The Go-To Guy: Demko shuts the door and ‘The Kuzmenkshow’ returns in Canucks’ third-straight win

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Would you believe me if I told you that the Vancouver Canucks won again?

I know, it’s becoming kind of ‘same-y’, isn’t it?

It may not have been the most exciting game (it was an absolute snoozer), but hey, you’re not going to see me complaining *too much* after the Canucks just picked up their third-straight win on this homestand. Not only that, it was also the club’s 8th win over their last 9 games, extending their point streak to, well, 9 games.

It doesn’t matter how they do it, it doesn’t matter who you are, the Canucks will find a way to beat you. my

This game didn’t have much meat on its bones, and to be totally honest, I thought this was maybe the team’s most boring game of the entire season; but who am I to complain, they just had maybe the most entertaining game across all NHL teams on Saturday vs Toronto. Not every game can have the fireworks that one had.

This game wasn’t devoid of substance, in fact, we witnessed the return of someone that has been going through it, a stunning goal from a player playing at the absolute peak of his abilities, and another shutout.

Another installment of my Go-To Guy bit is about to begin, and I want to put on a show for you. With that said, there was a performance on Monday night that will be tough to follow…

The return of ‘The Kuzmenkshow’

Please take your seat as you are about to witness the return of one of the greatest shows Vancouver has to offer. The main event involves a spin-o-rama pass, dominant puck control over the course of several shifts in the first frame, and a between the legs shot attempt.

Oh yeah, The Kuzmenkshow is back.

Andrei Kuzmenko needed a period of hockey like this so, so badly. If you read my post game piece after the Arizona game, I pointed out how Kuzmenko wasn’t doing any of the game-breaking, jaw-dropping stunts that we became accustomed to last season.

Once again, crow has never tasted so good. Kuzmenko was pure kerosene throughout the duration of the first period.

Rather than concluding the show with a bang, he opted to play all of the hits to start things off. In just his first shift of the game, Kuzmenko receives the puck from Noah Juulsen, holds, and holds, and holds some more, to then successfully pull-off a spin-pass to Pius Suter who makes no mistake.

Again, this was Kuzmenko’s fist shift of the game. Add-on the fact that this was Pius Suter’s first goal in 10 games, and this goal started the game off perfectly. It’s no secret that this Kuzmenko-Suter-Mikheyev unit has struggled to produce since they were brought together via The Lotto Line’s reunion, but I think this first period was telling that if you’re able to match them against other teams’ lesser competition, this line could cook.

Another thing of note is that whilst Kuzmenko has been primarily stationed on the right-wing, I think his style of play is best suited on the left. Kuzmenko’s edgework allows him to get to the inside rather easily, especially near the front of the net. Combine that with his stickhandling ability in tight and his underrated playmaking ability, he’s just able to make these jaw-dropping plays at a higher volume on the left.

Look at the majority of Kuzmenko’s goals and you’ll notice that most of them come from the left wing.

Funny enough, Ilya Mikheyev, who has primarily been stapled with Kuzmenko over the course of the last two seasons, also plays better on his off-hand. This isn’t an uncommon thing for Russian players, especially if they had previously played in the KHL. The hockey in the KHL is vastly different than the NHL. The ice-sheet is bigger, leading for more east/west movement rather than north-south movement.

Both Kuzmenko and Mikheyev have adapted to the North American, north/south style of hockey just fine, and that’s been proven by their production since arriving in Vancouver (and Mikheyev’s final year in Toronto). Kuzmenko in particular showcased the north-south style that Rick Tocchet has been wanting from him, just with some flash and dash in last night’s game.

Kuzmenko’s confidence was on full-display last night, even if it was against a lowly Blackhawks squad, but that doesn’t matter. I think this team’s highest possible upside for this season is if Pettersson is driving a line with that version of Kuzmenko, with Miller and Boeser playing against lesser competition with the addition of another top-six forward (preferably another centre). Heck, maybe they could put said hypothetical 2C with Kuzmenko.

Either way, we need to see this more often from him if this team wants to reach their full potential this season, and I just hope that it sustains.

Quinn Hughes is better than everyone, ever.

I mean, come on.

While Kuzmenko’s line was creating chances all period, Quinn Hughes also had himself a stunning opening 20 minutes. Hughes was dancing at the blueline, with Sportsnet’s Justin Williams calling him “a spin-cycle” during the first intermission.

Hughes exuded control during one shift in particular. He danced past several Hawks defenders before throwing a wrist shot through traffic, but to no avail. Kuzmenko’s line jumped on the ice and the pressure continued. Kuzmenko ‘kept the play alive after being knocked over behind the Chicago goal, and Ilya Mikheyev left the puck for Hughes who was making his way down left boards.

Rick Tocchet said post-game how Hughes “added 10-15 miles per hour” on his wrist shot alone, and I don’t think that’s an exaggeration.

Quinn Hughes continues on his Norris-caliber season with his 12th goal, and it was a beauty, unleashing a drag-shot that found its way over the shoulder of Petr Mrazek and under the crossbar. That entire shift was a vulgar display of power from the Canucks captain, but it’s just become the norm over the course of this season.

Hughes’ evolution into becoming the best defenceman in hockey (at least this season) has been nothing short of electrifying. It’s been a never-ending fireworks display all-season, just without the environmental hazards. The only thing he’s harming is his competition, and he isn’t even showing a glimpse of slowing down.

There really isn’t more to talk about from this game, seriously. The Canucks displayed a business-like final 40 minutes by way of them not letting Chicago generate much of anything. But as is the case for any shutout, Thatcher Demko had to be perfect; and he was just that on Monday night as he picked up his fifth of the season.

Remember how I said the Canucks now have a nine-game point streak? Well, what if I told you that they have only trailed for a grand total of 53 seconds over that span. Not minutes. Seconds.

While Demko is having the best season of his career, the team’s defensive improvements have been crucial in managing Demko’s work-rate this season. The Canucks’ netminder has consistently played behind terrible defence for years, and that’s not just due to the personnel; it’s been the system’s in which said defencemen were playing.

With Tocchet implimenting a more structured, clamp-like defensive structure, along with upgrades in terms of the personnel, this is the best the Canucks have looked in their own end in over a decade. Instead of watching the likes of Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Travis Hamonic’s defensive miscues, we now get to watch the likes of Ian Cole and Carson Soucy provide some of the most defence the city has seen in years, whilst also being able to move the puck pretty well (even though I still think they need more in that regard).

The Canucks have two more games on this homestand before the All-Star Game in Toronto, where six Canucks (including Tocchet) will be taking the trip. Luckily they get a bye week beforehand, but I am actually interested in watching the game this year solely because of the amount of representation Vancouver has this year.

The Blues and Blue Jackets are up next. Get ready for a potential sweep of this homestand if all goes well.

None of this feels real, and I’m starting to wonder when it’ll all set in.

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