Healthy roster creating internal competition for Vancouver Canucks

VANCOUVER — All season long, Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet has been tinkering with his lineup, trying to fill the gaping holes left by a string of injuries and absences.

Now, as the team's roster fills with returning players, Tocchet is beginning to enjoy the luxury of having options at hand.

"I just think the depth helps when you have these stretches of injuries or adversity. And then when you get a full lineup, it just kind of elevates everybody," the coach said Thursday after the Canucks blanked the Florida Panthers 4-0.

The victory comes in a week where three key pieces returned to Vancouver's lineup.

All-star goalie Thatcher Demko made his first start of the season on Tuesday after missing the start of the campaign due to a rare knee injury. Then, on Thursday, defenceman Derek Forbort slotted back in after missing 17 games with a lower-body injury and star centre J.T. Miller returned from a nearly four-week-long leave for personal reasons.

Miller — playing his first game since Nov. 17 — contributed a pair of assists in the win.

“He brings a big lift to our team and I think just makes our team a lot deeper when he's in the lineup," said Canucks winger Brock Boeser. "And he's a leader on this team. It was awesome to get him back."

The Canucks (15-8-5) got contributions throughout the lineup on Thursday.

Defenceman Carson Soucy scored his first of the season. Fourth-liners Teddy Blueger and Max Sasson each registered a pair of assists. The top line of Boeser, Miller and Nils Hoglander combined for three points. And Vancouver's power-play unit made good on its lone man advantage of the night, with Jake DeBrusk tipping in a Quinn Hughes' blast from the top of the crease. Goalie Kevin Lankinen made 27 saves for his third shutout of the season.

"Obviously a lot of good efforts from a lot of different guys, a lot of different lines," Tocchet said. "I thought the D were scrappy, and obviously (Lankinen) had a great game. So it's a start in the right direction for building that team identity.”

The Canucks now have just one player on the injured-reserve list: defenceman Filip Hronek, who's expected to be out until the end of January with a lower-body injury.

Having so many healthy bodies helps fuel players, Tocchet said.

“It doesn’t necessarily mean if a guy’s not dressed he’s not playing well," the coach said. "We have a group where you can rotate some people. … We have that luxury. And it keeps people on their toes. I mean, if you play well, you stay in. That's what internal competition does.”

STREAK SNAPPED

The Panthers came into Thursday's contest with points in their last seven outings (6-0-1). Florida had not lost a game in regulations since Nov. 25.

"We're obviously really good team, so it's sucks it ended tonight, but it's was a good lesson," said centre Carter Verhaeghe.

The Canucks accomplished the rare feat of holding the Panthers off the scoreboard. It's the first time this season that Florida has been shutout.

Verhaeghe said the team knows opponents have an extra hunger to beat the defending Stanley Cup champions.

"Any time we go into a building or play a team, I think we're gonna get their best.," he said.

"Everyone wants to beat us and we have a bit of a target on our back so it's for us to grind through it. And it sucks we lost tonight, but we're gonna learn from it."

MR. 500

Boeser marked a major milestone Thursday, playing his 500th regular-season NHL game.

Selected 23rd overall by the Canucks in the 2015 draft, the 27-year-old right-winger from Burnsville, Minn., has played his entire career in Vancouver.

"It means a lot," Boeser said of his 500th game. "Very grateful. It's a great league to play in and to do it in one city, it means a lot to me. I love this place. So I had a fun day."

Boeser scored Vancouver's third goal of the night, registering his 403rd NHL point.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 12, 2024.

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press