With the NHL season in full swing, the Vancouver Canucks are finding their footing in a competitive Pacific Division.
The Canucks are well-positioned in the Western Pacific Division to mount a charge to the top over the rest of the regular season. As expected of a team sitting in the midfield, consistency has been the main issue for the Canucks, with head coach Rick Tocchet unable to get a winning streak together to challenge the likes of the Vegas Golden Knights and Calgary Flames at the summit. However, despite not achieving the desired consistency or the results to boot, there have been some standout performances on the ice from Canucks.
Hughes' standout assist rate
While the goals have been largely shared around the team, there is one defenseman who is stepping up as the key playmaker. Quinn Hughes was averaging nearly an assist a game after 21 games, making him the leading point scorer for the Canucks at that time. Hughes’ standout game so far this season was in the five-to-one win over the Anaheim Ducks when Hughes claimed three assists. Although November yielded more games than October, Hughes is stepping up his assist rate.
The Canucks will need to maintain that level of play to continue if they are to stake their claim for the Stanley Cup. For Vancouver or general NHL fans who browse top Vancouver Canucks odds at the Dolfwin sportsbook, the Canucks rank towards the top in the favourites list to lift the Stanley Cup. Even greater contributions from Hughes might move them up a few places.
A plus for the season
With statistics dominating performance analysis across all sports, it would be difficult to ignore the numbers being posted by Kiefer Sherwood. The 29-year-old is playing his debut season with the Canucks after a transfer from Nashville Predators, signing a two-year contract worth $3 million. His physicality was what drew the Canucks to Sherwood and the winger from Columbus, Ohio is currently being lauded as one of the best wingers in the NHL.
With a plus-minus rating of plus-six at the quarter point of the season, second behind Filip Hronek (+14) among the Canucks, Sherwood clearly has an impact when on the ice. Tocchet will be looking to extract the maximum out of Sherwood for the remainder of the season and get him firing alongside Teddy Blueger and Danton Heinen in the third line, especially in the absence of fellow forward J.T. Miller.
Here for the Win
Despite the performances of Sherwood and Hughes, Vancouver’s best player so far this season might be found right at the back between the posts. Kevin Lankinen has had a standout season so far backed up once again by statistics. In the first 15 games Lankinen appeared in this season, the Finn won 10 of them, with two of the five defeats coming in overtime.
Lankinen’s most impressive performance came in the Canuck’s 2-0 victory over the Boston Bruins, making 32 saves to claim only his second shutout of the campaign. Another player to sign from Nashville, Lankinen’s performances have deserved a few more shutouts, but nevertheless, the goaltender from Helsinki will need to maintain his elevated levels to keep the Canucks moving in the right direction.
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