‘Nobody should be shying away. It’s a nice opportunity to see what type of group we are.’ — Quinn Hughes on the Canucks’ playoff chase
The durable and reigning Norris Trophy winner has been injured on three occasions this season, but knows what matters. Be grateful. Be humble. Be hungry. And that’s why he was planning to prop-up a problematic power play minutes after it cost the Canucks a victory.
With six minutes of man-advantage time in the third period — including a four-minute power play midway through the frame — the Canucks couldn’t strike for the equalizer. They aborted a net presence that led to a first-period power play goal by Hughes through a maze of bodies.
As it stands, the best strategy is a drop pass to Hughes to enter the offensive zone at speed. That allows him to quickly reverse at the point when pressured to find passing or shooting lanes. Or, he can continue to motor around the net to cause confusion and seek scoring chances.
Hughes has four power-play goals and is third among all blueliners with 20 man-advantage assists.
So, how does Hughes see the 15th-ranked power play operating at 22.3 per cent efficiency improving? It’s gone 6-for-28 over the last 10 games, including being blanked on four occasions, but at 21.4 per cent it’s not terrible. But it could be better and a difference-maker.
And it has to be in a four-team push for the final wild-card payoff spot. The Canucks continue to struggle at even strength and are 24th with 2.73 goals per outing and 31st with just 24.4 shots per game. The power play has to be the dagger.
“We’ve got to be better there,” Hughes said post-game Sunday. “I definitely have some ideas and I’ll just keep that to myself and work on it as a unit of five or 10. We shot ourselves in the foot with the power play and we could have cracked open the game.”
The Canucks missed Filip Chytil.
The big and speedy centre transports the puck well for zone entries, can establish position and make smart plays. However, he’s in concussion protocol from the brutal and unpenalized blindside blow to the back from Jason Dickinson on Saturday. It sent Chytil cashing into the sideboards and he crumpled to the ice. He then fell trying to regain his balance.
As time and space evaporate in games with that edgy playoff feel, the Canucks need veterans to score. Jake DeBrusk has a team-high 11 power-play goals and most have come from a strong net presence. That was missing Sunday when it mattered most.
“That’s on all the guys on the ice, including me, and that’s unacceptable,” said DeBrusk. “They (Utah) were very aggressive up top, and as a down-low guy, I’ve got to do better at getting open and pop into spots.
“We’re trying to distance ourselves from teams and that’s what a playoff mentality is all about, staying even-keeled. And when things are out of sync, you’ve got to rely on details.”
The Canucks could tinker with their units. Maybe give winger Jonathan Lekkerimaki a man-advantage look. He has a quick and accurate release and seven AHL power-play goals in 32 games this season with Abbotsford. But he’s still a rookie with a big upside.
“We scored on our first power play (Sunday) and I’m not going to take (Brock) Boeser off — I’ve got to get him going,” stressed Tocchet. “Lekkerimaki is not the answer, but he will be eventually.”
His body language speaks to the struggle and reality of an unrestricted free agent without a contract extension and not doing enough to increase his value in free agency. He needs a goal. Badly.
And the Canucks also need a big win Tuesday after a disappointing loss Sunday.
“Big Winnipeg team coming in and we’ve got to gain energy,” said Tocchet. “You can’t be down. We have to figure out what happens when the pressure hits us. Why can’t we make reads? We have to rise to the occasion.”
That’s when you never see Hughes sweat. Regardless of personal or team circumstances, he has always maintained belief. Even after the Utah loss.
“I don’t think it should take away much,” he said of maintaining a stretch-drive push. “We could have separated ourselves and everyone knew how big that would be. But now, we’re in the same position of pretty much do-or-die every day. And that’s exciting.
“Everybody should be up in here (dressing room). Everyone should understand where we’re at and nobody should be shying away of looking at that (standings). “It’s a nice opportunity to see what type of group we are.”