Canucks know how Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon got a leg up on the competition

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It’s a dream matchup for the National Hockey League and television ratings.

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It’s also a nightmare for those commissioned to corral and contain—or at least curtail—the magnificence of Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon.

When the Western Conference final series opens Tuesday in Denver, it will showcase how the dynamic difference-makers combined natural ability, explosiveness and creativity to take their games to dizzying levels of pace, power and production.

The Vancouver Canucks know all about that.

For every night they held McDavid in check, there was another where the Edmonton Oilers’ captain left them in his wake with another multi-point reminder. There was a 5-2 road loss Jan.14, 2021 in which McDavid had a hat-trick, four points, nine shots and a dozen attempts.

Alex Burrows once said this of McDavid:

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“It’s like a new trend of guys who are able to open their hips and are able to accelerate and you’re not even sure which way they’re going,” the former Canucks winger told Postmedia. “It’s a funny way to skate, but it’s sure effective and you didn’t see that 10 years ago. It’s a killer combo.”

It was the same story with the bull-like MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche.

When he winds up and wills his way past prone defenders, the release is as impressive as getting himself into shooting position. On Feb. 26, 2018, he had two goals, one assist, nine shots and 19 attempts in a 3-1 triumph over the visiting Canucks.

At that time, Daniel Sedin said this of MacKinnon, whom he lauded for possessing the best heavy and accurate shot at speed:

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“He does it all, from standing still to top speed — I wish I had that,” the former Canucks winger told Postmedia.

McDavid’s peers were in awe before his first game in the 2015-16 season.

He had another gear and a way of doing everything at top speed. He gained extra time because his first three powerful strides from him startled defenders and his uncanny ability to go wide and wait for something to develop — as opposed to jamming pucks through skates — made him a multi-dimensional threat.

Fast forward and it led to a career high and league-leading 123 points (44-79) this season and worldwide acclaim as the game’s best player. At 25, he’ll have to say to get the Oilers back to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since a seven-game loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006.

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“I would love the opportunity to skate him, so I could get a better idea,” instructor Kathy McLlwain, who works with Bo Horvat in the off-season, said Monday from London, Ont. “He’s special. A lot of guys have talent with the puck and some are good skaters, but the ability for McDavid and MacKinnon to do it at high speed and avoid contact is incredible.

“They’re quick thinkers and excel with their legs.”

As for McDavid, the relentless energy to promote explosiveness and elusiveness is jaw dropping.

“Some guys have great acceleration pop like (former Canuck) Jared McCann who I work with,” added McLlwain. “He’s a good skater, but through the sides he’s not as good. Bo is an outstanding and smooth skater with a low base, strong body position and good balance.

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“Connor has momentum and is able to change speed and direction and that’s a big deal. He’s so unpredictable with the puck. It’s crazy. Some guys start up on their toes and some use their whole blade — it depends where the strength in the body or the legs is coming from.”

McILwain also works with Boone Jenner, Colton White, Lawson Crouse, Drew Doughty and Corey Perry, and the common thread is that players don’t take much time off.

MacKinnon, 26, is in that category and keeps working at his craft. Despite missing 22 games this season with upper- and lower-body injuries, a concussion and facial fracture, he still put up 88 points (32-56) in 65 games.

“My department is why MacKinnon gets so many shots,” McLlwain said of her teaching philosophy. “He’s confident and trusts his edges from him and creates his own space from him. He it’s working to get the space to take all those shots and that’s being creative with as many different transitions as you can.

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“It’s up to the guy to know when to use them.”

Bo back on ice ‘soon’

Horvat’s timeline to commence off-season skating after suffering a hairline fracture — it occurred April 14 when the Canucks captain was struck above the right foot by a point shot from Arizona Coyotes defenseman Anton Stralman — could be coming to a close.

The healing time period is usually four to six weeks and there was an indication Monday that Horvat might be getting closer.

“Everybody is a little bit different,” said McLlwain. “I was just touching base with him and he said ‘soon.’ Bo is different. He’s just responsible, he looks after himself and I trust what he says. And he’s a workhorse.”

OVERTIME — The Canucks announced Monday a revamping of their player development program, with the additions of ex-Canucks and Detroit Red Wings winger Michael Samuelsson and former longtime NHL defenseman Mike Komisarek to the club. Samuelsson and Komisarek will work with prospects throughout the organization, joining Canucks legends Daniel and Henrik Sedinas the twins move into a new role in player development with the club after a year spent in the hockey operations department.

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• The Canucks have until Wednesday to sign 2018 draft choice Toni Utunen before his rights expire. It seems unlikely. The fifth-round pick only projects as a third-pairing, left-shot defenseman in the NHL. He had 11 points (4-7) in 59 games this season with the Pelicans of the Finnish SM-liiga.

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