[Music] Conox Central Game Day. Stan Reicho Satyarsha here in the Mobile Kintec Studio at Rogers Arena getting ready for Game Nominal Doe against the Edmonton Oilers here tonight. We're in the Mobile Kintec Studio Kintec Canada's favorite orthotics provide, powered by thousands of five-star Google reviews. Soarfeet, what are you waiting for? Conox Central is for Enzine Pacific Vancouver's premier Chrysler, Dodge Ram and Jeep Superstore on Second Avenue between Canby and Maine, or at EnzinePacificChrysler.ca. Reicho, you even looked at me waiting for a comment. I'm like, I'll let this one slide. Let this one slide. I mean, everybody knows what numero doe means. Unless you're living in the future, maybe you think it's Game 3 already? Yeah, well, you know, is it not over in 3? Is that not how it works? Over Conox in 3? That's what the new prediction is? That's what the new prediction is. You win one game. It's going to be over quick. We've got a lot to get to. Dave Tomlinson's going to join us. We'll also have a mailbag coming up a little bit later, but let's get it started with the open. Welcome to the open. That's your home. Are you too good for your home? Answer me. This text, Sat, did you shake your head when he said it? No, not really. I just, it was like an internal head roll, eye roll. It was an internal eye roll. That's kind of what it was. And I'm like, all right, whatever. And I looked over, I reached and he looked at me, like kind of sheepishly almost, waiting for a comment. I would say it was a, it was a giggle of disappointment. A giggle of disappointment from Satya. I'm like, it's one of those things. I'm not mad. I'm just disappointed. It's just kind of worse, but we'll take it. That's how we're starting to show it today. We'll take, I mean, we're loose. Conox are up 1.0 in the series. You know, things are good. Things are good. Leon Drey's title is a game time decision. And the Canucks are trying to win both here on home ice before heading out to Edmonton for Sunday's game three. Yes. The open where we bring the latest on the Vancouver Canucks in our take on it. And we've got the Canucks central roundup as well with some news bits that you'd need to hear. So a couple of interesting things out of game one, and maybe we'll see some adjustments here as the series goes on. But, you know, when we generally like to look at matchups in the series, it was very clear that Rick Tockett wanted to have JT Miller out against Connor McDavid as often as he can. And we've seen that in the past. JT has been tasked with this impossible job in years past with previous coaches as well. But now you get it in a playoff series job done in game one. I mean, I don't see any reason for the Canucks to change some of what they were doing with some of their hard matching against Connor McDavid. They had a lot of success with what they did. So there's no reason for them to get away from it. And you're right, in terms of what they did against Connor McDavid, it was a lot of JT Miller and Quinn Hughes. Yeah, when Quinn Hughes was out there, Quinn Hughes played the opposition player he played against the most five on five forward-wise was Connor McDavid. Yeah. And he was really in his hip pocket pretty much the whole time when he was out there in the offensive zone following him around. So that's something that's going to continue. And as much as, yes, Pedersen and Lindholm had some, you know, obviously had more than a few shifts against Connor McDavid, it was really JT Miller getting that responsibility. And like he talked about today when when asked by the media and he was very careful not to say anything, even borderline offensive or overconfident, but very humble about the job they've done with Connor McDavid. But clearly, there's a level of success that JT's had all season and had again in game one. And he, I would imagine, is going to spend a lot of time out there again against Connor McDavid the rest of the series. It is interesting. The difference between the two coaches, obviously Rick Tockett wants to hard match here against McDavid. But what we've learned of Chris Knoblock in his time as Euler's coaches, he's not really into hard matchings. Like, I got the best player in the world. I'm just going to put him out when I think I should be putting him out. Yeah. He likes to put him out there with Evan Bouchard. So they'll get that top line with McDavid and Hyman out there with that home and Bouchard. And that's just, they're like, hey, it doesn't matter who our matchup is, we expect to have some level of success. You know, the Canucks, I think this matchup is something again, you're only hoping to contain Connor McDavid. But the things we did see in game one is, well, Elias Lindholm is now matched up either against Dreyseidel or when Dreyseidel went out, all of a sudden, you know, that line, the Lindholm line starts to have more success because they're up against a matchup. They can absolutely win. And that's something I think the Euler's are going to have trouble with here is the depth of the Canucks lineup. And what do they do against Lindholm? And if Patterson keeps progressing from what was a pretty solid game one for him, what do they do against Elias Patterson? For me, that's like, that's what I think should be keeping knob lock up at night. Yeah, absolutely. And it all comes down to that production coming to fruition. We've seen it from Lindholm, for instance, of course, right? I mean, JT has been productive. Obviously, it's Patterson. Can you get if he becomes a real factor on the scoreboard, yeah, there's in the series, then what you mentioned is going to be a real big challenge for the Oilers in the series, because the connects don't really have a weakness in terms of the forward group. They may not have the same level of high end, of course. I mean, they have McDavid and Dreyseidel. And when they're going, they might be one, two in terms of best players in the world. So yeah, there's a level they can achieve that the Canucks high end has not yet shown they can do in the playoffs, right? That's at that level, especially because Patterson hasn't been going. So they have an advantage in that sense, forward rise. But in terms of all four lines, and the strength down the middle, in terms of how they can play the two way game, that's a massive advantage Vancouver has. And that's why the Canucks as a team have relied on being a defensive unit and getting Lindholm only reinforced that and made their strength even stronger. And now they have a strong defense, they have a strong forward group, but down the middle, that's their greatest strength. Rod Brenda Moore, famous line, I'm paraphrasing, but it's something along the lines of every face off means everything and every face off means nothing. Yeah. And so to look at the face off statistics that I know Nablock was asked about it today and he didn't really seem to think it's too much of a problem at this moment, but the Canucks won over 60% of the draws. If Dreyseidel isn't at 100%, he is their best face off guy. Does that change some things for the Oilers even further? But it's more about situational face offs that matter most. Big key defensive zone face off on the PK like those kinds of things. Of course, I mean, you can't tell me that getting a face off win against this power play and clearing the puck isn't worth something, right? We're the lot. It's worth a lot, exactly, right? So in that situation, there's a ton of value placed on a face off, a late game situation, for instance, you need a face off one of the offensive zone, you pull the goalie, it matters, right? So there are clear situations where the value is not only marginal, it's significant. Like the difference between you winning and losing that face off can be the difference of you losing that game or having a chance to tie it. Another matchup that's I think going to play out more over the course of the series. You know, we thought about where we look back on the first series and, you know, big conversation was Quinn Hughes versus Roman Josie. Now, you know, it didn't end up having that big of an impact on the series, but Hughes ends up having the bigger impact than Josie and the Canucks see their way through to the second round. Now, I think as much as, you know, I still think Echolm is the Oilers' best defenseman, had a big goal in game one. I still look at, you know, from an offensive perspective, Hughes Bouchard, is that something that's going to play out over the course of this series here, Seth? Yeah, I really think it will. And Bouchard was a second most common opposition player. He was out there against. And it was only a different second day. David are kind of attached at the hip when they're on the ice. Exactly. So 730 with Bouchard and 716 with Conor McDavid. He was also on the ice 743 against Vincent de Harnay, but against Evan Bouchard. And it was pretty even overall in terms of the scoring chance differential when they were out there and who controlled the game was pretty even overall. And I think you take that when you figure out they're against Conor McDavid and Evan Bouchard, and Evan Bouchard to your point, it's tied to Conor McDavid. And that's what makes this matchup so key. So it's, yes, McDavid is better than JT Miller. Yes. Can Hughes be significantly better than Bouchard? And I think that's kind of where that matchup can really swing in the Canucks favor at the very least habit even. And I think you'll take that at the end of the series. If that matchup comes out a wash five on five, I think you feel pretty good about the chances with the rest of your lineup winning you the series. And for Quinn, it's not that he's been poor in these playoffs, but I think we're still waiting for him to have kind of a signature performance. Would that be fair to say? Yeah, I'd say I think we've seen some like eight and a half performances from him. Maybe close to nine, you know what I mean? But we haven't seen that like this is peak Quinn Hughes. We had the moment in game four the comeback, the play that helps spurn the tying goal, the play on the wall. And then he just like, you know, shakes Gustav Nyquist into into space. Like Gustav Nyquist, man, he went to a different dimension. He's still sliding. Yeah. It's that less like that gift with the song going, right? And you're kind of floating through the world. That's kind of what what what Gustav Nyquist was. But so he's had moments and you know what, honestly, in the playoffs, if a moment wins you a game and helps you win in win a game. Yeah, that's really what what matters at the end of the day. You you worry about winning right now. Quinn's helped you win. And clearly he's playing with something that's been bothering him as well, right? Like we saw at last series, it took a toll on him too. So I think there are maybe some limitations with him too. And he's playing doing his absolute best. And again, he's playing on an elite level. But if he can find his absolute top gear. Yeah, because I don't think we like Bushard as good as he is. And he's a fantastic hockey player. He can't touch Quinn if he gets his top gear. Like, I don't think it's close, right? Whereas same thing with McDavid, like when he hits his top gear, like, I don't think it's close between him and JT, for instance, right? But if you can limit him and not let him get to that level. And that's the challenge with Quinn as well. Can you overcome that? Which of which of those two players and obviously McDavid's the best player in the world, but which one of those two players can tilt that match up Quinn or McDavid? I leaned towards McDavid. But I think Quinn can have a massive impact on this series. And maybe on the power plays where he can really impact even more. And that's what something that Canucks absolutely need to have another level on. Elias Patterson played a lot of his minutes against Brett Koolack and Deharnay. And again, this highlights and part of this process that we're going through in the key match-ups in the series, you know, you're starting to see where the Canucks maybe have some advantages. And I know it didn't necessarily play out against Nashville, but Patterson is coming off what many think, including myself, was his best game so far of the playoffs, overall game of the playoffs. And you know, you think about Patterson versus Koolack and Deharnay. Like, that's a Patterson, I have confidence. Elias Patterson, when he's going right, he can win. Yeah, and Koolack to his credit, I think Koolack is probably their second best, admits and second best defensive defense. He's underrated. He is like defensively. He's a really good player. And I like Koolack's game offensively. You know, clearly he doesn't have that high level, but still he can hold his own like he's again, to your point, he's an underrated player. I like Koolack. But you prefer to have Quinn use out there against Koolack compared to, I mean, hey, you'd probably take him against CC and nurse as well from time to time, but you'll take that matchup. And honestly, they left some, they had a lot of quality chances against them. Mckay have had about three or four real grade A scoring chances. Elias Patterson had a couple looks. Hoaglander had had, I thought he struggled with his reads. I thought he held on to the puck too long. And I think the big thing here with Patterson is, can any of those players finish off some of those chances? Yeah, because I mean, that's part of it too. I mean, we talk about Patterson. He needs a score. He has one goal in his last 22 games, whatever it is. Like, he's got a score. But if he's setting you up, you got to pot some of those chances too. And there's been plenty of chances, especially the last game against Koolack and Dejarnay, that some of those guys have to finish. And if Hoaglander could finish a couple of them, and he can get going, like we saw, we saw him get hot in the regular season, right? Yeah, that hasn't happened yet. But can that, can, can he have a game where he scores a couple? You know, and I think part of it comes down to him playing a lot more cleanly than he did last game. The final match up. And I, I'm thinking about it as we're going through this discussion. But this is Knoblock's first playoff series as head coach of the Oilers. So obviously the first playoff series for Rick Tockett, but he's, you know, done it before with Arizona and, you know, had them punching above their weight in the COVID, COVID battle bubble. Also in Pittsburgh, he was part of the staff with Mike Sullivan, won a couple of cups. I wonder if there's a coaching matchup that maybe the Canucks have an advantage in. I'm curious, like Knoblock does not line match, you know, he's not sending out one like a shut down pair to go up against Lindholm or Patterson, like he just, he rolls through. That's, that's his MO, at least to this point. I want, like, I wonder how that plays out. The coaching matchup plays out in this series. Yeah. And I think when you're on the road anyways, it's difficult. And I don't mind when you have the two top lines that Edmonton has. And, and, and it's not like they're third and fourth line or chop liver. Like we're not talking about a horrible bottoms. Like they have a decent bottom six, right? And if a couple of those guys get going, Kane and Fogle, they're formidable guys, they can, they can give a lot of production if they are playing on your third and fourth line. So like, I don't think they have scraps there obviously, but that's not the, that's not really their high end. Yeah. So on the road, I can still understand you're rolling through four lines. You're not, you're not going to get out of the rhythm. Do your thing. I wonder what they do on home ice. Yeah. I wonder on home ice, when you are going to have an advantage, when you can dictate, will you take advantage of some key circumstances? It'll be interesting to see come game three, but of course game two going tonight. Leon Dreycidal is a game time decision. That is part of the Canucks central roundup. So is Adam Henry, Kenreek has skated, but he hasn't taken line rushes in any of the skates that he's had. It's believed to be a lower body injury. Someone said ankle, kept him out of game one. Will that continue to happen? We'll have to see. We'll have to wait till warm up. Of course, we'll have all of it here on Sports at 650 as far as Dreycidal goes. It's obviously premature to know just how big of an impact this can have on the series, but there's no world where it already hasn't or is going to impact the series. It had an impact in game one. He's not going to be 100% for game two. He may not be 100% for the rest of the postseason, however long it lasts for the Edmonton Oilers. No matter what, whether he plays or not, this is now a storyline and it's somehow impacting this series. It absolutely is. And it also does increase the focus on how to play. Yeah. Leon Dreycidal. As you mentioned too, you mentioned in game one, how Elias Patterson was even nipping at Conor McDade heels a little bit and give him some shots and stuff like that. That lumber across the back when the refs not looking. Yeah. So it's one of those things where already you're seeing that happen in game one. Now that you know McDade, Dreycidal is dealing with an issue, what looks to be a back issue with that, perhaps a lower back issue with that, are you not at every single turn, giving him a shot? Yeah. Maybe not a cross up a little punch. Like are you leaning on them? A little bit of something every time. Every time. Every time you're near him, do you give him a little bit of something in his back? Yeah. Like Dallas was doing with Mark Stone in the opening round, right? Yeah. You know, I'm not advocating, you know, to an injury the guy with a two handed chop or anything like that. But I mean, this is a physical game. Yeah. That guy's dealing with something. If you're not out there inflicting as much pain on him as possible, are you doing your job? Yeah. You want to make it hard on him. You want to make it as hard as possible. Now you got to be careful not to take penalties either. Like don't be stupid and foolish about it. But every opportunity you have, like even if it's a little punch or even if it's a little lean or whatever it is, dragging him back, pushing him in the back, something finishing your check on him. Yeah. The old cliches all apply here now with Leon Dreyseil and his what we believe to be back injury, but he is a game time decision. He categorized himself as a game time decision. I think we all expect Leon Dreyseil to play through it. The guy is just an absolute warrior. Also in the Canucks central roundup, archer, she loves getting the starts. It's, I guess, was a bit of a conversation with how Rick Tockett answered the question yesterday and very much leaving the door open for Casey to Smith to potentially get the start. But they remain confident in she loves. The way he keeps bringing up to Smith makes it seem as though I wouldn't say the confidence is shook, but it just goes to show how fluid this situation can be for the Canucks. And you know what, as much as she loves has the job, I don't think he has the track record, nor has his play been at such an incredibly high level. Now he was great against Nashville, look at me wrong, that you looked at it and said, well, he's the number one guy like with a bullet clear, no discussion, this Smith's relegated relegated to the backup duties. It was, he was a best, he was best option at the moment. He played well, he deserved to get game one. Game one really didn't go his way, but he's played well enough that you're like, okay, we'll back him again. But he can't have an average performance. Especially considering how well the Smith played against Edmonton. And I also think it may be a lot to put on the kid, not necessarily in terms of games over days because they've had a break between series and everything and they're playing every second day. But in terms of the emotional level, the pressure that it comes with as much as he schools a cucumber and everything, you also have to be careful not to put so much on his play that you kind of lose lose him at some point, you know, or where it kind of implodes on him. So you got to be careful. You want to get the best version of she loves every time he plays. And does that mean that he may need to sit a game in this series? I wondered quite a bit after the fourth goal, even just watching him, you could tell he was a little bit rattled. He'd given up goals on consecutive shots. Now, after the Oilers scored their fourth goal, the Canucks didn't give up a shot for the next 23 minutes. So they did their best to make sure Arthur Sheilov's, you know, was able to hit the reset button after giving up that fourth goal the second of the night to to Zach Hyman. I, you know, I'm kind of expecting we'll see Casey to Smith at some point in this series. I don't know exactly when, but the way I'm reading the situation is, I don't think the Canucks are sweeping this thing. So there's a real chance, I think they turned to Casey to Smith at some point. Yeah. And, and Bick mentioned, he made a good point on the round table yesterday, that if you sit to Smith for game three, if you played to Smith in game three, you give Sheilov's four days off. Yeah. So if he comes back for game two, now that gives him some time to work with Ian Clark too. They haven't had a lot of practice time either, right? They did after the series, but now between games, there's no practice the other day. Now, I don't know what their schedule's going to be, whether they fly out after the game tonight, or they fly out tomorrow and don't practice tomorrow and they play on Tuesday. So there isn't a lot of practice time either there for him to refine and work on his game. So do you need to sit him, perhaps give him a few days and perhaps get some one on one time with him and Ian Clark. Derek from Maple Ridge wanting to know what's going on with Demko. Demko's status hasn't really changed to use a possibility at some point in this series, but it as much as possibility makes it seem like that is a possibility. I would still say it feels unlikely that we do see Thatcher Demko at some point in the series. Maybe I shouldn't write him off, but it just, it feels like he's got a lot to overcome to get to that point where he could play in game five, which is less than a week away. Now we haven't seen him and maybe we haven't seen him in every, every time he's been on the ice, maybe he's skated when we haven't seen him. But from what people have seen when he has skated and we spoke to Woodley about this the other day too, he's nowhere near the point where he's really loading anything on that knee. He's not really doing anything strenuous on him when he's out there on with the pads. Like he's on a skates and he's getting down and stuff, but he's not doing anything super strenuous yet. And if you look at the recovery for players, think of it in any situation. When a player comes back, they get to 100% first. And then for about a week or two, you're going at the, you're most strenuous and pushing yourself to really test and get it ready for game action. So if he's not at that point yet, how is he going to be ready in less than two weeks? That's, that's what I wonder. So to me, until we see him do some strenuous work in practice, at that point, he might be a week away from that point. I hope we answered your question there. Derek, Canucks home underdogs tonight, 2.1 on the Moneyline at playnow.com and Canucks have added some black aces as well. I won't go through the whole list because it's quite a long one, but you know, R.C. Baines, Vasili pod Colson, Matt Erwin, your boy, Christian Wolland, and even Elias Patterson, D.P.D. getting a call up to the black aces. Yeah, now the Abbesser season is over as well. It's no longer like a call up situation anymore. It's, you know, you can pretty much assign anybody you want here to the big club, and they're sending a lot of guys over. I could list this a lot larger than I thought it would be. Yep. And I know there are some, there are some emissions people are wondering about. There are injuries too. Like, that's why Breeze Boy is not there. That's why some other guys aren't there as well. But how many of that list, how many of those guys do you think we see in game action? I would say pod Colson is probably the, the most likely. Yeah. And even that, maybe, maybe a Wolland is possible if they get an injury to somebody on the left side of defense. Yeah. Yeah. But I think they'd rather, they probably have Julesin still play and then Friedman. Yeah. So you're talking about two guys going down, so that's a happen. Yeah. So it would be hard. I think pod Colson is probably the most likely. Yeah. Well, hopefully you don't, you don't have that issue, but you would hope that would mean a few injuries happening to the squad. All right. Dave Tomlinson's going to join us Canucks color analysts who's take on the series to this point and the adjustments we'll see tonight. That's coming up next on Canucks Central.
