Canucks laptop: power play troubled, solid Schenn still in shuffle mode

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With their power play still looking to find a spark, the Vancouver Canucks had a slew of players on the ice 20 minutes before practice officially began Thursday, working on their power play.

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There were new formations and new wrinkles in the leaks and break-ins.

The Canucks’ power play unit is ranked 24th in the National Hockey League, a far cry from the heights of two seasons ago, when they were among the best in the league.

Quinn Hughes was transferred from the first unit, replaced by Oliver Ekman-Larsson. After practice, he seemed speechless about why the power game had struggled so far this season.

“I think we’ve had our chances, they just haven’t come in. I don’t know,” he said. Hughes was unusually concise in his answers about the power play.

Conor Garland was practicing with the first unit again, playing on the right-side boards, with Elias Pettersson positioned in the slot bumper position, Brock Boeser remaining on the left wing and JT Miller assigned the job in front of the net.

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“I just want to put records in the hands of some guys and make sure they get looks (to shoot). Make sure you make the right play, don’t force anything. I’ve been in the power game my whole life, it’s no different, ”Garland said of being asked to play as a playmaker on this unit.

Hughes was playing to aim for a revamped second unit, with Alex Chiasson leading, Tanner Pearson on the bumper and Nils Höglander, scoreless in 10 games, and Bo Horvat on the wings.

“There are a lot of guys that can play in a lot of different places, so once we find that chemistry, I’m sure it will take off and we’ll be fine,” Garland said.

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Schenn left

Luke Schenn, a right-footed defender, switched to the left side in Tuesday’s game and looked ready to repeat the assignment Friday night, with Travis Hamonic again as his teammate.

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Green said he had spoken to Schenn in the days leading up to Tuesday’s game about his experience playing on his opposite side, and the burly veteran told him he had played on the left side 10 to 15 times in the past two seasons with Tampa Bay. . Flash of lightning.

The coach said he liked Schenn’s performance in Tuesday’s win against the Rangers.

“Knowing what you have to do to play on the opposite side, I think a veteran is a little more capable of doing it than a youngster. You can get into trouble at certain points and knowing that in advance, sometimes you have to simplify on that side, “Green suggested on why Schenn was having success playing on his opposite side.

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