It’s a simple checklist, says head coach Rick Tocchet. “I’d like us to hold on to pucks.”
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THE Vancouver Canucks play their first playoff series against the Edmonton Oilers in 32 years.
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The Canucks have beaten the Oilers four times, but the Oilers have been one of the NHL’s most in-form teams in the second half of the season.
Here are five questions ahead of Wednesday’s first game.
Can the Canucks stay focused?
This is the classic player who can’t stop, but only contain.
“Stay out of the box” Nikita Zadorov The Oilers’ deadly power play allowed them to score nine goals on 20 opportunities in the first round against the Los Angeles Kings, making a huge difference in the series.
Avoid reversals, Zadorov added.
In other words, the Canucks simply have to execute their own game plan.
It’s a simple checklist, head coach. Rick Tocchet said.
“I’d like us to keep possession of pucks,” he said. “Be conservative in how you shoot the puck and if you lose possession, try to get it back.”
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Against Nashville, Tocchet stressed the need to not miss the net high and wide; it can lead to dangerous turnovers and the Oilers are obviously a much faster team than the Predators, so you have to avoid giving them counter-attacking opportunities.
“We have to attack,” he said. They can’t just sit back and try to defend themselves.
“If Edmonton makes a mistake… we can’t just send one defenceman forward and have four players back. We have to apply pressure,” he said.
“When there’s battles, we need five players on the field. We don’t need two players on the field and three players on the back. That’s not the way we’re going to win against Edmonton.”
What about the Hughes factor?
There’s a lot of talk about how McDavid can impact the game, but the Canucks have their own game-changing element. Quinn Hughes.
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“When he’s on the ice, (Edmonton) has to be on their toes. Maybe they can’t be as aggressive because if you’re aggressive against Quinn, he’ll make you pay. So it’s no different than our attitude towards their players,” Tocchet said.
Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch said his players need to stick to their system and also get to Hughes quickly. If you try to anticipate his passes, you’re in trouble.
“That’s where you get caught, that’s where you look ridiculous,” he said.
Who can win the slot machine battle?
“They’re one of the best teams at getting the puck to the net,” Tocchet said. Stars McDavid and Leon Draisaitl draw the attention, but the Canucks coach believes the key is to keep the Oilers from getting to the net.
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Edmonton has scored 41 goals in the regular season off deflections or other deflections, which ranks sixth in the NHL. The Canucks lead the league with 51 goals off deflections or other deflections.
The Oilers also scored 29 goals on backhands, which most often come on rebounds, second-most in the NHL behind the Canucks’ 31.
The Canucks have excelled in the slot. They are very good at defending their own slot zone.
But so do the Oilers.
According to HockeyViz.com, the Canucks have managed to reduce their opponents’ shots by 11 percent compared to the league average. The Oilers have been nearly as good at 10 percent.
Does the series of seasons matter?
“No,” Pius Suter said categorically. “We don’t start the match at 1-0,” Dakota Joshua said. Elias Pettersson gave a moderate yes: “We know we can beat them, but the playoffs are different.”
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Knoblauch only coached the final game of the season between these two teams and his team was without McDavid for that game, but he thinks there are lessons to be learned.
Knoblauch said: “There are things we’ve seen Vancouver do really well and beat us, and we have to make some little adjustments to minimize their shrinkage,” referring to the Canucks’ tendency to consolidate their five defencemen toward the net, making it harder to get shots off.
Will the goalkeepers be up to the task?
Arturs Silovs is in the Canucks net at the moment. If he falters, Casey DeSmith will take over. Thatcher Demko Maybe you’ll get to play in the final game of the series, but don’t hold your breath.
Stuart Skinner, in goal for Edmonton, has improved his game considerably.
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This game is very stressful, with powerful shooters and smart forwards trying to block the goalies. How do they cope with all of this?
For more of our coverage of the Canucks vs. Oilers second-round playoff game:
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Canucks Watch Parties: Here’s Where to Watch the Canucks-Oilers Round 2 Playoffs
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Could Thatcher Demko Really Play Against the Oilers?
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Canucks vs. Oilers: Bloodless rivalry only requires a playoff series
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Canucks This Week, Playoff Edition: Underdogs vs. Oilers — Just the Way We Like Them
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Pearl Jam leaves Vancouver with special message for Canucks
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Like Rocky Balboa, Arturs Silovs wants to go far against Stuart Skinner
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After a half-century absence, could the rivalry between the Oilers and Canucks finally heat up?
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How Pius Suter Turned the Miller Line from Good to Dominant
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‘I can’t stand it’: Canucks coach Rick Tocchet tired of playoff embellishments
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The underdogs? Quinn Hughes ‘ready to play his best hockey’
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JT Miller on facing Connor McDavid: ‘He’s different than everyone else’
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Unplugging Edmonton’s potent playoff power play is a top priority
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