Within the aftermath of the Vancouver Canucks’ 7-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday, head coach Rick Tocchet addressed his staff’s struggles, significantly their gradual begins and goaltender Kevin Lankinen‘s efficiency. Whereas Lankinen gave up seven objectives in the course of the recreation, Tocchet clarified that the goaltender was not the foundation of the staff’s issues. Right here’s what Tocchet needed to say.
Tocchet on the Canucks’ Sluggish Begins
One of the vital notable points for the Canucks in current video games has been their tendency to permit the primary purpose and wrestle to get into the rhythm of the sport early. Tocchet acknowledged the problem in his post-game feedback. He defined that the staff was not executing their recreation plan.
“We checked out some video, and we’re not getting our recreation early sufficient,” Tocchet mentioned. “A few guys want to know how we are going to play extra predictably. We’re taking too many dangers early on and never sticking to our construction.”
This gradual begin has been a constant downside, with the Canucks giving up the primary purpose in a number of consecutive video games. Tocchet emphasised the necessity for the staff to make changes and concentrate on their strategy early in video games to keep away from falling behind.
Tocchet on Lankinen’s Efficiency
Regardless of giving up seven objectives to the Oilers, Tocchet defended his goaltender clarifying that the loss was not on him. The Canucks coach famous that Lankinen had made some essential saves in the course of the recreation and that lots of the objectives scored on him weren’t totally his fault.
“Kevin’s a competitor,” Tocchet mentioned. “He made a few massive saves once we have been down 3-2, and we have been nonetheless within the recreation. There was an empty-net purpose, however we’ve received to keep it up.”
Whereas Lankinen’s stats could not mirror it because of the excessive variety of objectives, Tocchet expressed confidence in his goalie’s means and efficiency below difficult circumstances. “He’s the least of our issues,” Tocchet mentioned firmly. He then redirected the main focus away from Lankinen’s play to different areas of concern.
The Canucks Should Sort out the Larger Issues
Although Lankinen took the brunt of the blame for the scoreline, Tocchet was fast to shift the dialog to the extra vital points the Canucks are going through. In line with him, the staff’s general play is failing them, significantly their inconsistency in sticking to the sport plan. The Canucks’ gradual begins are resulting in early deficits that they wrestle to recuperate from, and Tocchet pressured that changes must be made on the staff stage, not simply within the web.
“It’s about taking part in a extra predictable recreation,” Tocchet mentioned. He reiterated the necessity for the staff to observe their construction and keep away from taking pointless dangers. Till the Canucks handle their general play early in video games, they could proceed to face struggles regardless of particular person efforts from gamers like Lankinen.
The Backside Line: Can the Canucks Clear up Their Early-Sport Struggles?
Because the Canucks face ongoing challenges, significantly of their gradual begins and general recreation execution, it stays to be seen whether or not the staff can appropriate these points in time. Coach Tocchet’s feedback present that whereas Lankinen might not be the issue, different points of the Canucks’ play want to enhance. Can the staff tighten up their early-game play and cease falling behind earlier than they will reply? That continues to be a query because the Canucks look to bounce again of their subsequent matchup.
With Tocchet’s perception in Lankinen’s efficiency, the Canucks’ focus should now shift towards bettering their team-wide play and guaranteeing that their gradual begins don’t develop into a development shifting ahead.
Associated: Indignant Stuart Skinner & Takeaways from Oilers’ 7-3 Win Over Canucks
