FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME
Keeping game Gaudette grounded
Adam Gaudette sounded like he wanted to take on the world in his first big media scrum. He vowed to play hard against the Oilers, hit everything in sight and show zero fear. That’s great. But he must channel his emotions and his game and a fourth-line role and measured minutes are a good way to work the NCAA scoring leader into his first NHL game. But he’s pumped.
Don’t worry, just let Bo be Bo
You wonder about a lot of players on any given night. You don’t worry about Bo Horvat. Aligned with Nikolay Goldobin and Jussi Jokinen on Tuesday, he did what good centres do. Not that it was always right. He passed on a high-slot shot to feed Goldobin in the corner. He fended off two defenders in the corner, spun and fed Jokinen in the slot, but he couldn’t corral the puck. Horvat drew a hooking minor on the effort and it was just another example of how he’s becoming the leader of the next wave. He didn’t have a point Tuesday, but he played the power play and the penalty kill, had two hits, he blocked a shot and was 54% in the circle against one of the league’s best face-off teams.
Boucher really needs to finish
Reid Boucher has 25 AHL goals this season and one in 10 games during his latest recall from the Utica Comets. During this audition, the winger has shown a better compete level and has been stronger on pucks. In the first period Tuesday, he had two shots go wide and then fired a hot shot off the mask of goalie John Gibson and then pounced on his own rebound. He didn’t have another shot the rest of the way. Boucher also had three good scoring looks in Anaheim on March 14 in a 3-0 loss. What are we to make of this? Not sure. Travis Green probably feels the same way.
Keep Gagner with the twins
Two goals in three games doesn’t make a season, unless you’re Sam Gagner. He laboured through a 25-game goal drought. He has been hard on himself and has a hard time finding the right fit. Then he was aligned with Henrik and Daniel Sedin. Green flirted with the trio in the preseason, but revolving right wingers sent Gagner to other lines as a centre or winger. He scored Tuesday with the twins after clicking with them Friday. Nine goals don’t cut it but confidence does, especially with two more years left on his deal.
Archibald must keep grinding
Darren Archibald is part of an improving penalty kill that has gone 15-for-15 the last five games. He has found symmetry with Brandon Sutter. He was a plus-3 Tuesday, had three hits and as assist. You’d like to think there are more than three goals in 23 games in his arsenal. He has to be more than just a physical deterrent to earn a contract next season to protect Elias Pettersson.