Canucks Player Grades: Lankinen saves day in 3-2 SO win over Kraken

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Only time will tell how Jake DeBrusk responds to being a healthy scratch Monday — probably as early as Tuesday against the Philadelphia Flyers — but the decision to sit the veteran winger in Seattle should send a significant signal to the Vancouver Canucks.

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After all, DeBrusk isn’t the only one struggling to find his game and find the back of the net.

Brock Boeser hasn’t scored in 13 outings and has just one goal in his last 20 games. He could also get the lineup hook, but the Canucks are struggling to score with the 23rd-ranked offence and what’s missing most is finding chemistry.

It’s why head coach Adam Foote put Boeser with Elias Pettersson and aligned former Minnesota Wild teammates Marco Rossi and Liam Ohgren to find something and the results were mixed in a 3-2 shootout victory to snap Seattle’s four-game win streak.

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The issue was settled when Ohgren was the only shooter to find the back of the net.

“It was a tough one and we battled hard all game,” said Ohgren. “Garly (Garland) did a hell of a job between the pipes and got us going. We knew he was going to save all the shots in the shootout and it was a just a matter of time before we scored.”

However, the real story was Kevin Lankinen. He was brilliant in regulation by turning aside all 16 third-period shots as the Canucks were continuously under siege and managed but three shots in the frame. They were outshot 39-24 overall.

Lankinen has stopped all 17 shootouts he has faced this season and is now 48-for-54 in his career.

“I’m happy for Lanks, he’s gone through a lot,” added Foote. “Not just the shootout, but when they turned up the heat with all the power plays they had (six). He stood strong. It’s a flank-shooting team and they’re good shooters. I’m just happy for him. Things have turned around for him.”

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Another message was delivered by Conor Garland, the tireless culture carrier whose motor always runs hot. His 14 career points (6-8) in 16 games against the Kraken was a refreshing reminder that he will drag his club into the fight.

Garland didn’t back down from a first-period fight challenge from Jared McCann. The former Canucks’ first-round draft choice, who opened scoring, took exception to a reverse elbow off a Garland rush and vowed revenge.

Garland more than held his own in punching well above his weight class by giving up five inches and 25 pounds. It provided an instant spark, something that was sorely missing.

“I didn’t want him to do it (fight) and I thought he would do it,” said Foote. “I didn’t want to lose him, not that I thought he was going to get injured, but he sparked the team. That’s what he does. He leads by example and it took a lot of courage to drop the gloves and he did a good job.”

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On the next shift, Rossi won an offensive-zone faceoff, Ohgren shovelled the puck to Linus Karlsson, and he pulled the trigger in the slot to erase a 1-0 deficit. It was his fourth goal in the last four games.

However, the euphoria didn’t last. When Tyler Myers and Zeev Buium collided at the Canucks’ blue-line while in retreat, it allowed Ryan Winterton to take a cross-ice feed and easily beat Lankinen with 20 seconds remaining in the opening period.

However, on a night where Pettersson looked more engaged in the offensive zone, it seemed like a matter of time before he would score because he was getting into position and getting good feeds. He then sent a laser wrister glove side to make it 2-2.

It was Pettersson’s 194th career goal to pass Alex Burrows for 11th spot in all-time franchise tallies.

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“I liked our effort,” said Pettersson. “The PK was good and we were a little slow in the start, but Garland got us going and gave us some juice. Really good of him. We had some good looks offensively.”

“We had a bit of a slow start with our young defence, but they picked it up and I liked their game in the second half,” said Foote. “We stuck with it and had a lot of penalties to kill.”

DeBrusk loses game, losing trust?

It’s only natural to wonder if there’s more to a healthy scratch than just the reset.

Jake DeBrusk sat out Monday because he has but one goal in his last 16 games, hasn’t scored in the last five, and eight of his nine goals have come on the power play. His down-low presence is missing at even strength. He’s not establishing his customary position to fish for rebounds and set screens for tips and deflections. He’s watching, not reacting.

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With the Canucks pledging to get younger and entertaining trade offers on their unrestricted free agents, would they cast a bigger net? If their “retool a little bit with hybrid form” is really about a shorter span to become competitive on an annual basis, why stop with UFAs?

DeBrusk, 29, has four more years at a US$5.5 million annual cap hit, and he did have a career-high 28 goals last season. He also has a no-movement clause and would have to waive it. You can’t keep everybody or trade everybody and somebody has to score.

The Canucks are banking on DeBrusk snapping his slide.

REPORT CARDS

Evander Kane (B-)

Some sweet feeds but took bad OT penalty. Two shots, five attempts.

Elias Pettersson (B)

Better releases, two shots, six attempts, won just 33 per cent of draws.

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Brock Boeser (C)

Moved better, shot quicker, but one shot is not going to snap slump.

Liam Ohgren (C+)

Got the winner, second-line look, looked solid, set up Karlsson goal.

Marco Rossi (C)

Looking more comfortable. Good PP shot in second. Three shots.

Conor Garland (B)

Nearly snapped 2-2 draw. Played hard. Two shots, five attempts.

Drew O’Connor (C)

Quiet night on the third line that worked to get pucks to Sherwood.

Aatu Raty (C+)

Did his thing in the circle again by winning 11 of 17 draws. Impressive.

Kiefer Sherwood (B-)

Three first-period shots, finished with four, 10 attempts, five hits.

Nils Hoglander (C-)

Bad backhander cross-ice pass picked off instead of getting puck deep.

Max Sasson (C)

Used speed and pretty pivot in slot to create Grade A scoring chance.

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Linus Karlsson (C+)

Responded to bad penalty with good snap from the slot to make it 1-1.

Marcus Pettersson (C)

Got schooled by Eberle deke and drive to net that forced tough save.

Filip Hronek (B)

Didn’t notice him because veteran didn’t make mistakes. Four blocks.

Zeev Buium (C+)

Positioning adventures with Myers but great PP rush for Grade A chance.

Tyler Myers (C)

Rough night. Schooled at blue-line and took early cross-checking penalty.

Elias (D-Petey) Pettersson (C)

Took roughing penalty but you have to love the grit. Learning on the fly.

Tom Willander (C+)

Two good shot blocks in first period, including slide to deny a sure goal.

Kevin Lankinen (A)

Busy early as Kraken buzzed to 12-5 shot advantage. Made 37 saves.

bkuzma@postmedia.com

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