The Vancouver Canucks dropped their Sunday night’s contest to the Nashville Predators 5-3. Now, the club was definitely the more tired group they were on the latter half of a back to back. However, considering the Predators were at the bottom of the league standings heading into tonight’s game, they probably should have won.
When looking at the stat sheet for tonight’s game, one thing clearly sticks out: JT Miller’s time on ice. Miller logged just 11:41 minutes of ice time, with zero’s across the boards in points, plus-minus, shots on goal and hits – a true non-factor in the game. The American centreman played just two shifts in the third period, playing just 1:39 in the final frame in a game where the Canucks were trying to claw back from a 4-2 deficit.
Here’s what Canucks’ head coach Rick Tocchet had to say regarding the benching:
“I just went with the guys that I thought could get us back in the game.”
Tocchet gave a blunt “No” when asked if his benching had to do with any sort of injury.
Last season, the 31-year-old led the Canucks with 37 goals and 66 assists for 103 points. And while his point totals are there this season – six goals and 10 assists for 16 points, leading all Canucks forwards – it hasn’t been the same Miller where he’s really taking over games.
Since Brock Boeser was injured in a game against the Los Angeles Kings, Miller has had multiple different linemates. He’s now skating on a line with Pius Suter and Jonathan Lekkerimäki. He hasn’t seen a dip in his point production, with five points through those six games; however, tonight, his coach thought there wasn’t enough in his game to help the team come back, and he rode the bench for the final 14:40 of the third period.
Miller will have his shot at redemption from the benching against the team that drafted him 15th overall in 2011 on Tuesday as the Canucks welcome the New York Rangers to Rogers Arena.
