Division-leading Capitals have the top-ranked offence, seven players with double-digit goals, and Alex Ovechkin chasing Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894 career goals.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Washington Capitals
When/where: Wednesday, 4:30 p.m., Capital One Arena
TV: SN Pacific. Radio: Sportsnet 650
Whether it was surrendering the first goal again on Monday in a disturbing 5-4 overtime loss in Montreal, blowing another lead in the process and falling to just 4-9 in the extra session, school was back in session at practice.
Drilling down on everything that has plagued the Canucks — especially not making a play at the right time to beat pressure with pressure — has tested Tocchet’s patience as his injury-riddled club clings to the second wildcard playoff position.
Expectations can be clouded by emotions, but the bench boss isn’t really buying that. Rebounding from 3-3-4 slide should be the focus, not feelings.
“You don’t want people to be down, but you also have to have your chest up and your chin up and face the music,” stressed Tocchet. “There’s pressure everywhere and you can’t hide from it.
“There are things that aren’t just good enough and you have to face it and deal with it as a coach. You state the facts and make people accountable.”
It wasn’t all bad on Monday.
“Huggy gave us all he has and he makes a difference, even though he’s a little hamstrung right now,” said Tocchet. “(Tyler) Myers gave us a good game and J.T. had a really good game. There are positives that way. But as a team, we’ve got to get better.”
It’s not going to get easier on this defining five-game road trip.
The Capitals lead the Metropolitan Division with the top-ranked offence, seven players with double-digit goals, and Alex Ovechkin in hot pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s long-standing record of 894 career goals.
Ovechkin, who is 23 goals shy of eclipsing that mark, has four goals in six games since returning from a left fibula fracture and has 19 goals in 23 games this season.
After Wednesday, the Canuck face Carolina on Friday, Toronto on Saturday, and Winnipeg on Tuesday. Quite the gauntlet to run, even with an 11-4-3 road record.
“Urgency is high, but you’ve got to play the game calm in your head,” added Tocchet. “You won’t want people to be nervous out there and squeezing the stick. But there are things in which you’ve got to participate. We didn’t go through many people last night (Monday).
“I’m not going to single out, but there are a group of guys who have to play better in that area. We’re giving up too much time and space.”
The hope: Jake DeBrusk continues his mojo on the road. The left winger leads the Canucks with 17 goals, of which a dozen have come away from Rogers Arena, including the equalizer to force overtime Monday.
The top guns: Hughes has 20 points (2-18) in his last 13 games and sits third in league defencemen scoring with 44 points (8-36).
The projected lineup:
Lekkerimaki-Miller-Boeser
DeBrusk-Suter-Garland
Di Gisuseppe-Blueger-Sherwood
Hoglander-Sasson-Heinen
Hughes-Myers
Soucy-Juulsen
Forbort-Desharnais
Lankinen
The prediction: The Canucks revert to last February in Washington and find another way to eke out a close victory. They prevail 3-2 and strike on the power play.