BRING ON THE CHAMPS
Five keys to beating the Blues
Ryan O’Reilly said he struggled in the final game of a lethargic, no-hitting, mean-nothing, round robin prelude to games that really matter in the NHL post-season.
The St. Louis Blues centre wasn’t satisfied with winning 60 per cent of his draws in Sunday’s 2-1 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars at Rogers Place.
Imagine that. However, in the three-game round robin, he won 43 of 59 faceoffs and his whopping 72.9 per cent success rate leads the post-season. And it’s a significant number heading into a first-round Stanley Cup playoff matchup against the Vancouver Canucks that opens tonight in Edmonton.
“I struggled a bit (Sunday), but that happens — it doesn’t make or break a game and I feel comfortable with my draws,” said O’Reilly.
“Vancouver has great centres and it’s going to be a tough challenge — but I think I’ll do just fine.”
J.T. Miller of Vancouver finished second in NHL regular-season faceoff efficiency at 59.2 per cent while Jay Beagle was third at 59.1 and Bo Horvat seventh at 57.3. The
Canucks were second overall in faceoff wins and the Blues sixth.
It means the circle game will have a lot to do with the outcome of every series game — to either gain offensive-zone puck possession or shut down the opposition on the penalty kill.
The Blues know the Canucks had the league’s fourth-best power play in the regular season and held them to just one power play goal in 10 chances. But Horvat also had the league’s second most power play draw wins, so that could be a big playoff factor.
“He’s extremely strong,” added O’Reilly. “He (Horvat) gets very low and his timing is very good. Every time you’re in a faceoff against him, you know you have to bear down. It’s going to be tough for sure.”
O’Reilly, who had a 56.6 per cent success rate in the regular season to place 10th overall, saw the Canucks’ captain dominate the circle during the season series in which the Canucks went 2-0-1.
He forced overtime in a 4-3 shootout win in St. Louis on Oct. 17 and went 16-for-25 (64 per cent) in draws. In a 2-1 overtime loss at Rogers Arena on Nov. 5, Horvat was 13-for-19 (68 per cent) in the circle and in a 3-1 home-ice triumph on Jan. 27, in which he scored again, Horvat went 14-for20 (70 per cent).
By comparison, O’Reilly had only 50, 44 and 40 per cent success rates against the Canucks. Blues centre Tyler Bozak finished 20th this season in efficiency (55 per cent), but teammate Brayden Schenn was only 70th (49 per cent). So, a key stat favours the Canucks, but this isn’t the regular season.
“We push each other hard in the faceoff dot,” Miller said Tuesday. “If someone has a good night, and better than the other guys, we’re the first to let that guy know. That’s a good, healthy competition. We each bring our own unique style to it, but Manny (assistant Malhotra) does a great job in showing video of what does and doesn’t work and when we get away from our tendencies.
“We just feed off each other and understand that starting with the puck in this series is going to be crucial. We’re playing a team that doesn’t get rid of pucks, and if you lose a draw, you’re going to start a long shift in your own end.
“We’re going to treat it like any other game and it’s nothing new for us, but we obviously have a tall task with some of their centres. We’re looking forward to the challenge.”
And it’s not just in the circle. The Blues can come at you in any way and Canucks coach Travis Green believes Horvat is well-suited for any game — not just a north-south matchup.
“He can play in any type of game and I’m not worried about him at all,” said Green.
“He’s going to have to be a big part of our group. He was in the past series and I expect him to be this series. He can play in a skilled game and a heavy game — it’s a big part of his hockey.”
So is adapting to new rules. That has helped the Canucks command the circle.
With attacking teams having the option of deciding which side of the ice the puck will be dropped after an icing, start of a power play, a shot from outside the red-line frozen by a goalie, and when a defensive player unintentionally dislodges the net, it has helped Horvat.
“It’s huge,” Horvat said earlier this season. “I don’t take as many (draws) on my off side now, which is great because we have Suds (Brandon Sutter) and Beags (Beagle), who do a great job.
“Any time I get a chance to pick, I’m going to pick my strong side and it’s been working out because I’m sticking to my backhand.”