3. Just like I said we should handle Edm easily. (at the time I thought McD was not going to be playing).

Quite funny how the expectations have changed huh? A few seasons ago being slightly above water was the expectation and we were all clamoring to see where they'd pick next.

Now, it's panic time despite having he highest P% in the division and 3rd highest p% in the conference.

 

[RobertKron]

Hoglander I felt had a much better game than Lekkerimaki. I get that it's easy to fall in love with the shiny new toy but Lekkerimaki had a OK game.

Lekkerimaki looked like he didn't want to make any mistakes. He'd constantly be the first one to change. Only 1 shot attempt for him tonight and a few giveaways. I've seen him play better.

Yeah, he understandably looked tentative a lot of the time when the puck wasn't in solid possession. Also - probably somewhat relatedly - away from the play I thought he found himself on the wrong side of bodies quite a lot, which is something he'll need to address as he's probably unlikely to ever be a guy who will be able to muscle himself through people, so he'll have to win battles for space largely by getting to the right spot before the battle has a chance to happen.

Obviously the instincts are there once the team has possession offensively, and also you can see that this is a player who wants to do the right things.

 

[Wry n Ginger]

Seems like last two games I was painting my warhammer stuff, we win.
View attachment 930012

Need to see more edge of armor scuffs, boot wear and tear/marching evidence plus the occasional troops logo perhaps? They all just come from basic? The painting detail is good, just nothing unique about each character.

 

[Bertuzzzi44]

Pettersson great game.
Lehkonen good bounce back.
Lekkerimaki good debut.
Hughes was great as usual.
Pius Suter is really good.
Sherwood is a hound.

Nice team effort, good consistent forechecking and puck possession.

 

[valkynax]

Need to see more edge of armor scuffs, boot wear and tear/marching evidence plus the occasional troops logo perhaps? They all just come from basic? The painting detail is good, just nothing unique about each character.

These were 2nd hand pre-built. If I put them together from sprue they'd look more interesting, with all the optional attachments.

 

[Bertuzzzi44]

Pettersson with his best game in 10 months. He looked dominant.

Allvin is a mastermind for acquiring Brannstrom in the Poolman trade. Found money.

Sherwood is so fun to watch and he has sneaky skill.

Bang on on all 3 points

 

[kanucks25]

Pettersson great game.
Lehkonen good bounce back.
Lekkerimaki good debut.
Hughes was great as usual.
Pius Suter is really good.
Sherwood is a hound.

Nice team effort, good consistent forechecking and puck possession.

I'll have you know Lehkonen has never played a single bad game for the Vancouver Canucks. There was nothing to bounce back from!

 

[Wry n Ginger]

These were 2nd hand pre-built. If I put them together from sprue they'd look more interesting, with all the optional attachments.

Meh just put em in a bag with rocks a give the a good shake.

 

[VintageBure]

Hoglander is trade bait as soon as they can bring In another defenceman.

Not with that contract extension haha

 

[Spectrefire]

Somewhere in Vancouver, MS is absolutely fuming that Lekkerimaki actually looked decent tonight.

 

[thecupismine]

Someone in Vancouver, MS is absolutely fuming that Lekkerimaki actually looked decent tonight.

You’re projecting a bit hard - the guy is a fan just like the rest of us. When someone performs well, we’re all happy, regardless of whether we thought they would or not.

Gotta be a bit crazy to be mad when your own guys play well just because you thought they wouldn’t.

 

[wonton15]

Not with that contract extension haha

It probably would be an asset to someone like Dubas/the Pens as there’s known term and cost certainty that lines up with the Crosby career window.

 

[Vector]

Somewhere in Vancouver, MS is absolutely fuming that Lekkerimaki actually looked decent tonight.

Lekkerimaki actually fits @MS’s method for high draft pick success; limited time in the AHL and dominated when there.

Frankly, I’m really impressed with his willingness to get in on the forecheck. Was right in there or on a great place to support the forechecker.

 

[CanucksSayEh]

Everyone looked real gud. I can buy they were all sick lately.

Hughes god mode

Miller was forcing passes to try and get Lek his 1st. Always happens with a new or slumping linemate.

This board, is as usual, completely bedarded with Hoglander takes. Hogs is a stud, Nuck for life, simply irreplaceable. Will be a key factor if and when this core finds deep playoff success.

 

[HockeyWooot]

Small sample size, but I am confident that Lekk will not get sent down again. He looks way better than Bains, Raty, Hoglander

Hoglander is probably the odd one out, he’s a useful player that should garner a good return.

 

[Hoglander]

Brannstrom was good.

GudBrannstrom.

 

[VanJack]

Brannstrom was good.

GudBrannstrom.

Has Brannstrom been inspired just watching Quinn Hughes in games and practices? He had his best game as a Canuck tonight.

A two-point night, but really wheeling with the puck. That Brannstrom-Desharnais pairing might have been the best Canuck pairing. Canucks Army commenting that there must be a few teams around the league who are kicking themselves when the Canucks put Brannstrom on waivers after acquiring him.

One thing is or sure, he's not going to end up on waivers again this year and won't see Abbotsford again.

I know some posters are meh about Lekkerimaki, but it's been a long time since a team as good as this current Canuck team has had two rookies, 20-year old Lekkerimaki and 21-year old Raty in the lineup at the same time.

 

[F A N]

Lekkerimaki actually fits @MS’s method for high draft pick success; limited time in the AHL and dominated when there.

Frankly, I’m really impressed with his willingness to get in on the forecheck. Was right in there or on a great place to support the forechecker.

Nah. @MS would take issue with you saying he dominated at the AHL level given the number of PP goals (which I would agree given the small sample size).

 

[ChilliBilly]

Has Brannstrom been inspired just watching Quinn Hughes in games and practices? He had his best game as a Canuck tonight.

A two-point night, but really wheeling with the puck. That Brannstrom-Desharnais pairing might have been the best Canuck pairing. Canucks Army commenting that there must be a few teams around the league who are kicking themselves when the Canucks put Brannstrom on waivers after acquiring him.

One thing is or sure, he's not going to end up on waivers again this year and won't see Abbotsford again.

I know some posters are meh about Lekkerimaki, but it's been a long time since a team as good as this current Canuck team has had two rookies, 20-year old Lekkerimaki and 21-year old Raty in the lineup at the same time.

I was under the impression that you only had to clear waivers once in a season, and thereafter could be sent down without worry. But apparently I am wrong. Which means he is not going back to Abby. Unless his play fall off a cliff.

I know people bitch about reclamation projects, but once in a while they really pay off. Right now he is playing like the 15th overall pick that he was, and was projected to be.

So of our Swedes, 2 were 15th overall. 5 yrs difference in age. We could have a lot of swedes in lineup in a couple of years. EP2 Wilander and maybe Fernstrom and Alriksson with Forsell and Gabrielson as long shots. Aman and Karlsson could also come back. So 4 on the roster right now, and a ton in the system.

 

[tantalum]

I think Hoggy could really blosson somewhere/anywhere else given the opportunity.

Here's hoping the Baldersons do him a solid and get him out of here. Ricky no like, no how.

To the Pens for Pettersson is my guess. And it will happen before Xmas.

 

[MarkusNaslund19]

Lekkerimaki actually fits @MS’s method for high draft pick success; limited time in the AHL and dominated when there.

Frankly, I’m really impressed with his willingness to get in on the forecheck. Was right in there or on a great place to support the forechecker.

MS will use weasel language to back off the point, but he was saying he was worth like a 3rd round pick like a year and a half ago and refused to consider the context of his injuries and mono.
He's a bright guy, but it would be great if he could admit his mistakes from time to time.

 

[JanBulisPiggyBack]

View attachment 930017

young tocchet, flew too close to the sun

I still have this hockey card somewhere to the Annuls of my house
It’s in my Annul