For the first time in almost two calendar years, the Vancouver Canucks have beaten the Toronto Maple Leafs. Taking out the Leafs, who are currently in first place in the NHL (38 points in 24 games), Vancouver has struggled this season, with only 20 points in 26 games. This was a big win for the Canucks.
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Way to Go, Thatcher Demko
The Canucks would not have had such success in this game if it weren’t for the stellar play of goaltender Thatcher Demko. One of the biggest problems this year for Vancouver has been their netminding, but Thursday’s win offered flashes of Jacob Markstrom in Demko.
Demko faced 32 shots, stopping 31 of them.
Jake Virtanen Has Amazing 300th-Career Game
With the announcement earlier on Thursday that Elias Pettersson would not play due to an undisclosed injury, someone had to step up and fill a big role against the Maple Leafs. That’s exactly what Jake Virtanen did.
Despite a slow season thus far for the 24-year-old, he was able to show his true potential tonight. When Canucks’ General Manager Jim Benning drafted Virtanen 6th overall in 2014, he saw him as the next Todd Bertuzzi: a big, strong power forward who will muscle his way to the net.
Although “Shotgun Jake” hasn’t quite lived up to those expectations, he showed that he can play that type of game tonight. A hard drive to the net afforded him his first goal of the night- only his second of the season. A period later, he drew a tripping penalty on Justin Holl, and made him pay with a great shot over the shoulder of Michael Hutchinson.
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What Now for the Canucks?
Although Canucks fans would love to believe that this is the start of a winning streak that gets them to the playoffs, it’s just not realistic. That being said, the Canucks should by no means “tank”. Teams talk so much about creating a winning culture- teaching their guys how to be real professionals.
Although it’s unlikely that the Canucks will make the playoffs this year, they can create good habits, as they’ve done tonight. When you think, play, and work like champions, you’ll develop what it takes to win.
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