The Canucks scored in bunches early and maintained that lead to secure the win and complete their four-game road trip with three straight wins and a 3-1 record.
Danton Heinen had two goals, J.T. Miller had a three-point night and Conor Garland chipped in a goal and an assist.
Head Coach Rick Tocchet was pleased with his team being able to generate scoring chances and the power play worked like a well-oiled machine, Vancouver scoring on two of their three opportunities on the man advantage.
“Overall, I’m happy with the game, but I still think the guts of the ice is something we’re not as good as last year. We’ve got to really start to figure that out, I think we’re giving up too many opportunities in the middle of the ice. Overall, we scored six goals, I’m happy,” Tocchet said.
Garland gave the Heinen-Teddy Blueger-Keifer Sherwood line credit for setting the tone for the game and helping the team get an early lead. Sherwood put up a career-high 12 hits as well as two assists.
“Great job by Teddy's line tonight, probably our best line by a mile. [They] carried us in the game tonight, got us started and carried it throughout the rest of the 60 [minutes]. They played really well for us tonight,” Garland said.
Tocchet also mentioned the first goal from Blueger’s line was the perfect example of playing within the system.
“They were close together, they were playing the right way, very rarely were they out there with odd man rushes. I think they were just in good spots and when you’re in good spots good things happen,” Tocchet said.
Heinen said getting a goal early gives the team a boost. His line was focused on playing north, forechecking hard, and playing to the Canucks’ structure.
“I think we were just keeping it simple, trying to get pucks in deep, get the cycle going and not get too fancy,” Heinen said.
Kevin Lankinen got his third win in as many games, stopping 31 of 34 shots he faced.
Goals
The two teams combined for six goals in the first period alone, Heinen wasting no time scoring 21 seconds into the game. Heinen’s line recovered the puck on the forecheck and made a pretty passing play: Sherwood with a diagonal cross ice feed to Blueger, finding Heinen trialing into the slot, shooting a quick wrist shot for the goal.
