The very inconsistent Canucks showed up in a big way on Saturday night. Maybe it was a rematch against the Oilers, maybe it was some much needed rest at home, maybe it was the chatter of a potential JT Miller trade… whatever it was, the Canucks played an inspired game against the goonery of McDavid and the Oilers. If you missed the game, here are your highlights:
The team had an edge last night, an edge that’s been missing for most of the season. It’s strange how they seem to be able to turn it on, but can’t keep it on. But whatever, the Canucks won 3-2 over the team that ousted them from the playoffs last year: Hughes had two goal, Miller had two assists and was a force against Drai and McDavid, Petey played with a spark, and Demko was large and solid in net.
“I think everyone in here is excited, and it's a big one,” Hughes said. “We needed it and it shows a lot of character in our group, especially with all the stuff that's been going around last couple weeks, and how our last two games went. They're a really competitive team, and so are we so that's what we showed.”
“It was one of our better team efforts this year, for sure,” Miller said. “So we should feel proud about it.”
As much as the team wanted to talk about the game, the larger story at play was Miller’s seemingly imminent trade. Friedman said before the game Miller was potentially going to sit as a trade with the Rangers was being worked out, but the deal fell through so Miller joined in. He did a good job of blocking out the noise on the ice, but it was a talking point for the team after the game.
“Yeah, I guess,” Miller said post-game. “I don't really know what to say, to be honest. I don't have a good answer for you. I'm just trying to focus on game to game.”
He was asked about his tenure as a whole as a Canuck, but didn’t want to go down that road yet: “I'm not getting into this. I'm planning on being a Canuck today, tomorrow. Whatever happens, happens. I'm focused on the next game.”
Despite all the noise outside the room, the players inside are saying the right things. They know how much of a competitor Miller is, and they seem to want him on their side.
“I'm happy he was playing for us tonight,” DeBrusk said. “I've been here for 45 games. You know, I signed here (from Boston as a free agent) for a reason. I signed here to either play with Millsy or Elias. My main thing was to play with those two guys. So I don't want (a trade) to happen. I don't want them to leave.
“Like I said, I'm 40-something games in but I want to play at least 82 and then a playoff run with them, and then we'll see what everybody says.”
“Of course, I'm aware,” Hughes said of the trade chatter. “I think that's part of my job to be aware of things like that and just have a good feel for what's going on. But, you know, through everything, I thought everyone played amazing. And especially Millsy, the way he played against that line, especially in the third, you know, he's really competitive. He's a gamer, so it was nice to see.”
“I mean, over the last bunch of years, six years it's been, he's a guy that's always going to compete, and show up,” Hughes said. “A lot of passion, a lot of care. You know, like when McDavid and Draisaitl, two of the best three players in the world are in town, he's going to be ready to go. He wants that challenge, and he's up for it, as you saw tonight.”
For the game, the Canucks played a solid 60. They popped in two powerplay goals, peppered the Oilers in the first with shots, and held Edmonton to a season-low 15 shots. In the dying seconds of the game with the Oilers pressing, McDavid and Garland were tangled up and Garland was doing his job as a pest to keep McDavid occupied. McD clearly lost his head and popped Garland in the face with a crosscheck. Evoking Soucy’s crosscheck on McDavid last playoffs, this is something that will be looked at – especially as he got a match penalty in the last minute. He avoided punishment for his flagrant elbow to Johansson’s head earlier in the week, but this utter goonery should surely have a suspension attached to it – these types of players are dragging the league down.
The Canucks play the Sabers on Tuesday (probably without Myers as he also had some stickwork-to-the-face in the last minute last night). That gives the team some time to rest and for the JT Miller trade rumor mill to hit fever pitch.
To the comments and the trade proposals/breakdowns:
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