Kraken 2, Canucks 1: What We Discovered — Cole McWard has only a few McWarts

In a pairing with Guillaume Brisebois, it was a distinct type of problem for McWard. The rookie answered the decision

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ABBOTSFORD — Actually, who had been we right here to see?

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With seven forwards, three defenceman and one goalie thought of roster locks and deployed by the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday, the bubble boys had been going to attract consideration in a pre-season assembly with the Seattle Kraken.

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How Dakota Joshua, Nils Aman and Jack Studnicka, who’re within the hunt for fourth-line employment — though Teddy Blueger might be the opening-night pivot — carried out as a second line may have been a speaking level. They had been for the fallacious causes.

And the way veterans Carson Soucy and Filip Hronek would perform as a high pairing went from concern to consistency.

Nonetheless, it was Cole McWard who scripted one other intriguing chapter throughout a 2-1 loss during which Eeli Tolvanen deposited the winner off a rebound.

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On an evening the place the rookie rearguard didn’t have the security web of the get-out-of-jail-free card in Quinn Hughes as his accomplice — the celebrity sat out together with Elias Pettersson, J.T. Miller, Conor Garland, Phil Di Giuseppe, Ilya Mikheyev and Blueger — the Ohio State product stood out.


Vancouver Canucks' Pius Suter (24) skates with Cole McWard (48) while being chased by Seattle Kraken's Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (41) during the second period of preseason NHL action in Abbotsford, B.C. on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023.
Vancouver Canucks’ Pius Suter (24) skates with Cole McWard (48) whereas being chased by Seattle Kraken’s Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (41) in the course of the second interval of preseason NHL motion in Abbotsford, B.C. on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023. Picture by ETHAN CAIRNS /THE CANADIAN PRESS

McWard retains transferring meter

In a pairing with Guillaume Brisebois, it was a distinct type of problem for McWard. He answered the decision early with good communication, outlet passes on the tape, a bodily presence on the defensive sideboards and good reads. He reversed the puck in his personal zone to flee hassle and supported Brisebois when his accomplice was outmanned. Brisebois took two penalties, McWard took none and had the beaver tail getting into wanting the puck for shot alternatives.

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McWard acquired shot on web by means of a second-period maze and continued to make robust and correct passes, however made a uncommon unhealthy resolution within the third interval that led to a scoring likelihood.

“There are a number of 5-on-5 drills in apply to see what he can do,” Canucks coach Rick Tocchet stated of McWard. “And never simply him. It’s different guys, too. We’re extending 5-on-5 performs to see gamers make selections below strain.

“Recreation administration is large to win. McWard has a excessive hockey I.Q.”


Vancouver Canucks' Carson Soucy (7) skates with the puck as Seattle Kraken's Marian Studenic defends during the first period of an NHL preseason game in Abbotsford, B.C. on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023.
Vancouver Canucks’ Carson Soucy (7) skates with the puck as Seattle Kraken’s Marian Studenic defends in the course of the first interval of an NHL preseason sport in Abbotsford, B.C. on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023. Picture by ETHAN CAIRNS /THE CANADIAN PRESS

Soucy struggles, then recovers

A double display helped Soucy discover the web within the second interval to make up for a tough night time.

Throughout a first-period shift when Joshua, Aman and Studnicka had been hemmed in their very own zone, poor down-low defending didn’t assist as Soucy was knocked down twice in puck pursuits.

He didn’t fare higher on the opening purpose. He reached as a substitute of laying the physique on Andrew Poturalski, who out-waited goalie Casey DeSmith on the high of the crease earlier than tucking the puck residence.

Nonetheless, Soucy would let a wrist shot fly from the purpose — because of a double display by Linus Karlsson and Bains — after which practically scored once more from the facet of the web on a pinch and had three pictures by means of 40 minutes.

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Seattle Kraken's Andrew Poturalski (12) scores on Vancouver Canucks goaltender Casey DeSmith (29) during the first period of an NHL preseason game in Abbotsford, B.C. on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023.
Seattle Kraken’s Andrew Poturalski (12) scores on Vancouver Canucks goaltender Casey DeSmith (29) in the course of the first interval of an NHL preseason sport in Abbotsford, B.C. on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023. Picture by ETHAN CAIRNS /THE CANADIAN PRESS

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