CANUCKS GAMEDAY
FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME
1 What does Pettersson do for an encore?
The Bruins get their first look at Elias Pettersson, who was in concussion protocol Oct. 20. As the only teenager in the past 30 seasons to open his career with at least 10 goals in his first 10 games, the Swedish whiz kid is adding to his repertoire. On Tuesday, he unleashed a wicked slap shot, a laser wrister and changed shooting angles. He had five shots and eight attempts and his league-leading shooting percentage is a gaudy 35.7 per cent. He also drew crowds and feathered flawless offensive-zone passes to wide-open linemates.
2 Power play needs much better day
A man-advantage marker would have made a difference on Tuesday. In a 3-2 shootout loss at Detroit, the Canucks were 0-for-3 and had but two shots as the PP slipped to 19th overall. They missed the injured Brock Boeser, whose heavy and accurate one-timer gives the first unit a different dimension. Loui Eriksson and Brendan Leipsic simply don’t have that element.
3 Encouraging Eriksson or a mirage?
Eriksson had a memorable first period at Little Caesars Arena. He blocked a shot and had a scoring chance off a partial breakaway. He nearly deposited a backhand, then set up Pettersson’s goal. He had three shots and four attempts in the frame. And in the third, he was fed a great pass by Nikolay Goldobin but couldn’t handle it to snap a 2-2 draw. He must play the same way against his former team Thursday.
4 Goldobin still has keys to the car
Goldobin had five shots and seven attempts in Detroit and playing with Pettersson will fuel anybody’s game. But his only goal came in the season opener and only Horvat and Boeser (37) have taken more shots that Goldobin (31).The Russian’s minuscule 3.2 per cent shooting percentage must match his creative potential.
5 Markstrom must maintain consistency
Jacob Markstrom deserved better against the Wings. An unassisted power-play goal by Justin Abdelkader could have been cleared in the slot by Tyler Motte and Chris Tanev, who took away the seam. Gustav Nyquist’s tying effort deflected in off Troy Stecher before he was stymied by a stellar Markstrom glove save in overtime.