This game almost got started on a high note for the Canucks, as JT Miller motored past Nathan MacKinnon to get a shot in tight on Mackenzie Blackwood:
The Canucks’ energy to start this game was phenomenal, as they got in on the forecheck and managed to spend most of the opening five minutes in the Colorado end. They came close to opening the scoring once again when Max Sasson dished off for Elias Pettersson, who ripped a shot off the post.
Erik Brännström took a puck over glass penalty to give the Avs’ power play an early opportunity. With all their firepower, you might have been surprised to know that they’ve got just one goal over their last 15 opportunities over the past 15 games. Colorado’s PP continued to struggle in this instance, as the Canucks managed to give up just one shot and prevent them from really getting set up.
The Canucks kept up their pressure on the Avs back at 5v5, and eventually broke through when Kiefer Sherwood opened the scoring to make it 1-0.
The Canucks closed out the first period with JT Miller taking a cross-checking penalty.
Remember folks, that’s a penalty, but this one from this past weekend isn’t:
Got it.
The Canucks killed that penalty off, thanks to some solid work from Thatcher Demko.
They got a power play of their own shortly after, and the best chance of the man advantage came for Conor Garland, who was a busy man in the second period. Garland had a few chances to push the Canucks’ lead to two, but was denied by Blackwood and then missed the net. Tyler Myers found Elias Pettersson with a beautiful backhand saucer pass later in the period, but Mackenzie Blackwood continues to stand tall in the Colorado goal.
The Canucks got another power play chance before the end of the second, and it was worth noting that JT Miller was skating on the second unit. This was an interesting strategy, as both units were dangerous since Quinn Hughes seemed to be the quarterback on both. Hughes found Kiefer Sherwood for another great chance in close after a beautiful spin-o-rama behind the back pass to the goal mouth.
Danton Heinen found himself with a chance to score, but took a tripping penalty instead. Fear not though, because tonight was one of the greatest nights of Kiefer Sherwood’s career.
Sherwood perfectly anticipated the Avalanche power play’s zone entry and picked off the dish from Nathan MacKinnon to go the other way and push the Canucks’ lead to two when he ripped a breakaway chance past Blackwood to make it 2-0 Canucks.
The Rogers Arena faithful then chanted Kiefer Sherwood’s name as the Canucks entered the third period up by a pair of goals.
The Canucks did a great job of locking this game down and withstanding the pressure we all knew Colorado would bring in their attempt to come back. Thatcher Demko continued to be excellent, which allowed the Canucks to bend but not break.
The Avs got their fourth power play of the night with just under ten minutes to go when Tyler Myers was called for running interference on Nathan Mackinnon. And once again, Demko and the Canucks’ PK stood tall.
The Avs pulled Blackwood, and that’s when Sherwood added an empty netter to make it 3-0 Canucks.
The Avs pulled their goalie again, and this time, they broke up Thatcher Demko’s shutout bid.
3-1 final.
Some other takeaways from tonight:
-Uninspiring performance from Danton Heinen tonight, I thought.
-Both JT Miller and Elias Pettersson came to play tonight. When the Canucks’ two top lines play the way they did tonight, they’re more often than not going to walk away with two points.
-So nice to see the Canucks actually show up to play in front of Thatcher Demko. Honestly, it’s pretty embarrassing that it took three starts and that Demko’s season numbers don’t look pretty as a result, but hey, at least they showed up for him tonight.
-Great game for Thatcher Demko.
-Pulling the goalie down 3-0 kind of feels like the hockey equivalent of bunting to break up a perfect game or no hitter.
-Max Sasson isn’t going to be on Elias Pettersson’s wing for too long, but I liked what I saw from him once again tonight. His hustle, offensive IQ, and playmaking ability make him an intriguing player for sure.
-It really felt like JT Miller set up Conor Garland with more than a couple of grade-A looks that Garland either missed the net on, failed to pull the trigger on, or fanned on. Pretty uncharacteristic of him, but I’m going to guess these line combos will remain the same for the upcoming two game road trip.
-Kiefer Sherwood tied his career-high goal total of 10, and he did it in just 30 games.
-Kiefer Sherwood recorded a career-high goal total of 11, and he did it in just 30 games.
-Kiefer Sherwood might just be the greatest free agent signing of all time.
What are your thoughts on tonight’s game?
