it was close but nashville wanted it slightly more. they shut us down better than we shut them down.
on the bright side, there are signs to me of players all through the canuck lineup making the adjustment to playoff hockey. they have just about figured out how to play through the wall nashville throws up, which is a good thing if they manage to win the series.
if you look at the canucks as a playoff team, the following is in play
-hughes is less effective due to size, time and space.
-garland is much less effective due to size, time and space
-hronek has continued his deterioration in play from during the regular season and at this point has completely lost the plot offensively and can't hit the net when he gets a shot.
-except for jt miller we do not have a horse among the top forwards. blueger, suter, lindholm, and pettersson all are challenged in physical games.
-it is much harder for the garland/joshua/whoever line to establish their forecheck and contribute secondary scoring and ozone possession time. both these players are still playing hard, and doing many good things, but the magic is turned down. joshua may be hurt but whatever the case that line has disappeared offensively and can't get the forecheck.
-in general, the canucks struggle to maintain the sustained o zone forecheck rotation and round the horn possession time which was a key to their success in the regular season. it's not just offence, it is having the puck far from their own net for an extended period. credit to saros for intercepting the dump ins.
-although the canucks defensive system has not broken down, it is much leakier in playoff conditions. they have had to ration hughes/hronek ice time because of how much they get hit in the dzone, reducing their effectiveness.
nashville has played committed patient physical playoff hockey from the beginning. if the canucks get out of this round they should be ready for the oilers who will not be able to throw out anything like the blanket nashville has managed.
