The close score didn’t do the Vancouver Canucks justice. The Canucks had a dominant performance from start to finish in their 3-2 victory against the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night. Defenseman Quinn Hughes led the charge. He was as impressive as usual. He’s the Canucks’ captain, but he’s also been a key player for the team.
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The Canucks Outshot the Sabres By a Wide Margin
Right from the opening moments of the game, the Canucks asserted their dominance. They then continued to outshoot the Sabres. And, by doing so, they maintained control of the game. The team put up a solid defensive effort, which set the tone for the 60 minutes. From a coach’s perspective, it was the kind of game that has to make you think your team is pretty good. Not that head coach Rick Tocchet will let off the gas if he does.
Conor Garland’s promotion to the top line to play with Elias Pettersson paid immediate dividends. His play injected energy and creativity into the team’s offense. Wherever he plays in the lineup — and he seems equally adept in the top line as on the third line — he seems to have a seamless chemistry with his linemates. His goal was the reason that Vancouver took an early lead.
Give the Sabres team credit. They were on a tough back-to-back, having played in Seattle yesterday. They never quit working hard. Yet, the Canucks never blinked throughout the game. Tyler Myers’ gritty play and Elias Pettersson’s offensive contributions further bolstered Vancouver’s performance, leading to a well-deserved victory.
Special Teams Played a Role in the Canucks Win
Special teams also played a crucial role in the Canucks’ success. The power play unit displayed a fluid effectiveness. The Vancouver penalty kill remained flawless; and, they were able to stop all four of Buffalo’s power-play chances.
The other interesting thing about this Canucks’ team is that they consistently outscore opponents in the opening minutes of games. They have outscored other teams by a margin of 22 -11 this season in the first five minutes of the game. It has become a hallmark of their playstyle and it seems to set them apart from other teams in the NHL. They did it again last night.
Elias Pettersson has now reached 80 points in back-to-back seasons. After about a two-game blink, the team’s performance was once again elite. If this continues, the Canucks are poised to continue their success and hold the top spot in the Western Conference.
As the Canucks continue their journey toward the playoffs, games like this will help the team remain focused on their postseason goals.
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