‘Some guys have really stepped up in key moments. We’ve had some bad moments, and we’ll continue to work on our starts, but I like our fight.’ — Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Minnesota Wild
Recommended Videos
When and where: Tuesday, 5 p.m., Xcel Energy Center
TV: SN Pacific. Radio: Sportsnet 650
The buzz: Primary assists are a window on the world of making production progress.
The timing of a Pettersson resurgence couldn’t be better. On a six-game road trip in which the Canucks are an impressive 4-1-0, it’s been addition by subtraction.
“We have a good chance to have a hell of a road trip against one of the top teams.”
Pettersson has eight points (1-7) on this trip, but his turnaround occurred weeks ago. When Pettersson started practising harder, it translated to his game presence and eight points (4-4) in six games before this latest sojourn out east was proof of the desire.
After all, with no goals in his first six games and just four points (1-3) in his first 10, something had to give. The body language had to change and so did the commitment.
And it has. He has found the joy.
“He needs to work on certain parts of his game,” Tocchet said when Pettersson got off to a poor start. “Better practices and there is a reason for it. He’s going to need that approach for awhile and get his confidence.
“We have a plan to chip away at his game.”
The fear: Giving up the first goal once again. The Wild are leading the league by surrendering just 2.33 goals per game and are well-structured to defend by getting the complete buy-in. It’s why they’re in first place overall by percentage points.
The quote: “I liked the fight, scoring with three minutes left and overtime. We’re a scrappy team. It might not be pretty some nights, but we don’t give up.” — Tocchet on 5-4 win Sunday.
The latest: The Wild landed high-coveted defenceman David Jiricek, 21, from Columbus in a multi-asset swap Saturday. He’s practising but won’t play Tuesday.
The projected lineup:
DeBrusk-Pettersson-Boeser
Joshua-Suter-Garland
Hoglander-Blueger-Sherwood
Sasson-Raty-Heinen
Hughes-Juulsen
Soucy-Myers
Brannstrom-Desharnais
Lankinen
The prediction: The Canucks are going to need Lankinen to steal a game because the Wild don’t give up much. He rises to the occasion to backstop a tough 3-2 win.