Canucks mailbag: Rick Tocchet says ignore the outcomes, take a look at the method

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One ought to at all times watch out studying an excessive amount of into one sport.

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However you additionally shouldn’t ignore what occurs in anybody sport both, lest they progress into dangerous habits.

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That was the message from the likes of head coach Rick Tocchet and defenceman Nikita Zadorov after the Vancouver Canucks’ ugly 4-1 loss by the hands of the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday.

For Zadorov, the message was partly private: One of many Flyers’ three objectives — all in a three-shot outburst — got here after a brutal neutral-zone gaffe by the enormous blueliner.

Errors occur, everybody is aware of this, however the secret’s to restrict those that harm you most. And you’ve got keep away from making errors since you’re getting annoyed that you simply haven’t scored but, Zadorov and his coach underlined.

“We acquired to be comfy taking part in the 0-0 sport,” Tocchet mentioned, flatly. “Simply take what’s given. You may’t get annoyed as a result of persons are in your manner or persons are hitting you. Can’t get annoyed as a result of it’s gonna get ramped up much more than this sport.”

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The Flyers have been pesky. They gave no house away. And the Canucks will run into extra gifted groups who play the identical manner, like Vegas and Los Angeles.

The Canucks confronted Vegas on the finish of November and the Golden Knights received 4-1.

“Should you stand round towards Vegas, you’re in hassle. You bought to skate. You bought to make them work,” Tocchet harped after that loss.

The Canucks face the Golden Knights three extra instances within the last six weeks of the season. They face the Kings 4 instances over the identical time interval. It’s no stretch to say these three groups will doubtless battle it out for the highest three spots within the Pacific Division.

That’s why we requested followers what, if something, they felt Thursday’s loss may imply going ahead for Vancouver. Did it make them anxious?

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No, probably not. The Flyers are a hard-working workforce and taking part in properly this season. Canucks know what they should clear up defensively but additionally want to seek out another taking pictures choices on the PP — Jan S. via Twitter

The ability play query is an effective one.

The Canucks scored simply 5 objectives on the person benefit in December. That’s a bunch in a droop. They’ve slid right down to tenth general within the league.

They should be extra. Scoring on the ability play is one solution to get your self out of a 0-0 tie.

On Thursday, as an example, the Canucks had energy performs early within the first interval and early within the second, however couldn’t generate a lot.

Quinn Hughes, for his half, is as philosophical in regards to the energy play’s lack of success of late.

“I let you know guys on a regular basis, it’s gonna go like that: Up and down. Clearly it was down and it’s as much as us to determine the best way to get it again up,” he mentioned, repeating a maxim he’s mentioned greater than as soon as since he got here into the NHL.

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They’re 7-1-1 within the final 9, however OK lol — Ramon via Twitter

That is the large image. The Canucks have been getting outcomes, it doesn’t matter what. They misplaced simply twice in regulation in all of December.

However it is a course of scenario, one thing Tocchet underlined to me on Friday after I requested him about squaring the frustrations after Thursday’s loss with the general ends in December which can be so very optimistic.

“I believe our course of hasn’t been as nice. I do know the document says it’s good. However I believe our course of typically has slipped: Our play with out the puck, egregious errors, issues that we will’t let creep up,” he mentioned Friday after observe at Rogers Area.

“We will’t be comfy. We’ve got to be extra in uncomfortable mode.”

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Does Petey want new linemates? The Russians appear kinda washed. — Scarbacon via Twitter

Elias Pettersson appears recovered from no matter was ailing him final month — his groin was at all times an excellent guess, by no means his wrist — however there’s no denying his line isn’t precisely clicking of late.

Andrei Kuzmenko did rating a pair of objectives final Saturday towards San Jose and he did appear to be making an attempt to create issues Thursday versus Philly, however his spot within the lineup stays a precarious one.

And Ilya Mikheyev scored simply three objectives within the month of December. For a top-line winger, the Canucks do want extra.

However does that each one imply that the road must be damaged up? There aren’t any apparent choices to swap onto the road; maybe Nils Höglander deserves a glance, only for his forechecking talents. May he match Pettersson and Kuzmenko higher? He acquired a glance there in coaching camp, so Tocchet definitely had the thought behind his head at one level.

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Then again, Höglander was the additional ahead on Friday, so swapping him to the lineup isn’t essentially an apparent transfer, both.

A lot dialog has centred round including a top-six winger in a commerce to play on the J.T. Miller/Brock Boeser line, possibly dialog also needs to contemplate the best way to add some mustard to Pettersson’s wing as properly.

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