Canucks 2, Ducks 1 (Overtime): Shake off the rust before Miller becomes a hero

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Bruce Boudreau acknowledged that a week between games, or even five days, can produce rust.

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So what would a dozen days off with postponed games bring and the Christmas break on Wednesday in Anaheim when the Vancouver Canucks looked to extend their winning streak with a new bench chief to seven games?

The gaffes and gaffes were a good bet. High-octane offense and outstanding goals? Not that much.

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Vancouver Canucks vs. LA Kings

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The high-flying ducks, who were 6-1-3 in their previous 10 games, had 11 days off and were missing Trevor Zegras, Sam Steel and Max Comtois via COVID-19 protocol and Adam Henrique due to injury.

And with the Canucks without Brock Boeser, who scored five goals in his last six games, to the virus protocol alongside Phillip Di Giuseppe, the problem would likely be solved with breaks. The fact was, Ducks stopper John Gibson would continue to confuse the Canucks.

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“We’ve practiced hard and tried to do situational things all the time to make it like a game,” Boudreau said before the Canucks rallied to force overtime, where JT Miller scored on a breakaway just 26 seconds into the session. extra.

“But we know that it is like the beginning of the season again and that there will be mistakes. Our game tonight has to be as simple as possible. Put it in, shoot the puck and play some great defense. “

The Canucks, who made 36 shots in regulation time, equaled a seven-game winning streak established on January 4, 2020 with a 2-1 victory over the New York Rangers. And they hadn’t won at The Pond in Anaheim since March 5, 2017, when Richard Bachman made 43 saves in a 2-1 win.

Here’s what we learned as the Canucks now head to games in Los Angeles on Thursday and Seattle on Saturday:

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One pinch, one inch, one goal

The Canucks play aggressively. They unfold a two-man check and voluntarily pinch the defender to create misalignments and deny exit lanes along the walls.

When they get it right, it results in turnovers and goals. When they make a mistake, they lose support and dig a hole.

The Ducks opened scoring in the first period when Tucker Poolman was caught in a pinch after the Canucks killed a penalty. It allowed Sam Carrick to feed off and quickly get away from Brad Hunt before beating Thatcher Demko on the blocker side.

Bo Horvat then got his chances in the second period. When Jason Dickinson decided to pass rather than shoot, the Canucks captain was caught off guard and needed another inch or two to make good contact on a missed opportunity at the top of the fold. He was also denied a 2v1 break when he tried to beat Gibson on blocker.

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Conor Garland could also have used an inch or two when he then accelerated on a getaway, but ran out of space when it was the other way around. He then put one off Gibson’s left shoulder on a 2v1.

In the third period, the Canucks pressed again for the equalizer and didn’t wait long to get back on a level playing field.

Quinn Hughes made a smart play on a slow change from the Ducks and spotted Tanner Pearson who went off the glove side on the club’s 24th shot. The winger, who had seven shots, then had a jam opportunity at the end of a power play before Nils Hoglander, who had six shots, was denied twice late in regulation and then Elias Pettersson was thwarted.

FEW PENALTIES, FEW PROBLEMS

The Canucks talk about it all the time and make sure the message is visible on the board in their locker room.

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Amid Boudreau’s many mantras is this penalty reminder: “Two or less.” For the coach that equals success.

By playing more disciplined and making two or fewer trips to the penalty area, your chances of winning are greatly increased in a special teams league. And in their previous three games, the Canucks had to kill just one penalty.

In the first six games with Boudreau at the helm, his club was 10 of 12 on penalties for an 83.3 percent efficiency, ranking 13th overall. Before the coach change, the Canucks were trading at a record low of 64.6 percent.

However, on Wednesday it was Garland (holding), Miller (game delay), Hughes (holding) and Oliver Ekman-Larsson (stumbling) taking minors in a game with little margin for error. The Canucks blocked 10 shots in the first period and finished with 17 in regulation. And on a key penalty in the third period, they doubled up but didn’t break.

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“It’s one thing we’ve emphasized,” Boudreau said. “We have to check it with our legs and they have taken it seriously and have done a good job with it. That’s the way you go about your kills and if you have the keeper, it energizes your team. “

If the Canucks had been more disciplined on Nov. 14 in a 5-1 loss at Anaheim, they would have had a better chance. They allowed two power play goals that night and gave the Ducks four chances.

OVERTIME – Ducks defender Cam Fowler, who fell awkwardly and heavily on the end table in the first period and appears to suffer a shoulder injury, did not return. He has 17 points (4-13).

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NEXT GAME

Thursday

Vancouver Canucks vs. LA Kings

7:30 pm, Crypto.com Arena. TV: Sportsnet Pacific. Radio: Sportsnet 650.