Canucks: Tale of the (wrist) tape for stars always a story in Vancouver

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The tale of the tape has been a talking point in Vancouver.

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When key members of the Canucks take the protective measure to help healing, and guard against further wrist injury, it’s not a footnote. It’s a story. And it can be headline material.

It started with Brock Boeser and has continued with Elias Pettersson.

Boeser was a promising NHL prospect at North Dakota, but, in December 2016, he struggled with production and required wrist surgery. It kept the right winger from representing the US at the world junior tournament.

And in a Feb. 8, 2018, game at Tampa Bay, Fla., he jammed the same wrist but only missed a game in Carolina the following night, and the ailment didn’t require surgery.

In pre-COVID-19 media locker-room access, Boeser was often spotted with tape on the wrist that triggered the occasional query about how it hindered or helped shot accuracy and velocity.

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Fast-forward and Boeser’s release has been at its lethal best. Five goals in the first six games with Bruce Boudreau at the coaching helm, and potential to improve on an 11.5 per cent accuracy on his 130 shots, which is a team high, has him on pace for 26 goals.

On Monday, Pettersson was asked following his two-assist performance in a 5-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken about his path to recovery following a March 1, 2021, hyperextended wrist injury in Winnipeg.

It sidelined the center for the final 30 regular-season games, and while surgery wasn’t required, he was slow to find his shot and level of engagement this season.

Part of it was the wrist. Part of it was missing training camp while his contract extension was finalized. And part of it was playing in just two pre-season games. A slow start was the byproduct and just five points (1-4) in his first 11 games, including a nine-game goal drought, now seem like ancient history with his recent run of excellence.

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Pettersson has 10 points (3-7) in his last six games and 17 points (8-9) in his last 15 outings.

“I obviously feel great and starting to play like myself out there and having fun,” he said of improving his shooting percentage to 13.3, second only to club leader JT Miller at 14.6. “I’m playing with confidence and maybe things are going more my way and that definitely helps.”

And with that, came the query about the degree of difficulty in getting to a good place and how arduous that journey was.

“It definitely played a part of it,” said Pettersson. “Coming into the season was a little weird. I still had my wrist taped — I feel like that’s going to cause headlines — but I didn’t play for eight months, so it was definitely a slow start for me.

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“It took me way longer than I wanted this season but I feel in the last couple of weeks that I’ve been playing like myself again.”

And if some wrist protection and progress is any indication, there’s reason to believe that Pettersson will continue on an upward trajectory.

Confidence in health translates to the game and it was evident against Seattle on Monday in the manner in which Pettersson kept competing with a stronger stride and engagement. He drew a neutral-zone interference minor and finished with three shots, six attempts and even a good hit.

NO MOTIVATION PROBLEM

Some games are circled on the calendar. It’s usually a litmus test or clashing with a division rival for playoff positioning.

For the Canucks, it will be both Thursdays when the high-octane Calgary Flames come to town riding a franchise-equalling 10 game win streak. The clubs meet three more times and with the Canucks clinging to hope of a wild-card playoff spot, they have to get the better of a formidable foe.

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The Flames not only added Tyler Toffoli to their threatening mix on Feb. 14, the manner in which the former Canuck winger wasn’t afforded an extension here, coupled with the lingering fan disdain, is like picking at a scab.

Toffoli signed a cap-friendly, four year, US$7 million deal with the Montreal Canadiens in October 2020 and then torched his former club last season with 13 points (8-5), a hat trick and 34 shots in eight meetings.

It means the Canucks’ preparation has to be at a premium.

The Pacific Division leaders have four 20-goal scorers, the seventh-rated offense and the top-ranked defense. They lead the league with fewest goals allowed at even strength in adhering to coach Darryl Sutter’s stern system of being good at both ends of the ice.

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The Canucks did manage a point in a 1-0 overtime loss at Calgary on Jan. 29, but were outshot 32-15.

As for Thursday, Boudreau knows his club has to be physically and mentally dialed in.

“It’s routine,” he said of game preparation on any given day. “On the road, you do what you do. At home, it’s different with family and getting tickets to people. And sometimes I feel the guys just come to the rink, put their skates on and let’s go play.

“I’ve always believed the day of a game is a whole day preparation — pre-game skate, meal, nap so you’re focused on the game and the game only. You can’t come in willy-nilly and hope to play good. It doesn’t happen. It’s too tough to chase the game.”

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