How you start really does matter in hockey — but so does how you finish.
The Vancouver Canucks have not started well this season. Of course, the night they finally do ended up being a loss.
Ironic. The Canucks have played nine games this season and scored first four times — and, yet, somehow they’ve lost two of those games. The second of those was a 4-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night at Rogers Arena.
It was an entertaining game. Truly. The Canucks were great in the first period. Their power play looked good. Elias Pettersson had his best game of the year and had three points.
But, in the end, the youthful energy and talent of the Canadiens’ lineup was the difference.
Good start
Either Saturday’s first period or the first period in Washington was Vancouver’s best first of the season.
They absolutely dominated the Habs in the first period.
They had their way getting to the Montreal net, too. They had nine high-danger shots in the first period, according to Natural Stat Trick.
The big picture
The Canucks played well. Sometimes you just lose in those scenarios.
The shot chart from Saturday’s Canucks vs. Canadiens game.
They did a nice job at five on five. They lost because of the special teams.
Ivan Demidov: WOW
The Canadiens’ rookie is sensational. Doesn’t need a lot of space to do a whole lot of things.
He’s surely the early favourite for rookie of the year.
The pass on the first goal by Nick Suzuki was amazing. His finish on the third goal, even if it deflected off Junior Pettersson, was sensational.
Now a look at how each Canucks’ game went …
Vancouver Canucks’ Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes celebrate Pettersson’s goal against Montreal Canadiens goalie Jakub Dobes on Saturday.
Forwards
Elias Pettersson: A
Nice tip on point shot and good effort to find space on an early Hronek attempt. Great read to stay in his spot for his goal. Lots of smart defensive reads, including on the third period PK. His best game of the year.
Jake DeBrusk: A
Good early forecheck. Really great timing on his goal. Kept trying stuff, even if it didn’t work. His best game of the year.
Conor Garland: B
You know he’ll always be there. Played smartly to create space. Goal in the third, tipping Pettersson’s shot-pass in smartly. Building chemistry with his line.
Lukas Reichel: C+
Hit a really nice angle to lead an early rush but passed up a shot he probably should have taken. Looked off a couple other shooting opportunities. Skated well with the puck. But the third and fourth goals were against his line. An up and down debut.
Evander Kane: C+
A good early rush. Found lots of space on the wing. Found some shooting opportunities but no threatening shots. He lost influence as the game went on. Took a silly penalty in the third.
Brock Boeser: C+
Struggled to find shooting opportunities but found a couple key ones late. A finish would have been glorious but he couldn’t will the puck in.
Aatu Raty: C+
Making some really sharp decisions in the offensive zone
Drew O’Connor: C+
Attacking the puck well. As is a refrain, unfortunately: Too bad about those hands.
Kiefer Sherwood: C+
Drew penalty for first power play, skating well. Crowd roared about his first period puck pursuit without a stick. He was his usual vigour, but no much in terms of scoring opportunities.
Max Sasson: C
Fourth line barely played. Hard to say Sasson was even out there.
Arshdeep Bains: C+
Got the shots on a really nice first period shift for the Calder Cup Line. But like his mates, not much going otherwise.
Linus Karlsson: C
Tough call on the penalty on the second period PP. Not much else notable.
Defence
Quinn Hughes: B
Still not vintage stuff but he’s still making moves and controlling the puck in key moments. The look of frustration late a couple times as his team couldn’t quite find any finish told a story, too. He hates losing.
Filip Hronek: B-
What an angle he took to create Pettersson’s opening goal. Fantastic attack from depth. Overall a solid night. Somehow no shots on this night.
Marcus Pettersson: B
Some very cool puck decisions, like the slapper rim-around out to centre ice to O’Connor. Almost worked. Really great five-on-five play but got lost on the two power play goals.
Tyler Myers: B
Continued steady play. Really complimenting M. Petey well. Lots of fun up-ice forays.
Junior Pettersson: B
Really solid, really calm game. Hardly ever in his own end. His best game of the year.
P.O Joseph: C
Struggling at times with the pace of the game.
Goalie
Kevin Lankinen: C
Some important saves early on before the Canucks seized control. Didn’t like the third goal against, even if there was a moving screen. You’d like a save there. Not much hope on either power play goals against. Still, you need more and that third goal really hurt.