Rookie Stecher kicks his game into ‘extra gear’
Plucky defenceman becoming an offensive threat as Canucks work to get back on winning track
Troy Stecher saved the game, nearly won it in overtime, and has won over everybody.
The Vancouver Canucks defenceman swept a bouncing puck off the goal-line in the third period Saturday as the Toronto Maple Leafs stormed back in a 2-2 deadlock, but ultimately fell 3-2 in a shootout.
“I wasn’t going to give it (puck) a chance or wait and see if it would go in,” said Stecher, who forced Frederik Andersen to make a glove save with 40 seconds left in overtime. “It was a tough game. Especially when they whip it (puck) low and you have to turn a full 180 degrees and then they just pop it right back.
“It’s a good play and they use it a lot and it makes it tougher for a D-man, but you have to trust your forwards, that they’re going to collapse and pick up the high slot. At the same time, it’s on the back-side D-man, so it’s kind of the responsibility of everyone — not just one guy. There’s not one guy you can put that on.”
That’s a long-winded way of saying it’s structure that’s going to keep the 11-12-2 Canucks talking about chasing a playoff spot and turning around a 3-7-1 road record on a five-game trip that opens Tuesday in New Jersey.
And it says something about the plucky rookie that teams now plan to defend Stecher. They’re taking away his point shot — he had two shots against Toronto, two that were blocked and two that missed the net.
Opponents are also are pushing him harder to defend. He was challenged on the James Van Riemsdyk rebound goal to make it 2-1.
“They go on a 4-on-2 rush, we should have been able to settle it down early,” said Canucks coach Willie Desjardins. “The guy squeezed by on the wall and they’ll do that to you. But our guys learn every game.
“It’s staying with the intensity the whole time. We’re at a point where we can’t let down for a shift because we’ll pay for it. I thought Stecher was very good. He has a gear where, even if he’s tired, he finds a way to go hard. That’s a good quality.”
Without the injured Chris Tanev (ankle) and Alex Edler (finger fracture) the Canucks have the league’s youngest defence.
“You try to simplify, but in today’s NHL, people get tricked by what it used to mean to play defence,” said goalie Ryan Miller. “You can’t wait on guys anymore. You have to move and engage, and if you’re not moving, you’re playing an antiquated style.
“Moving away from the net and engaging guys is something we need. It’s about timing and effort and it can be hard sometimes.”
When Erik Gudbranson engaged Matt Martin in a spirited second-period bout — retribution for the Leafs defenceman going after Stecher on Nov. 5 — it was a galvanizing moment for the club.
“I was on the ice and I had one of the best seats in the house,” said Bo Horvat, who won 75 per cent of his draws (24-for-42). “I could hear every one (punch) on the ice — it was pretty awesome.”