Canucks Game Day: Why Conor Garland knows how to trap wild Coyotes

Article content

Vancouver Canucks (48-22-8) vs Arizona Coyotes (33-39-5)

Article content

When/where: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m., Rogers Arena

Article content

TV: SN Pacific. Radio: Sportsnet 650

The buzz: The pesky, speedy and elusive Coyotes often have bark and bite and can sneak up on unsuspecting prey. Just like Conor Garland. He knows how to hunt.

The former Coyotes winger has had his way with the Desert Dogs. His first career hat-trick performance came in the season finale in Arizona last April, and the exclamation mark was an overtime winner.

This season, he bagged the late-game winner in a 2-1 road victory on April 3. And on Monday in his 400th career game, he eclipsed the 100-goal total with two efforts and nearly had another hat-trick in a 4-3 playoff-style triumph over the Vegas Golden Knights.

It wasn’t just the goals, it’s how Garland scored. Determined to get to the net and hold his ground against big defencemen, he got down low and dirty. It’s a good omen for what awaits because he looks ready for the playoff fight.

Article content

Article content

READ MORE: Canucks’ Conor Garland on living in Gastown, how he found his voice and his post-playing goal

And when J.T. Miller lightened the mood Monday by providing teammates with T-shirts to acknowledge Garland’s milestone game, it wasn’t lost on the grateful winger. Did it mean something?

“Of course, I wish it wasn’t me on it (T-shirt),” chuckled Garland. “That’s what Millsy does so well. It’s nice to come in and everybody has a laugh in the morning. It was a big game (Monday) and it relieved some stress.”

Coach Rick Tocchet has guided Garland for the majority of his career, first in Arizona and now here. He never doubted he could measure up in a big man’s game with sheer will and underrated skill. He proved it Monday.

Article content

“He was terrific,” said Tocchet. “He drove play and was buzzing. He scores goals around the net, is getting hit, and he might have a cut lip. That’s Gars. He’s a greasy guy.”

Not that it was a seamless transition for Garland to gain Tocchet’s favour in Arizona. He wanted to play big minutes because the 2015 fifth-round draft pick thought he could bring a big-time game to the desert. He piled up 128 points (39-89) in his final QMJHL season at Moncton.

“He had to change his game from the minors to be a more complete player,” said Tocchet. “I told him in Arizona that he wasn’t a 17-minute player. And he said: ‘You better make me one.’ We have a good bond.”

The history: The Canucks eked out a 2-1 win in Arizona last week as Garland scored the winner with 1:51 remaining in regulation. Quinn Hughes added a goal and an assist, had four shots and nine attempts.

Article content

The hope, Part 1: Elias Pettersson drew praise for setting screens on three goals Monday. “His net front was terrific,” said Tocchet. “It’s hard to be in front and taking an ass-kicking. Some nights you have to do that, and he did whatever it took to win.”

The hope, Part 2: Thatcher Demko was out early Tuesday with goalie coach Ian Clark, and then logged 60 per cent part of practice pace. It will be ramped up as he continues to rehab a March 9 knee injury. Elias Lindholm (wrist) practised and is possible Wednesday.

The fear: There’s a huge game on the horizon Saturday in Edmonton. That’s the danger. Don’t look past the Coyotes. They scored six-straight goals Friday to shock the Golden Knights 7-4. Vegas was on a 6-0-1 roll.

Article content

The top guns: Miller has 16 points (4-12) in his last 13 games and is ninth in NHL scoring with 100 points (35-65). Hughes is 14th with 88 points (17-71), and Pettersson is tied for 15th with 87 (33-54).

The wounded: Canucks: Lindholm (wrist, day-to-day), Demko (knee, day-to-day, LTIR). Coyotes: Travis Boyd (pectoral, IR), Travis Dermott (undisclosed, day-to-day, IR), Barrett Hayton (lower body, day-to-day).

The quote: “When the pressure hits, you’ve got to be calm. At the end, there were some tense moments, but I thought we did a nice job.” — Rick Tocchet on Monday’s win.

The lineup: 

Hoglander-Pettersson-Boeser

Joshua-Miller-Garland

Mikheyev-Blueger-Suter

Podkolzin-Aman-Lafferty

Hughes-Hronek

Soucy-Myers

Article content

Zadorov-Cole

The prediction: The Canucks take advantage of the Coyotes’ 27th-ranked penalty kill and strike twice on an improving power play to win 4-2.

(FAN FORUM: Do you have a specific question for a player? Pass it along to @provincesports and we’ll get it in a future edition.)

bkuzma@postmedia.com

Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don’t miss the news you need to know — add VancouverSun.com and TheProvince.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here.

You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber: For just $14 a month, you can get unlimited access to The Vancouver Sun, The Province, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Vancouver Sun | The Province.

Article content