Demko got a standing ovation and chant of his name for a sparkling second-period save sequence en route to his first shutout of the season
Bend but don’t break.
To negate dizzying displays of speed, precise playmaking and finish of NHL scoring leader Nathan MacKinnon, they had to keep the Colorado Avalanche superstar centre from knifing through defenders and doing his difference-maker thing.
It wasn’t easy.
MacKinnon had five shots and nine attempts, while Necas had three shots and seven attempts, but it was also another night where newcomers made another impact.
Whether it was defenceman Marcus Pettersson relishing shifts against MacKinnon and willing to be vocal in the room, or better puck movement, crisper zone entries and patience to make the right plays, it’s been quite the injection of passion and purpose.
“You see Chytil take the puck to the middle and that’s when things happen. Just adding those two guys has helped our rush game. We’re smiling. That’s the stuff we need.
“And with both Petterssons back there on defence transporting the puck, it’s how you get the flow going.”
Demko delivers in clutch
The Canucks starter got a standing ovation and chant of his name for a sparkling second-period save sequence.
With the his club nursing a 1-0 lead, he first denied defenceman Cale Makar, who was set up as the trailer on a play in which Demko got a piece of a rocket wrist shot with his glove. He then had to quickly got post to post to thwart Artturi Lehkonen with a toe save.
The sequence finished with Demko sprawled on his stomach to stop another chance.
There was an early feeling that Demko had found his mojo because he was in the zone. Square and calm and not lurching or lunging for pucks. He relied on structure. He also got a right pad on a Lehkonen power play chance and then denied Jack Drury short-handed chance.
DeBrusk, Boeser bust out
They don’t ask how, they ask how many.
It was DeBrusk’s team-leading 19th goal of the season in 53 games to match the 19 he had in 80 games with the Boston Bruins last season.
Boeser then delivered the dagger on a night when it looked like he might be blanked again with three good looks. He then took a cross ice power play pass from DeBrusk and snapped home his 17th of the season.
Chytil struts good stuff
We’re not accustomed to seeing this.
Chytil continued to move the motivation meter with speed, smarts and patient puck control zone entries that bought time and space. It put Avalanche defenders on their heels.
In the first period, Chytil took take advantage of more ice time — something he was hard pressed to get with the New York Rangers — and his hard drive to the inside drew a penalty. He then confidently gained the O-zone again, hung on to the puck, and then spun to find the trailer.
It’s the stuff Tocchet has been preaching for months and something Chytil already has in his arsenal. So was coming all the way back early in the second period to break up a play and start the transition.
“When guys are on your back when you have the puck, he doesn’t get rid of it — he holds it,” said Tocchet. “That’s a big thing and hopefully it’s contagious.”
When will see Hughes again?
Tocchet has long lauded the will and skill of the Canucks captain to play through pain.
However, the discomfort Hughes felt Friday after delivering heavy offensive-zone check in Dallas and falling awkwardly to the ice — wincing when he attempted his patented spin-and-wheel move to trigger the transition — was telling and worrisome.
Hughes was hopeful the ailment, which could optimistically be a groin strain, or pessimistically an abdominal problem, would subside in 48 hours to play Sunday. He didn’t. And sat out again Tuesday.
Hughes took a twirl with the Canucks skills coach before the morning game-day skate Tuesday, had a brief consultation and left the ice. The Canucks play Thursday in San Jose and host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday before their break.
Hughes talked confidently of being ready for the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament next week. The U.S. faces Finland in its opener Wednesday and Hughes was expected to be in a first pairing with Charlie McAvoy of the Boston Bruins. When Tocchet was asked about that prospect, he was cautious.
“As the days go on, we’ll have to revisit that,” he stated. “He plays a lot of stress games.”