Canucks 3, Maple Leafs 0: Gutsy win, but let’s talk about Quinn Hughes

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When you watch Quinn Hughes play, don’t just watch what he does with the puck.

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Watch what his movement does to the defending team’s coverage.

Hughes is a master at upsetting the defence’s structural apple cart.

Take the Vancouver Canucks’ third goal on Saturday night, early in the third period of the Canucks’ impressive, gutsy 3-0 win over the host Toronto Maple Leafs.

The goal was scored by Kiefer Sherwood, the hustling winger doing what has become so familiar this season, wiring home a shot quickly, leaving the goalie little chance to get set before his release.

But the real story was the way the Leafs’ defensive structure got totally unsettled by Hughes’ dart around from the left to the right of the zone.  In the process he pulled all of Max Domi’s attention, dragging the veteran Leaf out of his defensive position, leaving a hint of space that Sherwood slid into. Sherwood had started on the far side of he ice and skated a seam in the Leafs’ defence to find the open spot.

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It was a perfect distillation of why Hughes has been everything for this team this year.

He was on the ice for all three of Vancouver’s goals. He scored one of them (the NHL called it an own goal, as Toronto’s Simon Benoit swatted it into his own net).

He’s been all of everything for the Canucks this season.

“He’s the same way, whether we’re up 5-0 or down 5-0. He’s a true captain,” head coach Rick Tocchet said afterwards.

Get going early

This game couldn’t have started better for Vancouver.

Scoring 31 seconds in meant that the Canucks were automatically at an advantage. They could play their game and force the Leafs to chase after them.

When you’re the tired team, as the Canucks were, you need to get moving early and use what energy reserves you have right off the bat.

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The Canucks did that: they had eight shots in the game’s first 10 minutes. Getting that many shots early has not been the recent trend.

Roll ’em

Getting going early meant the Canucks didn’t have to lean on one line more than another.

Over the course of the night, any forward except the fourth-line ones got pretty even ice time.

Rolling four lines when you’re tired is the ideal.

It gives the players some predictability, which is what you want when you’re tired.

Minutes muncher

Except for Hughes.

Hughes was on the ice for 21 minutes at even strength, far and away the  most for the Canucks on this night.

And given he’s made of the best materials, that’s fine.

He’s indestructible.

Tough matchup

Elias Pettersson may have been on the ice for the first goal, tipped in by Brock Boeser, overall it was a battling for the Canucks’ top line.

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They were out-shot attempted two to one; their main opponent? Mitch Marner.

Marner is a wizard. He plays how you want the game to be. He puts defenders on their toes.

Forget the numbers, his teammates clearly said. So did his coach.

Tocchet said it was one of Pettersson’s best games of the year. His defensive play was essential.

“I thought he was terrific,” he said.

According to reporters on the scene, Quinn Hughes said that after Pettersson made a big block in the third period, there were chants of “Selke! Selke!” on the Canucks bench.

Pettersson, it is important to note, has continued to block shots and throw the odd hit even as his scoring has slumped this season.

Shellin’

The Canucks did to the Leafs what the Hurricanes did to the Canucks on Friday: they got a lead and then never gave the opposition a chance from in tight.

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The Leafs had zero high-danger chances after the first period, according to Natural Stat Trick.

Seriously, look at that heat map.

That’s defensive dominance.

Imagine, again

Imagine life without Kevin Lankinen.

Four shutouts now for the last-minute signing.

The guy is going to be paid well next season.

Just two other Canucks goalies have shut out the Leafs in Toronto, by the way.

Roberto Luongo did so Nov. 2, 2013 and Dunc Wilson did so as well on Oct. 27, 1971.

Playoff pursuit

Alright, let’s get this ball rolling.

We are now into the second half of the season. The Canucks have played 42 games. They are 19-13-10. 48 points.

Double that and you’re at 96 points, give or take the playoff bar in recent seasons.

The Flames are three points back, but with two games in hand. In other words, the same pace as Vancouver, give or take.

In other words, the Canucks pretty much control their destiny if they pick up the pace a little. It’s not a lock, given that the Flames keep sticking around, but in general they end this current slump and they’re sitting pretty. Well pretty-ish, anyway.

pjohnston@postmedia.com

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