Just in time, Sutter turns back competitive clock
Canucks winger contributes when it counts after regular season plagued with injuries
To know where you’re going, you have to know where you’ve been.
For Brandon Sutter, who has battled injuries, indifferent play and harsh scrutiny in a hockey-mad market, turning back the competitive clock this NHL post-season is a testament to having the will to right the wrongs.
The versatile Canucks’ winger is never going to be marquee material. That’s reserved for the playmaking, point-producing and boyish charm of Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson.
The veteran Sutter quietly goes about his business in the shadows — those matchup, penalty kill and faceoff demands — and that doesn’t command the spotlight. But it provides critical components to team success.
As the Canucks prepare to face the St. Louis Blues in the opening round of the 16-team playoffs, the ability of Sutter to adapt and contribute in a qualifying-round series win over the Minnesota Wild was impressive.
Sutter scored in the series-clincher Friday by getting to the net and having the jam to deposit a second-period rebound. He also drew a key third-period penalty and finished the series with nine shots and 14 attempts in four games.
He also had zero groin strains. That’s significant. A Nov. 12 strain sidelined him for 13 games.
“There were a few days in camp there were it was a little sore in certain spots,” the 31-year-old Sutter said Sunday. “It (skating) was just amplified against Minnesota, a pretty intense series, and those four games really felt like a full series. It was a battle. I thought I played well and everybody on the team can say that.
“It’s just good to be back in the playoffs. We talked all year about getting in and that anything can happen. I’m pretty pumped to be back in and you can just see the excitement in our team, that awesome feeling.”
Sutter had three shots and four attempts in the series-opener during 10:36 of ice time. His move from fourth-line right winger to third-line centre in Game 2 was based more on overall value than in an inability or unwillingness to play post-season newbie Adam Gaudette.
“I’m happy for Suds,” said Canucks coach Travis Green. “He’s always been a guy that whatever is best for the team, he never complains. We just felt like we needed him in the middle. He’s a better player at centre. And he had a hell of a series.
“We asked him to do a lot with Gauds not playing. He’s now on the power play and he hasn’t played a lot, and that (Friday) was by far his best game. We shortened the bench when we were down and he played a lot of minutes. I just thought he was solid in all areas of the game.”
In rallying from a 4-3 deficit to claim a 5-4 overtime decision Friday, Sutter logged 6:46 of his 15:59 minutes in the third period and finished 7-for-13 (54 per cent) overall on draws.
“He has been great for us,” said Canucks captain Bo Horvat. “He has been there and won before and played in tough games with tough moments and tough matchups. He stepped up again (Friday) and scored a big goal, won a lot of faceoffs and killed a lot of big penalties. We’re lucky to have that depth and he complements our group so well.”
Sutter had seldom been lucky at avoiding ailments in his Canucks’ tenure.
Even at training camp 2.0, he was deemed unfit to play July 15, the third day of practice, missed the following day and then served as a practice extra before returning. And anything nagging Sutter seems to bug the populace as much as a misfiring power play.
He gets lumped in with Loui Eriksson and Jay Beagle for generous contracts and with one more season at a US$4.475-million salary cap hit, Sutter will be in the crosshairs if his production doesn’t match his pay.
“There might be a lot of talk outside the team, but internally there isn’t,” stressed Green. “Guys on the team and the staff know the value and those guys all had great series. We just didn’t win (qualifier) with our top six. Our bottom six was a big factor and led in a lot of different areas that you don’t notice all the time, and it’s not just on the ice.
“It’s in the room, between periods and on the bench when things are going the wrong way. Or when it’s getting a little heated and emotional. They’re signed for a reason and everybody brings something to the table and to a man, everybody brought something.”
As for Gaudette, he only played in Game 1 against the Wild and was then deemed unfit to play but took game-day skates.
“He understands and I’m not going to get into it,” said Green. “He’s a good young player and he’s fine where he’s at. There’s a lot that goes into that as well at playoff time and the decisions we make.”