That was… better? The Canucks played a much more disciplined defensive game last night and eked out a 2-1 victory over the Coyotes. Let’s just hope the Canucks have a great back masseuse on the trip because Quinn Hughes is absolutely carrying this team. If you missed the game, here are your highlights:
It wasn’t convincing, but it was a win. Two points further up the standings, and a slightly larger gap over Edmonton as they were trounced by the Stars last night. The Canucks won last night on the strength of their defense – which is surprising – as their offense has started to dry up as of late. The Canucks, on the second-half of a back-to-backs, held the Coyotes to just seven shots through two periods, and 21 overall in the game. Not that Arizona is some powerhouse team, but they were rested and had put up 19 goals in their previous three games. Not a bad road game to correct some of the issues from Vegas that needed correcting.
“We rebounded. We played really well tonight and we deserved to win that game,” Garland said. “We had a good talk with the group after the game last night. We weren’t happy with ourselves but we felt like we were going to put forth a good effort tonight.”
Last night had some outstanding from Silovs, Garland, and Hughes. But man, Hughes is on another level last night. His goal and assist moved him into sole possession of 2nd place all time in Canucks franchise D scoring, but it also padded his lead atop NHL defenseman scoring and put even more weight into his Norris front-runner campaign. The kid is amazing, and only going to get better.
“He's unbelievable,” Garland said of Hughes. “Whenever he plays, the ice is tilted in our favour. And the scary thing — and I know him pretty well and how hard and how serious he takes his game — he's going to keep getting better. He's always thinking hockey, always looking at ways to get better. That's why he's him. This isn't the best he's going to be. He's going to be a completely different player in four years and he's going to be even more unbelievable.
“We have good talks and he knows when, you know, we need some juice. He's the guy who can drive our team. Millsy (J.T. Miller) can do it, and we have other guys. But Quinn does it on a consistent basis. He also takes it personally when we don't play well. That's why he's such a good captain, such a good player. I knew he was going to have a big game tonight.”
Tocc was asked about Hughes stepping up his game in this stretch to the playoffs: “He's trying to take some responsibility when things don't go well. I thought he really managed the game well, too.”
Sounds like a solid captain taking the bull by the horns. And asked about his play, Hughes was his typical humble self.
“I'm going to definitely try [to elevate my play down the stretch],” he said. “That's what I expect for myself. I think I'm really getting there. I'm playing some really serious hockey.”
Hopefully he’s able to push the players further down the lineup to pick their games up as well.
The Canucks don’t play again until Saturday against the Kings. It’s the first game Demko is eligible to return to, and he’s with the team and working out on the ice. Silovs had a great game, but it was probably his last for the team this season. But, he got great praise from Tocc after the game.
“He looks like a veteran in there,” Tocc said. “Very solid, looks big in the net. I really like the poise in the kid. Even some shots and the rebounds, he's right there. He's not flipping and flopping. Like, he's right there. He looks like he's been watching Demko tapes.”
Saturday. Kings. Another chance to rally confidence around the team against a potential playoff opponent.
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