Chemistry is bubbling on second line
PLAYOFF DRIVE: Canucks need big games from Bonino, Vrbata and Higgins who were flying against Dallas
Nick Bonino found his finish and an elevated compete level. Chris Higgins found his legs and a way to the net. And Radim Vrbata found his way to the 30-goal plateau with a slick spin-and-shoot exhibition Saturday.
As the Vancouver Canucks open their most crucial road trip of the season Monday in St. Louis — a demanding four-game odyssey that includes stops in Nashville on Tuesday, Chicago on Thursday and Winnipeg on Saturday — their quest for a playoff position will either be enhanced or in danger.
A 4-3 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars on Saturday did produce a point after Vrbata pulled the power play trigger with 1:32 remaining and Eddie Lack pulled in regulation time. It also produced hope.
A combined three goals, five points and a dozen shots by the second line, which has been together for five games, should be a rallying point.
Bonino has been better with the puck and in faceoffs, Higgins has more giddy-up after a groin strain earlier this month and Vrbata has been everything the Canucks could have hoped for as a prime-time finisher. Now comes the litmus test.
“That’s the season right there,” said Vrbata. “We know what to expect and it’s more about us being ready. Chemistry is big for me and we have gotten to know each other and hopefully we can keep it going.”
In the absence of the injured Zack Kassian and especially gritty Brad Richardson, Bonino has become a bigger centre of attention. The top line combined for zero shots through two periods against the Stars and only Daniel Sedin managed a pair in the third. Henrik Sedin and Alex Burrows didn’t even have a shot attempt. The trio will face top lines and top pairings this week, so imagine if the second line or that so-called energy-driven fourth line with relentless rookies Bo Horvat and Ronalds Kenins can click? Imagine if the Canucks can build on scoring on the power play in the last five games?
“It’s going to be a long week and it’s going to be a physical week, but those are the kind of games in which we seem to rise to the occasion,” Bonino said of beating the Blues, Blackhawks and Jets twice each this season, yet losing twice to the Predators. “I’ve felt good lately. The goals haven’t been consistent, but the way I’ve played has been consistent. There aren’t going to be goals every night. It’s going to be blocked shots and battling in the faceoff circle and everything kind of worked out (Saturday).”
Bonino won five of his first six draws against the Stars and had three take-aways in the first period. He gained attention from converting a sweet feed from Vrbata in that period for his 14th goal, but Bonino also leads all team forwards in blocked shots with 81. Horvat is second at 42. And he also leads in takeaways with 51 with Jannik Hansen second at 39.
While Bonino has been getting better in the circle the last week — 9-for17 against the Stars, 12-for-20 against the Jets but just 3-for-16 against Arizona — the focus is always going to be on goals when you score seven in your first 14 games as the trade replacement for Ryan Kesler. Then came a 15-game goal drought, scrutiny in the Vancouver fishbowl and a seven-game absence with a foot injury. Bonino has had Shawn Matthias, Derek Dorsett, Brandon McMillan, Alex Burrows, Linden Vey, Kassian and Hansen as linemates this season. He may have found something with Vrbata and Higgins.
“We’ve been finding each other and getting used to each other and it’s paying off,” said Bonino. “Every game could have been like that (Saturday). “We’ve hit posts and chances and missed a lot more than we actually scored on (against Dallas).”
Bonino is fourth in club scoring with 34 points (14-20), and while he would have hit a hot streak to match the 22 goals he had with the Anaheim Ducks last season, the 26-yearold Hartford, Conn., native is under contract for two more years at $1.9 and $2.1 million US respectively and is starting to find his total game.
So is Higgins. He got into position to deflect a Dan Hamhuis power play point shot Saturday, but was more noticeable for a stronger stride and being stronger on the puck. It was just his 12th goal but second in the last three games.
“It seems like it’s been on the upside and things are starting to settle because it’s been a tough year for me,” said Higgins, whose name popped up in trade rumours. “Hopefully, these last seven games I can be a big player for this team. This is a huge challenge for us against teams trying to fine-tune their games for the playoffs.”
Higgins, who was traded here in 2011, can relate to Bonino trying to make an instant impression.
“Sometimes when you’re new, you’re playing off adrenalin a lot,” said Higgins. “We didn’t have a good middle part of the year and that’s partially my fault. Hopefully we can have a big impact as a line in these games. I usually have four or five deflection goals a year and that one (Saturday) was the first one. It’s been tough not getting any luck this year and it’s been a struggle for the second power play unit, too.”