Reaves keeps stirring the pot, giving Golden Knights ‘freedom to play bigger’
Winger ran over the Canucks with 11 hits while providing plenty of thrash talk
Vegas Golden Knights winger Ryan Reaves was at his agitating best against the Vancouver Canucks in Game 1 of their Stanley Cup second-round series Sunday night.
When Reaves — credited with 11 hits — wasn’t running over Canucks, he was trying to get into their heads with trash talk, which included clucking like a chicken from the bench at one point.
It was all fun and games for the Golden Knights, who rolled to a 5-0 win and the series lead heading into Game 2 at Rogers Place today.
“This has always been a bit of a verbal team,” said Golden Knights head coach Peter DeBoer on Monday. “I was joking with Ryan Reaves (Sunday) night; I was on the receiving end of that for a couple of years in San Jose, so I know what that feels like.”
The Canucks didn’t necessarily feel the same way, particularly winger Antoine Roussel, who was a target for much of the verbal assault.
After Roussel was issued a 10-minute misconduct in the third for trying to entice Reaves into a fight, the Vegas bench welcomed him back from the penalty box by tapping their sticks on the boards.
“Ryan Reaves has an impact on the game every night,” DeBoer said.
“He might not show up on the scoresheet with 11 hits and the type of publicity he got (Sunday) night, but there is a reason they’ve (Reaves’ line) started every game that I’ve coached here. I’ve seen from the other bench the impact he has when he’s in the lineup.
“It gives the rest of your group the freedom to play bigger. He’s the biggest, toughest guy in the league, lets everybody play with more freedom and room because they know he’s in the lineup.”
And while DeBoer tries to concentrate on the game while on the bench, he can’t help but get a chuckle at some of the chirping that goes back and forth from his team.
“Yeah, if you could see the inside of my lip right now after the last week or so, I’ve been biting it so many times, it is hard,” he said. “They’re witty guys. I’m sure you’ve seen some of the comments, it looks just like profanity, but there is a lot of witty comments there, they are sharp guys and they have good humour to them. They’re engaged and there is a lot of funny stuff that goes on back there. You obviously try to keep your focus, but we have our moments back there.”
GETTING UP OFF THE CANVAS
The Canucks are the first to admit they did not have a strong outing in Game 1, but they would be hard pressed to believe the series is over.
Vancouver has overcome plenty of adversity getting to this point in the playoffs as the final Canadian team standing, and expects to put in a much better effort in the second game of the best-of-seven series.
“Every series brings a new challenge and I just don’t think we played our best hockey,” said Canucks head coach Travis Green on Monday. “We didn’t pass the puck as well as we can, we didn’t receive passes, we were a little bit late, and give their team credit, they’re a good hockey team. They played well and they’re fast and they have skill throughout their lineup. But we knew that as well. First and foremost, we have to play a better hockey game and I’m confident we will.”
As far as the Golden Knights are concerned, they are expecting a bigger push from the Canucks in Game 2.
“I remember a Game 1 of a playoff series last year where Vegas beat San Jose 7-0 and I was behind the bench in San Jose,” DeBoer said. “Our group at that time in San Jose responded pretty strongly in Game 2 and that series ended up going seven games. It’s one win, we did a lot of good things, but we know there is going to be a big response here. Sometimes you’re better off losing 5-0 than 2-1 and I’m sure we’re going to see their best game and we have to be prepared for that.”
A HURTING UNIT
The Colorado Avalanche went into Game 2 of their second-round series against the Dallas Stars on Monday without starting goaltender Philipp Grubauer, defenceman Erik Johnson and winger Matt Calvert.
“Grubauer is out indefinitely and so is Johnson,” Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said in his pre-game availability. “Calvert, I still consider day to day, although he’s not going to be in the lineup (Monday). Hopefully, he can get back here in the near future, but that will be evaluated on a day-to-day basis.
“The other two guys are out indefinitely, so we have to move on and go without them for the foreseeable future.”
Johnson appeared to have injured his right knee after getting tied up with Stars forward Blake Comeau in front of the Avalanche net in Game 1 on Saturday. Grubauer was injured extending his left leg on a shot and appeared to hurt either his groin or knee.
Goaltender Pavel Francouz will get the call for the Avalanche going forward with Michael Hutchinson as the backup. Kevin Connauton drew in for Johnson in Game 2.
“I just want to play hard for the guys, obviously, it’s unfortunate circumstance going in,” Connauton said. “I’ve been working hard since I got back to Denver for training camp and since we got up here and just keep myself prepared and ready to go.”