After a 5-0 drubbing in Game 1, it seemed as though the Vegas Golden Knights were primed to take control of this Second Round series. The Vancouver Canucks responded in a big way in Game 2, evening the series and stealing ‘home ice’ advantage with a 5-2 win.
While others have stepped up for the Canucks in their Cinderella run, they certainly looked outmatched at first against Vegas. The return of winger Tyler Toffoli to the lineup in Game 2 made an immediate impact, helping kickstart the Canucks’ confidence and propel them to a Game 2 victory.
Tyler Toffoli Helps Canucks Fight Back
The Big Storylines So Far
Reaves and Roussel
While this matchup wasn’t entirely unexpected, few expected it to be a focal point of the series as it’s become.
Ryan Reaves (VGK) and Antoine Roussel (VAN) are some of the most established agitators in the NHL today. Both playing depth roles for their teams, they’ve been sparkplugs at different points during their respective tenures in the league. They became acquainted with each other before Game 1 had even started, exchanging barbs across the centre ice line during the pre-game warmups.
After the game kicked in, though, it got spicier from there. A broadcast camera angle caught Reaves directing a series of chicken noises towards the Canucks bench, and Roussel was responsible for laying some big hits on Knights players.
In that game, Reaves got the physical edge and it helped create an emotional divide between the Knights and Canucks. The world saw a Golden Knights team playing extremely confident hockey, while the Canucks were more attendees at their own game. It culminated in Roussel receiving ten-minute misconduct for a sequence in which he jabbed at Reaves with his stick and embraced him in a hug-like manner. It’s obvious that there was no love shared in that exchange, however.
Momentum and Emotion Playing a Big Role
The centrepiece of this recap isn’t Reaves or Roussel, though, it’s Tyler Toffoli. And for a good reason.
Reaves certainly didn’t help the Knights create offence in Game 1, but he helped create a giant momentum shift in the Knights’ favour. In Toffoli’s first game back, he combined the momentum and emotion factor with a little bit of offence, as well.
For the Canucks, Toffoli’s early goal on his first shift back had the same effect as Reaves had on Vegas in Game 1. His goal 1:29 into the game was his first point of a three-point effort, as his chemistry with Elias Pettersson proved deadly for the Golden Knights’ defence.
Vegas will need to make the first statement in Game 3. A big hit or a big goal will do the trick. Look for their big boys to step up.
The Goalie Situation
Let there be no mistake. Despite a 6-2 record, Robin Lehner has not been as good as advertised for the Golden Knights in the bubble.
Lehner hasn’t been a liability by any stretch of the term. They wouldn’t have won six games if he was. But after a run with the New York Islanders last season that saw him post a .936 save percentage in the playoffs, this run is disappointing. A .909 save percentage suggests he’s been merely average. Which, in reality, is pretty true. He’s made all the saves he’s needed to make. His shutout in Game 1 was largely due to the lack of quality against the Vegas defence was allowing. As soon as the Canucks’ stars took advantage of a rare tough outing from the Vegas defence, he struggled.
He’s made all of the saves he should have made, but very few of the ones he shouldn’t have. It’s a tough juxtaposition. And while his numbers suggest he’s been better than Marc-Andre Fleury, does he deserve a start?
Coach DeBoer will have the answers Thursday night, as the Golden Knights try to reclaim the series lead.
