Canucks vs Blue Jackets: What we learned from their 5-2 win

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The Canucks scored two goals from Elias Pettersson — undermanned and on the power play — as well as those from Quinn Hughes, Ilya Mikheyev and Dakota Joshua.

Vancouver Canucks’ Elias Pettersson scores against Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Joonas Korpisalo while Kirill Marchenko defends in the first period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver on Friday, January 27, 2023. Photo by DARRYL DYCK / THE CANADIAN PRESS Article content

For the second time in three games, the Vancouver Canucks and their new coach, Rick Tocchet, met one of the worst teams in the league.

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And to their credit, they got a lot right in both games.

On Friday’s episode at Rogers Arena, the Canucks easily drove 5-2 past the battered Columbus Blue Jackets.

They had also grappled Tuesday with the Chicago Blackhawks, another team built on winning as little as possible.

The rest of the season isn’t about winning anymore. how she is playing.

Tocchet said so himself.

He wants to develop a team identity, he said after the morning skating session.

“That’s my big thing, if you play the Canucks, what kind of team are they? Tough team to play against? Smart team? Selfless team? Those are the desired attributes that I want to find for the Canucks logo,” he said.

The Canucks passed the Blue Jackets all night.

They scored two goals from Elias Pettersson – undermanned and on the power play – as well as those from Quinn Hughes, Ilya Mikheyev and Dakota Joshua.

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Monday February 6th

New Jersey Devils vs. Vancouver Canucks

7 p.m., Prudential Center, TV: TSN, Radio: AM730

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (23) checks Columbus Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine (29) in the second period at Rogers Arena January 27, 2023. Photo by Bob Frid /USA TODAY Sports Four Assists!

Bo Horvat, who could be traded any day, collected assists for the Canucks’ first three goals. He’s not just a goalscorer!

The first was a nice setup from Pettersson on a shorthanded breakaway just 1:25 into the game.

Horvat laughed at Pettersson finally scoring on a shorthanded breakaway.

“I think he’s about six already,” he said with a smile.

The last two were secondary assists, although the first of those was an excellent pass to JT Miller, who made a deft behind-the-back pass to Hughes, who hammered home a punch that should have stopped Columbus goalie Joonas Korpisalo.

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His fourth assist of the game was a cross-ice feed for Dakota Joshua, who then attempted to put the puck in the back door of Korpisalo’s net for Brock Boeser.

Four assists is a career high for the Canucks’ captain, who admitted he’s not known for scoring too often

“But it definitely feels good to see them go in when I do,” he said.

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That wasn’t a penalty for Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Mathieu Olivier (24) pursues Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes (43) in the second period at Rogers Arena January 27, 2023. Photo by Bob Frid /USA TODAY Sports goals are comin’

It took Hughes 30 games to score his first goal of the season.

He has now scored five goals this season.

“That’s something I wanted to work on early in the summer and I thought when I came here I’d be able to get into double digits and obviously the start wasn’t great but I felt good about it and I tried it just finds me in good spots to score,” he said.

A first!

We’ll see if it lasts, but Pettersson’s record in the third third of the power play is his first with man advantage this season.

Now the question is, did it go over the line before Andrei Kuzmenko fully shoved it into the net?

Pettersson owns it at the moment.

“I should keep the puck now,” Pettersson quipped after the game. He also thought Kuzmenko’s last touch came before the puck was over the line, but he was happy to be credited with another goal.

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Ethan Bear (74) checks Columbus Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine (29) while defenseman Quinn Hughes (43) collects the loose puck in the second period at Rogers Arena January 27, 2023. Photo by Bob Frid /USA TODAY Sports GM Watch

In general, figuring out why certain scouts are at a particular game is a no-brainer, but if there’s a pattern, it’s at least worth noting.

With the CHL Top Prospects game being played at Langley earlier this week, it was inevitable that a number would show up at last Tuesday’s game in Canucks.

It was worth keeping an eye out for one showing up again on Friday.

Toronto’s Kyle Dubas did. So did a handful of other top officials from other teams.

Was Dubas here to observe Luke Schön?

Notable participants in today’s #Canucks game

Leafs GM, Kyle Dubas

Leafs Director of Player Personnel, Scott Morrison

Ray Shero, Senior Advisor to Minnesota Wild

Oilers AGM, Brad Holland

Scouts from COL, WPG, OTT, which we don’t usually see, are also present

— Harman Dayal (@harmandayal2) January 28, 2023 Ad 6

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