Horvat’s job just got a little harder
Big centre will be asked to take on additional defensive responsibilities with Sutter injured
Amid the euphoria that is the electric Elias Pettersson comes the stark reality for Bo Horvat.
As centres of attention for the Vancouver Canucks — the slick Swedish rookie has seven goals in seven games while the future captain has the same number in 13 outings — the loss of Brandon Sutter on Monday to a right shoulder separation will have a trickle-down effect.
For the poised Pettersson, it may mean more minutes to spin his magic with and without the puck because of a remarkable and relentless three-zone awareness. For the workhorse Horvat, it will mean more critical faceoffs in the defensive zone.
Horvat took 36 draws in Monday’s 5-2 win over the Minnesota Wild, a season-high total that ramped up when Sutter was injured early in the second period during a penalty kill. The veteran pivot tried to engage blueliner Matt Dumba, slammed hard into the sideboards, and is now out four to six weeks. Couple that with Jay Beagle recovering from a forearm fracture, and the centres who were supposed to ease Horvat’s defensive load have instead added to it.
“For both of them to go down, it gives me more defensive responsibilities and (means) taking big faceoffs,” said Horvat, who won 56 per cent of his draws against the Wild. “I have to commit and not cheat all over the ice. Losing Sutter halfway through the game, you’ve got to take a step back, but play smart.”
Without Alex Edler (knee sprain) and Chris Tanev (hip bruise) in the lineup, puck possession and transition out of the defensive zone will be of paramount importance on Wednesday against the Chicago Blackhawks.
“It’s unreal,” Horvat said of injuries that include Sven Baertschi (concussion) and Anders Nilsson (finger fracture). “It seems to happen to us every year. You become allaround players because you have to fill that void.”
Horvat made his way in the NHL by learning the defensive game. His faceoff efficiency has not only been steady and improved over the years — including a team best 55.6 per cent this season — but he’ll now face tougher draw matchups with Sutter sidelined. That could overshadow some of the success Horvat has enjoyed in the faceoff circle.
To his credit, Sutter’s value has been in a shutdown capacity and prime penalty killer for the league’s ninthranked unit. Horvat had been freed up from extra duty because the penalty-killing pairings of Sutter with Tyler Motte and Markus Granlund with Tim Schaller — and Beagle before he was injured blocking a shot — have been exceptional.
Horvat did log 2:28 of penalty-kill time on Monday and played a season high 22:09 overall. Granlund could move back to the middle on Wednesday, but he’s not great in the circle at 40.4 per cent.
Rookie Adam Gaudette won but two of eight draws on Monday and was learning on the fly in a season high 12:15 of ice time. He found himself up against Eric Staal and Mikko Koivu once Sutter was sidelined.
“I’ve been holding my own out there,” said Gaudette. “I’m playing a strong and physical game and making plays and keeping the puck on my stick a lot more often.”
Whether it’s Gaudette or Horvat, the biggest adjustment to losing another veteran
forward is to appreciate how hard a prized rookie is playing. Pettersson’s two-goal effort made the highlight reels and the second effort, in which he blocked a point shot and sped away on a breakaway, had jaws dropping on the bench.
“It’s awesome to see, especially at such a young age,” marvelled the 23-year-old Horvat. “When you’re only 19 and doing that stuff already, there’s just more to come. People might think he’d be a little more timid after the hit (concussion) and he doesn’t show that at all. The way he has come back and played is pretty impressive.”
It’s the kind of effort Canucks coach Travis Green is trying to coax out of Nikolay Goldobin. Pettersson’s linemate has a considerable skill set, but the Russian winger hasn’t scored since the season opener and has but one goal and a paltry 4.2 shooting percentage on 24 shots.
Goldobin needs to get to the areas where he can get better scoring chances. He did start the passing sequence on Pettersson’s first goal on Monday, but he needs to be more engaged.
“(Goldobin) needs to work,” said Green. “He needs to skate and move his feet. You can’t just play the game hoping you’re on the outside and getting a puck and make a nice play, Sometimes, you have to go to the dirty areas — and when you’re not scoring or getting points, you can’t wait for the game to come to you.
“I think he’s close, but as a young guy, when you don’t score you only think about scoring. You have to think about doing other things, and scoring will come from that. Bo is a good example. His game wasn’t sharp early in the year.”