Stick-taps and glove-drops is a recurring feature after every Canucks game giving some quick kudos and criticism before the longer I Watched This Game feature. That’s right: two post-game articles for the price of one! That price is still zero dollars.
Daniel Sedin gets the biggest stick-tap of the night, putting up first an assist, then a goal to reach 1000 career points. He then added an assist on Loui Eriksson’s empty net goal for good measure. Incredibly, his three points came in just 12:34 in ice time.
Daniel Sedin scores for his 1000th career point!#Canucks pic.twitter.com/7ttjenl0Ua
— Ryan Biech (@ryanbiech) December 1, 2017
Stick-tap to Travis Green for a couple decisions heading into this game: the first was going back to Anders Nilsson after getting shelled by the Islanders. Nilsson deserved the chance to bounce back. The second was to put Nikolay Goldobin in a position to score, lining him up with Bo Horvat and Brock Boeser, instead of sticking him on a little-used fourth line.
That top line was dominant in this game, so a stick-tap for all three forwards: Goldobin, Horvat, and Boeser. The Canucks out-shot the Predators 8-2 with Goldobin on the ice at 5-on-5.
I’ll drop the gloves with both Michael Del Zotto and Ben Hutton on the opening goal. Del Zotto got burned to the outside by Craig Smith, then stopped moving his feet to pressure him from behind. Meanwhile, Hutton let Smith get to the front of the net, defending instead a pass that was never going to come.
Del Zotto and Derrick Pouliot get the gloves dropped. They didn’t start together, but got put together not long into the game and got crushed at even-strength. The Canucks got out-shot 8-2 when they were on the ice together at 5-on-5.
A tap of the stick to Brock Boeser for his two-goal, three-point performance. He responded quickly to the Predators’ opening goal with a wicked wrist shot through Roman Josi’s legs and past Pekka Rinne. Then, after Daniel tied the game with his 1000th point, Boeser got the game-winner, deking out Rinne with a quick backhand-to-forehand move. Daniel will deservedly get the headlines, but the Canucks don't win this game without Boeser.
Loui Eriksson gets a stick-tap: he had two goals as well, although one was into an empty net. His first goal was a big one, tying the game 2-2 after Filip Forsberg gave the Predators the lead. Eriksson stuck with the puck after Daniel’s initial shot was stopped, poking it past Rinne on the short side. Eriksson has 5 goals in his last 6 games.
Anders Nilsson gets at least one stick tap for his incredible glove save on Craig Smith in the slot. He went into the splits to snag what seemed to be a sure goal. Nilsson ended up with 29 saves on 32 shots, including 11 saves on 11 shots in the third period. In the end, Nilsson stood tall.
But the gloves have to get dropped with Nilsson a little bit. He couldn’t cover up the puck on the Predators’ third goal and failed to seal off the ice while trying to do so, allowing Nick Bonino to poke the puck past him.
Daniel Sedin gets another stick-tap, because he deserves it. His shot from the slot on the power play needed a deflection to beat Rinne, but it was still a game-tying goal to reach 1000 instead of a secondary assist or empty netter.
Stick-tap for Goldobin, who picked up a pretty assist in his first game of the season, sucking in the defence on a 2-on-1 before setting up Boeser for the game-winner.
Beauty pass by Goldobin
— Ryan Biech (@ryanbiech) December 1, 2017
Beauty goal by Boeser (his second of the night)#Canucks now up 4-3 pic.twitter.com/JH4OUYEBtS
Finally, a stick-tap for the Sedins who turned an empty net into a tic-tac-toe goal. It was the most Sedin thing that has ever happened.
Sedin's and Eriksson pass it around before Eriksson pots it for his second goal of the game#Canucks up 5-3 pic.twitter.com/sf9kya7waO
— Ryan Biech (@ryanbiech) December 1, 2017
