Stick-taps and glove-drops is a recurring feature after every Canucks game giving some quick kudos and criticism before the longer I Watched This Game feature. Feel free to leave your own stick-taps and glove-drops in the comments.
Dropping the gloves with Anders Nilsson, who managed to survive past three shots on goal, but still gave up a soft one for the game-opening goal after a strong start. In his defence, it deflected off Troy Stecher’s stick, but he still should have been able to make the stop. It beat him on the short side because he overplayed the initial shot.
Stecher gets a stick-tap, despite unfortunately tipping that shot into his own net. He was dynamic in this game, using his skating to transition the puck up ice. He played over 19 minutes at 5-on-5 and was the only Canucks defenceman who broke even in shot attempts. He and Edler combined for 9 shots on goal and Stecher was credited with 5 hits.
A tap of the stick to Sven Baertschi for returning to the lineup while still requiring a jaw guard on his helmet. But I have to drop the gloves with Baertschi too, as he seriously struggled, first on a line with the Sedins, then with Sam Gagner and Thomas Vanek. The Canucks were out-shot 12-3 when he was on the ice 5-on-5, as he showed a bit of rust.
Galchenyuk’s shot on the 2-0 goal was a bullet, but Nilsson gets the gloves dropped, just a little bit. Like the first goal, he moved too far as he came across to stop the one-timer, sliding past where he should have stopped and leaving a massive opening at the far post.
Stick-tap to Travis Green for loading up the top line with Brock Boeser and the Sedins. As much as Boeser has shown chemistry with Vanek and Gagner, they didn’t seem to have it in this game, so the adjustment was necessary to spark the Canucks’ offence.
A tap of the stick to Loui Eriksson, Markus Granlund and Nic Dowd, who played a pretty effective game in a shutdown role, out-shooting the Galchenyuk line in their match-up. Sure, Eriksson and Granlund probably shouldn't have led all Canucks forwards in ice-time, but they were solid defensively and created some chances in the offensive zone too.
Stick-taps all around for the Canucks’ first goal: Troy Stecher won a puck battle in the defensive zone to transition the puck up ice, Henrik Sedin won a battle in the offensive zone to move the puck to the point, Alex Edler fired a nice low shot, Daniel Sedin tipped it, and Brock Boeser provided the screen in front to prevent Carey Price from making the save.
Assists to Henrik & Edler on Daniel's 9th goal. pic.twitter.com/VmTWIYpNqy
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) January 8, 2018
Brock Boeser gets a tap of the stick, as he was clearly the Canucks’ best player on the ice. It’s been wonderful seeing him transition from just a goalscorer to showing a more well-rounded game as his confidence increases. His saucer pass to Michael Del Zotto for the tying goal was perfectly weighted and, as teams key in on him to give him less time and space to shoot, that playmaking acumen will be vital for him to continue putting up points.
Tap of the stick to Del Zotto as well, who picked the exact right time to jump up in the rush and showed nice touch on the finish, deking to the backhand and tucking the puck five-hole.
Del Zotto gets behind the defense and ties the game for the Canucks pic.twitter.com/AZvnmrEVi9
— Scott Matla (@scottmatla) January 8, 2018
Hate to do it, but Nilsson gets the gloves dropped a third time for the third goal, as he kicked a rebound on a Karl Alzner point shot straight out into the slot, where Brendan Gallagher found it and deposited it into the net. What makes things worse is it looked like Alzner’s shot was going well wide.
Dropping the gloves with Sam Gagner on that goal as well, as he blindly banked the puck up the boards when he had plenty of time to make a better breakout play. Alzner picked it off and was able to quickly shoot the puck.
I won’t drop the gloves with anyone on the fourth and fifth goals for Montreal. The Canucks took some chances looking for the tying goal, with Derrick Pouliot and Alex Edler, respectively, gambling on plays that led to the goals against, but you have to take chances in the final minute or so when you’re trying to find a goal.
