Clear of COVID, Hughes starts to strut offensive stuff for Canucks
GAME DAY: OTTAWA AT VANCOUVER, 7 P.M.
VANCOUVER — The book on Quinn Hughes was written long ago.
Elite edge work to spin and embarrass frustrated forecheckers. Long laser-like passes to trigger the transition. Resiliency to withstand constant harassment in his own zone — complete with slashes, crosschecks and body slams.
And now, the Vancouver Canucks’ puck-moving wizard has added a virus bounceback chapter as the NHL club has turned pursuit of a playoff position from a very long shot to let’s keep giving it a shot.
Hughes has quickly returned to form after overcoming an unpredictable and unrelenting foe in the coronavirus. His three-point performance and seven shot attempts Tuesday in a 6-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs were proof that some reports surrounding a March 31 shutdown that affected 22 players — and an aggressive Brazil (P.1) variant running rampant through the organization — weren’t totally accurate.
Hughes said he never required an IV (intravenous) injection.
“I don’t know where that comes from,” he said. “People on Twitter can say whatever they want and it blew up. I wasn’t on an IV.”
After clearing the virus hurdle, Hughes is running with the challenge that awaits. He wasn’t 100 per cent healthy at the outset Sunday — his lungs “were burning a bit” — before finding a second and third gear. He then shifted his play into overdrive Tuesday.
“I felt better than I did last game,” he said. “Frankly, my legs felt pretty good and we’re all just excited to play again. It’s kind of like hitting the re-set button. It’s exciting for sure to be in the race and we got a taste, and I did, of winning in the [postseason] bubble. It’s really fun.
“We’ve got a really good group and we could have folded, in what we just came off of. I’m just really proud of the guys right now and hopefully we can keep it going. We’re not satisfied.”
The plan for Hughes and his teammates is returning to peak fitness while also knowing rest and recovery are as imperative as outcomes in 17 remaining regular-season games sandwiched into 28 days. Winning is the tonic to maintain sustainability and a pair of triumphs over the North Division-leading Leafs certainly quickens the pulse.
“I’m definitely following the standings and I now where all the guys are,” admitted Hughes.
The Canucks took Monday off after Sunday’s 3-2 overtime victory and did the same Wednesday after another comeback triumph Tuesday. They now face the Ottawa Senators today and Saturday at Rogers Arena.
“You’re not sure what their bodies are going to feel like being off the ice — that’s probably the biggest thing,” Canucks coach Travis Green said of a 24-day hiatus between games fuelled by the league’s mandatory six-day break and the COVID-19 shutdown. “It’s keeping our energy level high and our emotional energy right, and when you win it’s a lot easier for that to happen.”
A significant step for Hughes to address the physical and mental strains occurred Tuesday. Not only was he moving well and controlling the play, the dynamic aspect of his multi-dimensional game was also evident — especially in the offensive zone.
On his third goal of the season to give the Canucks a 2-1 lead midway through the second period, he came off the bench amid sustained pressure, took a cross-ice feed from J.T. Miller and his wrist shot went off the blade of Leafs winger Mitch Marner and up-and-over the outstretched glove of David Rittich.
The goal not only snapped a 20-game drought, but the ability for the Canucks to control the play in the offensive zone also was an encouraging development.
“Games are getting tighter and guys are getting more competitive,” added Hughes. “You’re going to have one or two shifts a game where you can hem them in and try to capitalize on that.”