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SixPack: Miller outstanding in Canucks 2-1 win over Kings

Omar
Omar
|
Dec 29 2016, 4:44 am
SixPack: Miller outstanding in Canucks 2-1 win over Kings

There’s a reason there’s such an emphasis on starting games well.

The Sedins started for Vancouver and had L.A. hemmed. As a result, the Canucks got an early power play, on which they scored.

Game story? Really, I don’t need to do much more than display this chart showing shot attempts.

hockeystats.ca

You can see it with your own eyes: Vancouver found the glitch in the Death Star. They deserved to be annihilated, yet they emerged victorious.

And they beat L.A. 2-1.

When looking at the shot chart, realize Vancouver’s three power plays in the first 15 minutes of the game caused their shot bump. After that, all Kings.

Even strength shot attempts were 45-23 L.A.; after the first period, they were 35-14.

An amazing Miller, a stroke of luck, a Christmas miracle – credit whatever you want – Vancouver stole this game and came back from the holiday break with a big win over a division rival.

1. Miller’s W

Like a now famous star ship, Ryan Miller went rogue.

The Kings took 37 shots on net. Miller saved 36. His save percentage: .973.

One of his best of the game – this on Anze Kopitar at the end of the second period.

2. Megna + Sedins

When we found out Hansen’s knee injury would keep him out of the lineup for weeks, there was panic in Canucks nation.

No Honey Badger = no playoffs? Vancouver will stand no chance of winning?

That wasn’t it at all – Canucks fans have grown accustomed to losing.

This, though.

The fear was real.

Somehow, Willie didn’t go there. His thought process? This, from @squampton, one of the best Canucks photoshappers in the galaxy:

On the bright side, Jeff Paterson’s tweet of Vancouver’s new #1 line prompted some amazing responses.

Funny thing is it took a full 40 seconds of seeing Megna with the Sedins for me to become a convert.

Don’t get me wrong: Megna doesn’t make as much sense as Burrows does, but he’s a massive upgrade on Sutter. He helps them more than Eriksson too.

Everytime Eriksson’s seen significant ice time with the Sedins, I’ve argued he’s not fast enough, doesn’t forecheck and create turnovers, and doesn’t fit into the cycle.

Megna doesn’t do all of that (Hansen does, Burrows did), but he does the speed part. That alone makes him better than Eriksson for the twins.

Megna’s first shift of the game with the Sedins:

(note Edler’s breakout pass, I’ll come back to that)

Another Megna breakout in the second.

Notice how Megna starts in his own corner, passes the puck, then enters hyperspace to get to Hank’s flipped saucer pass in the offensive zone.

This opens up all sorts of new possibilities for the Sedins.

What’s that you’re feeling?

It’s hope.

3. The Edler effect

More Rogue One references?

If Miller was Jyn, Edler was his K-2.

Jyn doesn’t make it to the end without the sacrifices of her friends is what I’m saying.

Edler was the only Canucks player above zero in shot attempt differential at +2.

More importantly, he helped the Canucks do something they’ve been having problems with since he left with injury.

You see it in the gif above of Megna’s first shift with the Sedins – Edler, under pressure, delivers a tape-to-tape breakout pass.

Many nights, watching the Sedins, I’ve been amazed at how they have to come back deep into their own end to start their own rushes. Not sure it’s the team’s system or the lack of offensive defencemen, but it’s been affecting their offence in a big way.

Point is, we can talk about Sutter, Megna, Hansen, and Eriksson all we want, but the single addition of their best defenceman makes this team instantly more potent.

Oh, Edler takes shots for Miller like K-2 for Jyn too.

He tries to anyway.

4. Make Loui+Horvat happen

Ray Ferraro called for Eriksson to be paired with Horvat in October.

Really, with the Sedins not clicking with him, it only made sense to pair him with the team’s most dynamic centre.

Horvat would do the digging, Eriksson the finishing and playmaking. It makes too much sense not to try – which explains why it hasn’t happend in Willie’s world.

Vancouver’s early power play showed the promise that connection could have, as Horvat controlled the puck along the boards and got it to Eriksson, whose skill did the rest.

Or you can waste away your $36-million dollar man with two-way specialist Brandon Sutter…

… and this team will do that.

5. #WillieWatch keeps going…

Speaking of Willie, he’s got more reincarnations than there are Star Wars movies.

Every time you think he’s dead, he comes back with even more support from the dark Lord.

The latest we’ve heard (from Jason Botchford) is management will let the story last well into the new year – meaning Willie’s not getting fired until 2017.

And here’s a reason it won’t even happen in January:

Chances are they come out of January with something around a .500 record; Vancouver will still be within spitting distance of the playoffs (because: Pacific Division and the NHL’s point system); the Hansen injury will be enough of an excuse for Linden to use to justify the mediocre play…

And #WillieWatch will stretch on and on…

6. Signs at games

As the season continues on and the Canucks playoff chances possibly dwindle (I said possibly, die-hards!), we might need some added entertainment in the SixPack.

I asked my followers to tweet good/funny signs they saw at tonight’s game. Not a huge response, so obviously there weren’t many good signs.

Only explanation, really.

There was this one submission.

Note the T-shirt.

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