I wanted to watch this game. I really did. It’s just the Courier didn’t have room in the budget to fly a blogger down to San Jose to watch pre-season hockey.
The Canucks pre-season opener wasn’t televised, apparently because of the World Cup of Hockey, which seems like an odd excuse given the two games didn't conflict in the slightest. The Canucks were evidently unable to stream the game online, so diehards had to turn to the radio play-by-play to experience the game.
So, instead of watching, I listened to this game.
- It’s awfully difficult to provide analysis for a game I wasn't able to watch, but I’ll give it a go.
- The Canucks were largely outplayed in this game, I assume, getting out-shot 33-to-15, but they made the most out of their few chances, it seems. Bo Horvat opened the scoring with what I imagine was a gorgeous goal. He cut to the slot with his patented BoHoToe-drag, then dropped the puck to Jake Virtanen, who probably leaned into a hard wristshot, creating what I can only guess was a rebound that then found its way to Horvat to most likely tap into the open net.
- The second goal doesn’t require quite as much conjecture because we actually have a highlight video of it. With Bo Horvat and Ashton Sautner driving hard to the net, Sven Baertschi unleashed a wicked wristshot that beat Mantas Armalis on the short side. If you’re the type of person who only believes something really happened if you can see video proof, then this game was two seconds long and the Canucks won 1-0.
- The Canucks will need offensive production from Horvat and Baertschi this season if they have any hope of making the playoffs, so it was encouraging to immediately see them chip in a couple goals playing as the top line. All they need is another winger to click with them, whether it’s Virtanen, Jannik Hansen, Loui Eriksson, or Anton Rodin. Personally, I’m pulling for Rodin, if only because I can call them the RoBoBear line.
- The bad news for Canucks fans has to be the injury to Virtanen. He left the game with a shoulder injury, which has to be a concern considering his history: he had shoulder surgery in his draft year. Here’s hoping it’s a minor injury, but even if it is, it seems likely to ensure he starts the season in the AHL.
- Bo Horvat was utterly dominant in the faceoff circle, taking a whopping 23 draws and winning 20 of them. That is absurd, even when you consider he was taking faceoffs mostly against AHLers. Faceoffs are an element of the game that Horvat has emphasized in the past and he’s clearly put in a lot of work. Getting some guidance from Manny Malhotra likely didn’t hurt.
- When asked about players that stood out, Willie Desjardins immediately mentioned Borna Rendulic. The Croatian winger got the promotion to the top line when Virtanen left the game and it has to be a good sign for his chances to make the team that he caught the coach’s attention so early in the pre-season. Actually, I didn’t hear the question, so maybe he was asked which player had the weirdest name.
- Wednesday's game against the Edmonton Oilers will actually be televised, which will mean an actual I Watched This Game from yours truly.
