Canucks 2, Ducks 1: Rest, recovery were best bets to pass road-trip test

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Fresher, faster, focused.

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What a difference a bit of a breather made for the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday.

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Two days between games before facing the Anaheim Ducks at The Pond seemed like a mini holiday. After jamming 13 games into 24 days last month and finishing that slog with an energy-zapping 5-6-2 record, it was a refreshing reset to open a three-game road trip.

In an encouraging and methodical 2-1 victory, the Canucks ended a 1-5-1 funk and improved to 17-6-1 following a loss. It speaks to a resiliency that has been a staple for most of this remarkable NHL season to keep the club within striking range of first place overall.

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The Canucks started fast, scored in the opening two minutes and didn’t fade by outshooting the Ducks 31-19. 

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They deployed an intriguing line with the recalled Vasily Podkolzin joining Elias Lindholm and Conor Garland. And they were much more effective in transition and offensive-zone effectiveness with Quinn Hughes and Filip Hronek reunited at the points.

“Reset is a great word,” said Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet. “One game at a time. Sometimes, we get ahead of ourselves and worry about too many variables and how do we get our game back?

“More predictable and supporting the puck. You need creativity but we’ve got to know where the puck is going and that gives you that extra second and burst. When you don’t, everybody stops and you play a slow game.”

Here’s what we learned as Casey DeSmith made 18 saves and Nils Hoglander and Garland scored for the Canucks, while Alex Killorn replied for the Ducks:

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Garland deflection, DeSmith denial

You couldn’t have drawn it up any better in the second period when the speedy Garland bolted into the slot to snap a 1-1 deadlock.

When Nikita Zadorov decided to move to the top of the circle with the puck, he spotted Garland and the winger got his stick into position for a slick redirect and his 12th goal of the season.

He continues to be one of the good-news stories with his hustle and disruptive presence on the forecheck and ability to find open ice and also finish.

The Canucks could have made it a two-goal cushion when a flip feed by Garland found an open Phil DiGiuseppe, who was denied on the backhand at the top of the crease.

Meanwhile, DeSmith improved to 4-1-0 against the Ducks by bending but not breaking. The only goal to beat him was a fortuitous first-period shot by Max Jones blocked in the slot and deflecting to Killorn at the side of the net to find the short side.

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Aside from that, DeSmith was steady. He got his stick on a Sam Carrick chance in the crease, made a tough positional save with a shot that got through a maze of legs, and made a pair of scramble saves in the third period as the Ducks pressed for the equalizer.

Hoglander looking like keeper

There was a time when trade packages were being speculated that Hoglander’s name would regularly pop up as a winger deemed expendable.

It might have made sense when he struggled last season and needed 45 games of seasoning in Abbotsford to build a complete game. Moving him doesn’t make sense now.

Hoglander, 23, continued to deliver on his NHL season of revival Sunday by starting strong, opening scoring and continuing to hound pucks on the forecheck with a physical edge.

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He finished off a dominant shift in the first two minutes by getting to the slot to snap home a sweet backhand feed by Hughes, who scooted down low. 

It was Hoglander’s career-high 19th goal to show the striking ability he first demonstrated as a rookie with 27 points (13-14) in 56 games during the 2020-21 season.

Hoglander also stole the puck on an aggressive forecheck in an attempt to set up Elias Pettersson and had three shots in the first frame.

The ‘Podz Plan’ is working

Vasily Podkolzin was recalled on merit because he did the tough stuff that doesn’t come easy.

Tocchet knew he had a “moose” and a “bull” who needed to read plays better. Being afraid to make a mistake in The Show showed a lack of confidence before his demotion to the AHL last season.

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Podkolzin managed 18 points (7-11) in 28 games and learned wall play and puck management and the details that got him back to the NHL on Sunday for his first game of the season.

He responded early by being hard on the forecheck on his first shift and setting up a chance from behind the net. He then had another strong board-battle shift before ripping a wrist shot wide from the slot.

“It’s coming out of the corner with the puck and taking it to the net,” said Tocchet. “And, if he has an opportunity to shoot, he’s got a great shot. Unless somebody is open, he’s got to shoot. It’s that good and he has been scoring down there (Abbotsford).”

Podkolzin is just 22 and a restricted free agent. Patience could pay off.

OVERTIME — Hughes (59) and Hronek (40) are the first two defencemen in franchise history to have at least 40 assists in one season. Noah Juulsen had a game-high six shots and was denied on a third-period scoring chance off a Pettersson feed. The Canucks dominated the circle with J.T. Miller winning 71 per cent of his draws (12-for-17) and Lindholm at 78 per cent (7-for-9).

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