Canucks find right side of ‘fine line’
Captain says it’s up to the players to elevate their game when they’re coming off a loss
Travis Green probably didn’t mean to, but he evoked a former member of the Vancouver pro sports coaching fraternity on Wednesday when comparing Games 1 and 2 of the Vancouver Canucks’ Stanley Cup qualifying series against the Minnesota Wild.
“It’s a fine line between the two games. I don’t think you could watch the video and see a huge difference,” he said on Wednesday during a video conference call from the team hotel in Edmonton, eliciting memories of former Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson and one of his favourite expressions.
There were some stark stylistic differences between the two games — the Canucks struggled to generate much speed or opportunity in Game 1 and were shut out, but were flying high in Game 2 and won — but Green really wasn’t off base with his analogy when you look at the numbers.
In Game 1, the Wild won the shot-attempts battle 49-45. Game 2 saw a pile of power plays, making for much less time played at even strength, but the Wild again fired more shots than the Canucks, topping their rivals 30-25. Coaches do try to boil games down to their process.
The numbers were similar, but the results were drastically different.
“We found a way to create a little bit more,” Green said of the reason his charges won Game 2. “I thought we were a little bit nervous in Game 1.”
Captain Bo Horvat said the difference in mentality between the two games was on the players as much as anyone.
“I don’t think it took Travis or anyone to say anything,” he said. “From past experience, if you don’t have a great night, you have to elevate your game. That’s what makes great players who they are.”
FERLAND SIDELINED AGAIN
Canucks winger Micheal Ferland has returned to Vancouver and will be re-evaluated after the qualifying round series, the NHL team confirmed Wednesday afternoon.
It’s not known what Ferland’s injury is — league policy only allows for players to be deemed “unfit to play” — but it may be related to his previous concussion symptoms, which forced the rugged forward from the lineup in late October and then again on two occasions, ending attempts to return to action in December and again in February.
WILD HAVEN’T SCORED FIVE ON FIVE
It’s the Wild who put up the league’s best defensive numbers in the regular season, but through two games against the Canucks, the Minnesotans have yet to score at even strength.
“There’s not a lot of room for both teams,” veteran Wild centre Eric Staal said.
“We need to spend more time in the offensive zone on a consistent basis.”
Kevin Fiala, his younger teammate, was equally complimentary of how the Canucks played, especially in Game 2.
“Have to focus a little more,” he said. They play tight ... they were on us more than we were on them.”
The Wild need to be quicker in getting their shots off, too, he added, saying he believed they were still getting good looks at Vancouver goalie Jacob Markstrom, even if the Canucks were exerting more defensive pressure.
HELLO, GOOD MORNING
With so many teams staying in the same hotels, it’s inevitable players are going to encounter one another.
Wild head coach Dean Evason said Wednesday morning there’s just no avoiding the Canucks — to get to the Wild’s team meeting room, they have to walk past the Canucks’ dining area.
“We can’t go anywhere. They see our guys, we see their guys. It’s a really unique experience but it hasn’t taken away from the on-ice product,” he said.
He’s also taken time to stop and catch up with friends and colleagues, including Green, who was a Team Canada teammate at the 1997 world championships.
“We had a real long conversation yesterday morning, talked about our groups. Obviously we’re not giving each other secrets, but you can still talk to somebody.
“It’s not like the old days. But, again, once the puck is dropped, you’re competing, you’re battling to win the hockey game,” he said.
Staal said it felt a bit like a tournament when he was a kid.
“Definitely weird,” he said. “But it’s also a bit of a fun atmosphere.”
Canucks defenceman Tyler Myers grinned a little about the oddity of running into Wild players the morning after a heated game.
“It’s definitely different,” he said.
“You’re in an absolute war with them and then the next morning you’re in the elevator with them. This whole situation is very unique. It’s nothing any team can’t handle, it’s just different. You take it in stride.”
QUARANTINE TIME
Defenceman Jordie Benn is now back in Edmonton, having left his fiancée Jessi Kohout and their newborn daughter Billie in Dallas.
Benn will be in quarantine in his room for at least four days and has to return negative COVID-19 tests each day.
The NHL has advised teams that because players enter hospitals for the birth of a child, they should expect hotel room isolation to likely last up to seven days or longer.
Once the player has cleared this window, he may have to go through a further three days of testing while skating on his own before he can rejoin his team in full.