Leivo’s sweet shootout goal puts champs on ice
Leivo counts the winner in shootout to complete rally from two-goal deficit
VANCOuvER 4, ST. LOUIS 3 (SO)
ST. LOUIS Pop quiz. Litmus test. Call it what you want.
There was an air of anticipation on Thursday because the Vancouver Canucks had strung together three straight wins, their much-maligned power play had struck three times on Tuesday, and the penalty kill was ranked first overall. It was exactly the kind of momentum they needed to take on the Stanley Cup champions to open a four-game road trip that should provide a better read on where the club stands.
When the Blues scored twice in a span of 73 seconds of the second period to take a 3-1 lead, it was a pivotal moment. The Canucks would either go quietly into the night or show some resolve.
They pulled to within a goal in the second period. And in an eventful third period, they got a monster save from Thatcher Demko on a wraparound. Elias Pettersson then went to the crease deke, and with the puck dancing on the goal-line, Bo Horvat jammed home his first of the season on his belly at the end of a 5-on-3 advantage.
Here’s what we learned as Josh Leivo scored in the sixth round of the shootout for a 4-3 Canuck win:
BLUES MAKE YOU WORK
The Blues worry more about their game than the opposition’s and maybe that had something to do with Jay Beagle being on the ice for the first three St. Louis goals at even strength. The fourth-line
centre hadn’t been on the ice for an even-strength goal against in the first five games.
And the penalties they drew — interference, tripping, high-sticking and holding — reflected how hard they are to play against.
When Jake Virtanen took his high-sticking minor and Tyler Motte followed with a hold, the Canucks had to kill a 5-on-3 advantage for 1:20 just to keep within striking distance at 3-2.
NO PUCK LUCK FOR BO
The plan was to get Bo Horvat going offensively, so Josh Leivo joined him on the right side and Michael Ferland was teamed with Brandon Sutter and Jake Virtanen. The captain was stuck at just one assist through five games and it wasn’t because he wasn’t in the right place at the right time. He has set screens and fished for loose pucks, but had only eight shots.
On Thursday, a perfect example of hard times came in the opening period. Leivo let a heavy slot shot go and Blues goalie Jordan Binnington steered the rebound just out of Horvat’s reach.
“We’re trying different things,” Canucks coach Travis Green said before the game. “We’re trying to get Bo’s line going with a little more offence. When he (Leivo) is moving his feet and hunting pucks, he’s a good player. And that’s really a staple we want in all our players — move your feet and be strong on the puck. When they do that, they’re effective.”
MILLER STAYS HOT
J.T. Miller continues to be a model of consistency and not stray from his game.
The Canucks could have been done in the second period when Alex Pietrangelo beat Demko high to the stick side at 2:47 and Vladimir Tarasenko followed by shovelling a Jaden Schwarz pass home at 3:34. It was 3-1 and after the 5-on-3 penalty kill, Motte made amends for a bad penalty by ringing a shot off the post on the rush. Miller was there to follow up with his teamhigh fourth goal.
As for Ferland, he drew the Canucks even early in the second period by getting his big body to the net.
BOESER HEATING UP
Brock Boeser has one goal and Elias Pettersson has a pair.
It’s a far cry from a memorable visit here last season on Dec. 8. The Canucks hammered the Blues 6-1 and Pettersson had five points (14) while Boeser had a hat trick.
On Thursday, Boeser had six shots through regulation. He had his head up and was picking his spots with a good and accurate release. This is a good development. He hit the post on a first-period feed from Pettersson and then let a hot slot shot go on a feed from Miller.
DEFENCE CAN’T REST
The back end has become a front-page story for good reason. However, the opening goal by the Blues’ Robby Fabbri proved that the new pairings are still a work in progress.
Tyler Myers had two chances to clear pucks on the opening goal and Alex Edler could have been in better position to negate the sequence.
Myers initially lost an endboards battle with Tyler Bozak, who kicked the puck back to Alexander Steen on the side wall. Myers couldn’t corral the bouncing puck before Bozak swept it off the far side post, where Fabbri was left alone to poke it past Demko.