Puck must stop here
Results are poor, but Vancouver is among leaders in limiting shots
The Canucks, on a four-game losing skid, know they have strengths on special teams. A few extra saves while killing penalties would be welcome
It probably sounds weird after a humiliating defeat, but not all is lost. Sure, the Canucks have a huge hole in their attack. Sure, the Canucks’ defence was a disaster on Wednesday in an embarrassing 7-1 loss to the visiting Nashville Predators.
Things are grim in this four-game losing skid, no doubt. But there are still some glimmers of light, like the power play. And, possibly, the penalty kill. Yes, the penalty kill that’s sitting in the bottom third of the NHL.
And yes, that’s even after the Canucks gave up another goal while penalty killing in Wednesday’s implosion, meaning the Canucks have given up a goal on one out of every five opportunities this season.
Here’s the thing: there’s reason to think their PK isn’t as bad as the numbers suggest.
For starters, the Canucks are allowing the fewest shot attempts against when they’re killing penalties. They’re in the top 10 in teams of preventing quality shots as well.
Bottom line: when it comes to structure, they’re doing well — they’re just not getting timely stops from the goalies when they’re a man down.
Whether that’s bad luck — like Wednesday’s goal that deflected off Michael Chaput’s foot in the slot, past starter Anders Nilsson — or poor work in the crease, there’s clearly hope for improvement.
Back to that structure, which is going to give them a shot to pull out of this rut.
Brendan Gaunce, for one, has been a key figure when down a man.
“Anticipating plays, knowing what’s going to happen before, watch video and know as much as you can about the power play whether it’s a break in or their plays down low,” Gaunce said about how a team can find success playing short-handed.
Limiting shots has been their story at even strength as well. They take space away, and have done well at reacting when required.
“At the end of the day it’s about sacrificing your body — if you miss a read or you have to get in a lane — our team’s been pretty good at it,” he said.
Gaunce came to the league with a reputation for strong two-way play, but not surprisingly has found killing an NHL power play to be a whole lot different from what he experienced in the Ontario and American hockey leagues.
“The NHL is a little bit different: there’s so much skill in power plays, even if you feel like you’re in a lane they might put the puck through your legs or go around you. For me it’s just about learning and adapting to who you can challenge, when you can challenge them.”
Loui Eriksson, known throughout his career as a top-end offensive contributor, is also a top-end penalty killer.
Like his younger teammate, Eriksson said the key to being a good penalty killer is “about reading plays and being in the right lane.” But it wasn’t always so. When he broke into the league a decade ago, there was less structure, he said.
“The power play felt like it was a little more spread out.”
Now, there’s so much preparation, penalty killers know the tendencies of opposing power plays.
“You obviously know who you’re playing against, who’s taking the shots, who likes to pass the puck.”
But at the end of the day, it’s about being able to make stops against top talent.
“You have really good players who can make plays (on other power plays),” Eriksson said.
“Really good players. They’re going to find a way.”