Oilers prevail but Arshdeep Bains moved the meter, Kevin Lankinen played as advertised for the Canucks
And it wasn’t how to contain Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. It was the status of Miller.
For the record, the Canucks had a glorious chance to score in overtime Monday as Daniel Sprong pivoted high in the slot, but was denied by a Draisaitl tripping minor with 26.3 seconds remaining. Draisaitl and Viktor Arvidsson then connected in the shootout to seal the 3-2 win as Jonathan Lekkerimaki hit the post and Sprong was denied.
Now, back to Miller.
The NHL’s ninth-ranked point producer last season has yet to play a pre-season game and only one remains Friday before the Canucks start playing for keeps on Oct. 9. Tocchet said his star centre, who piled up a career-high 103 points (37-66) and nine game-winners in 2023-24 will suit up Friday in the pre-season finale against the Oilers at Rogers Arena.
According to the bench boss, Miller has been working on “stuff”.
“We’ve just kept him out to work on some stuff and he wanted to work on stuff on the ice and he felt it was better,” said Tocchet. “He came in as our second best guy (fitness testing) and we have other guys vying for a job.”
So, what are we to read into this? Caution? Concern? Neither?
With a revamped roster, Tocchet wanted his leadership group leading by example in practices. Be first to do drills and do them hard and do them right. Is it a stretch to suggest Miller may have tweaked something? Maybe. Maybe not. Take treatment and then put it to the test under more controlled situations in practice? That would buy time until Friday and the season opener.
Then again, Miller stayed out late after the last practice to work on stuff. He will always tell you he strives to get better every day and maybe that’s what is really at play here. He’s hard on the opposition and harder on himself to live up to management’s faith and the coach’s trust.
Bains’ bid to be ‘that guy’
The undrafted Bains played eight NHL games last season because Tocchet saw something in the Surrey native, who kept working at his game with the AHL affiliate in Abbotsford and finished with 55 points (16-39) in 59 games.
Bains parlayed that presence into a second-period goal on the Canucks’ first power play. Sprong found Kiefer Sherwood down low beside and net and he spotted an open Bains, who roofed a quick shot for his first goal of the pre-season.
“It was a good power play and we talked about the backdoor being open and Woody (Sherwood) made a good play and I was ready for it,” said Bains. “We kind of drew that one up.”
Bains then showed his smarts by holding the puck at the offensive blue-line to buy time before setting up Suter for a Grade A chance from the slot.
“We came out strong and it was a full 60-minute game and we almost got it done in the end,” said Bains. “They’re a tough team over there and we handled it pretty well. I’m trying to get the best out of myself and it’s a good pressure because we’re all pretty excited to get closer to the season.”
Lankinen plays as advertised
At his best, Lankinen is a competent backup capable of more. He logged 24 games with the Nashville Predators last season, and in a tandem with workhorse Juuse Saros, he compiled a credible 11-6-0 record, 2.82 goals-against average and .908 saves percentage.
Lankinen believes he can be a starter, but supplanting Saros, 29, wasn’t going to happen, not with his book of work and a mammoth eight-year, $61.92-million extension signed July 1 that kicks in for the 2025-26 season.
“He’s awesome,” said Bains. “He can play the puck better than anyone and he’s really strong back there. We’re confident in him and it showed today.”
And when Gleason then struck on the power play, the Canucks showed resilience by responding just 19 seconds later on a deflection by Smith, who had three shots. Lankinen then stopped Gleason off a 2-on-1 and then Arvidsson and Draisatil again in overtime.
Carrot dangles for Hoglander
The Swedes get along on and off the ice and the fact that Hoglander managed a career-best 24 goals at even strength last season puts him in the conversation of being a Pettersson partner again this coming campaign.
Hoglander did the work in the off-season to take the next development step after being held to one goal in 13 playoff games — and it’s paying off.
On Monday, Hoglander was aligned with Lekkerimaki, who finished with four shots, and Raty. And while Hoglander didn’t muster a shot, his positional play was evident and so were smart decisions. He finished with three hits, and most importantly, wasn’t a liability.
“We have to give him a lot of credit,” said Tocchet. “The next level is the playoffs and how can he play better in those situations. Whether he took it to heart, we told him what he had to do this summer and came in as one of our best (shape) guys.
“His conditioning is better and with his patience with the puck, I’ve seen a difference. Now, it’s sustainability like everyone else. Can you do it game in and game out?”