BROCK’S BACK
Canucks are hopeful that second-year sniper Brock Boeser will be ready to pump some life into the offence by return from injury tonight
1 Can Boeser quickly get up to speed?
Brock Boeser pushed hard Monday on a practice line with Elias Pettersson and Nikolay Goldobin andwasonthe first power play unit. His playing status will be determined after the game-day skate Tuesday. How quickly the winger can get his pace and shot up to a high standard — he hasn’t played since collecting four points (2-2) on Nov. 2 against Colorado in which he aggravated a groin strain that morphed into an adductor strain — will be crucial for even strength and power play effectiveness as right-shot triggerman.
2 Pettersson’s amazing rookie radar
Pettersson wasn’t just sitting on the bench Saturday and taking in the cavernous Staples Center. The attentive first-year centre watched how the Kings exited their zone and reasoned that
Dion Phaneuf’s favourite ploy was a cross-ice pass to trigger the transition. So, when Pettersson hopped the boards, he was like a defensive back reading the quarterback’s eyes. He intercepted the outlet attempt and rocketed the winner, his 13th goal in 20 games, over the shoulder of startled goaltender Cal Petersen.
3 Gaudette rewarded for selling out
It took Adam Gaudette 20 games to get that puck for the mantel and it’s amazing it took so long. The Hobey Baker Award winner has been lauded by Travis Green for the rookie’s willingness to “sell out” on every shift and that’s rare for a guy who scored 30 goals and 60 points last NCAA season and could easily think offence first. His work ethic and a dedication to improving strength have fuelled his NHL transition.
4 Edler settles down the back end
Alex Edler logged just 16:19 Saturday — his average is 21:47 — and had five shot attempts after missing 15 games with a knee strain. In a pairing with Alex Biega — scratched were Derrick
Pouliot and Troy Stecher — he provided strength along the walls to help his club end an eight-game losing streak.
Motte has become roster 5 regular
Amid the expected return of Boeser, a roster constant has been the responsible play of winger Tyler Motte, The speedy fourth-line fixture has had a strong PK presence, has only been scratched twice this season, and has six points (3-3) in 24 games.