{"id":434220,"date":"2023-11-14T09:00:57","date_gmt":"2023-11-14T14:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=434220"},"modified":"2023-11-13T20:38:44","modified_gmt":"2023-11-14T01:38:44","slug":"ilya-mikheyevs-stellar-play","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2023\/11\/14\/ilya-mikheyevs-stellar-play\/","title":{"rendered":"Ilya Mikheyev’s Stellar Play Since Return to Canucks Lineup"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the reasons why the Vancouver Canucks<\/a> are currently one of the top teams in the NHL right now is because of Ilya Mikheyev<\/a>‘s stellar play.<\/span><\/p>\n

The 29-year-old right winger has found himself a home on the Canucks top line with Elias Pettersson<\/a> and Andrei Kuzmenko<\/a>. Mikheyev got his sixth goal of the season in the Canucks 5-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Canucks took two out of three games on their Eastern Canadian road trip. Mikheyev managed three goals on the trip, with two coming in the 5-2 win over the Ottawa Senators. He has looked good in every game of the trip, except for the 5-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. But let’s face it, everybody on the Canucks looked sloppy in that game except for probably J.T. Miller. (Also, it’s crazy how each game of the road trip ended 5-2. Not sure how often where fans have seen three straight games end with the same scoreline for the same team.)<\/span><\/p>\n

Mikheyev’s stellar play and his road back<\/span><\/h3>\n

The former Maple Leaf signed a four-year contract with the Canucks in July of 2022. It carried a 4.75 million dollar cap hit per season.<\/span><\/p>\n

He brought speed, had penalty-killing experience, and a solid two-way game.<\/span><\/p>\n

“His versatility and ability to do so many different things will be a huge boost to our group,”\u00a0<\/span>said Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin after Mikheyev’s signing was official.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

But his first year as a Canuck was cut short after 46 games. Mikheyev hurt his knee in preseason and had to go through ACL surgery in January. Despite the knee injury, Mikheyev wanted to keep playing,\u00a0<\/span>which he revealed on his Twitter.<\/span><\/a> He also said it was <\/span>his decision to stop playing as he wanted to be ready for 2023-24.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, Mikheyev missed training camp and the entire preseason to recover from his surgery, and did not return to the lineup until October 21 against the Florida Panthers. However, it is fair to say he has been stellar since returning to the lineup. Mikheyev has six goals and three assists in 11 games since returning to the lineup.<\/span><\/p>\n

Those are pretty good numbers. You would think it would take him a few games to get up to speed, considering he was recovering from ACL surgery. But it is fair to say Mikheyev has returned to the lineup and excelled.<\/span><\/p>\n

The goal against Montreal was a very well-taken shot from him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Good lord Mikheyev, that puck had a family#Canucks<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/7YsSoMtC2s<\/a><\/p>\n

— Lachlan Irvine (@LachInTheCrease) November 13, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n