FSM Essential Recap: VGK vs Canucks – 8/26/2020

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Tyler Toffoli’s return to the Vancouver Canucks lineup was the spark they needed as they defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 5-2 in game two of the Western Conference Semi-Finals.

 

Toffoli would start the scoring just eighty-nine seconds into the game on a wraparound pass from Elias Pettersson that Robin Lehner had no chance on. Spoiler alert, you are going to hear “Lehner had no chance on” three more times in this article, possibly four times. Bo Horvat converted on the powerplay for Vancouver off a beautiful pass from Toffoli that Lehner had no chance on.

The Canucks carried all the momentum into the locker room up 2-0 after one period of play. Golden Knights head coach Pete DeBoer, otherwise known as the “Mad Scientist” (to me at least), started mixing things up with the lines, and VGK had great results for eighteen minutes and thirty-five seconds of the second period. Nic Roy took a great alley-oop pass that traveled over each blue line and the red line from Shea Theodore and was able to make a nice move to find Alex Tuch. Tuch buried home a one-timer to make it 2-1.

 

Vegas owned the second period as the score could have easily been 4-1.

 

Unfortunately, Pettersson was able to score a nifty backhand that Lehner had no chance on off a beautiful set play from a faceoff. I am trying to come up with a clever way to describe how deflating that goal was by comparing to a Tom Brady playoff used football, but I am tired, so we will leave it at that.

Time for an amateur observation; it is never permissible to have all five of your skaters between your blue line and defensive zone faceoff circle when the other team possesses the puck. That is precisely what happened just eighteen seconds into the third period when Horvat would tally his second goal of the game on one that Lehner had no chance on. Max Pacioretty scored on a powerplay late, and Tanner Pearson scored with the net empty to put this one in the freezer.

 

I am guessing that you are waiting for me to beat the “Lehner should start game three drums.”  No, that is not where this is going.

DeBoer has made many statements indicating that Marc-Andre Fleury has done nothing to lose the net. Well, tonight, Lehner did nothing to lose the net as he had no chance on all four goals he faced. However, Lehner has now started eight of ten of the postseason games. VGK has two elite options in net, and the Flower returning may pay similar dividends as Toffoli’s return did.

 

“You miss 100% of the shots you never take.”  – Wayne Gretzky.

 

“The Great One” must have given VGK a pregame speech about shooting as VGK had forty shots on goal.

“The idea is not to block every shot. The idea is to make your opponent believe that you might block every shot.” – Bill Russell.

“The Secretary of Defense” must have given Vancouver a pregame speech about shot-blocking as Vancouver blocked forty shots. Russell’s quote may play a part in game three strategizing for DeBoer and his staff.

 

Credit Vancouver for a game well played. VGK had many breakdowns in game two, and Vancouver was able to capitalize. Coach Travis Green was able to motivate his team into a fast start, and the Canucks played a confident game. They were able to weather the storm in the second period and convert when given opportunities.

For those keeping score at home, VGK is 1-0 when agent Allan Walsh sends a controversial and selfish tweet leading up to an important game for one of his clients. VGK is 0-1 when Walsh does not send a controversial and selfish tweet leading up to an important game for one of his clients.  

 

Golden Knights vs. Canucks series & T.V. info

Game 1: Golden Knights 5, Canucks 0
Game 2: Canucks 5, Golden Knights 2
Thursday, Aug. 27, 6:45 p.m.: Golden Knights @ Canucks | NBCSN, CBC, SN, TVAS
Saturday, Aug. 29, 5 p.m.: Golden Knights @ Canucks | NBCSN, CBC, SN, TVAS
Monday, Aug. 31, TBD: Canucks @ Golden Knights | TBD
*Tuesday, Sept. 1, TBD: Golden Knights @ Canucks | TBD
*Thursday, Sept. 3, TBD: Canucks @ Golden Knights | TBD

*If necessary 

 

The magic number for the Golden Knights to hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup remains at 11. 

VGK vs Blackhawks

Go Knights Go!

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-Chris Gawlik – Franchise Sports Media

Twitter: TDChrisG

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