11/11/2023 – CanucksBanter

Head Coach Rick Tocchet post-game media availability after loss to Toronto:

"Last few games, there's pockets of the game that teams are outworking us. We've got to play desperate hockey too. We have to match the level of the opponent."

🗣 Head Coach Rick Tocchet's postgame media availability.@theprovince | #Canucks pic.twitter.com/iozqrIFgtX
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) November 12, 2023

Captain Hughes media availability after Toronto game:

Hear from Quinn Hughes following the game against the Maple Leafs.@theprovince | #Canucks pic.twitter.com/Npm4XdzGg2
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) November 12, 2023

What Canucks need against Montreal Canadiens:

bounce back with a win in Montreal and I think most would call 2-1 road trip with three games in four nights a resounding success. It's still right there for #Canucks. But probably going to have to play their best game of the trip, too. Need more across the board
— Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) November 12, 2023

Teddy Blueger, a sure thing:

“Oh yeah, he’s definitely going to go in. You can count on that.” – Tocchet on Blueger’s status for Sunday @ MTL. #Canucks
— Thomas Drance (@ThomasDrance) November 12, 2023

Source: X (formerly Twitter)

By Andrew Phillip Chernoff | CanucksBanter

November 11, 2023

The Vancouver Canucks (10-3-0-1), 2nd in the Pacific Division, visited the Toronto MapleLeafs (8-5-0-2), 5th in the Atlantic Division, to Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario.

It was the Canucks 2nd loss in their last 11-games (8-2-0-1) overall; and 3rd loss in 8 games (5-3-0-0) on the road this season.

Vancouver’s 5-game winning streak came to an end.

Vancouver goals came from: J.T. Miller (PP), Pius Suter (PP). Helpers from: Quinn Hughes, Elias Pettersson, Anthony Beauvillier, and Filip Hronek.

Canucks starting goalie Thatcher Demko stopped 17 shots and suffered his 3rd loss of the young season. He has a 1.96 GAA and a .935 SV% and had his 6-game winning streak end tonight.

He is currently 7-3-0 with 2 shutouts in 10 games played.

GAME REVIEW

Vancouver was looking for a heads up, up and down the ice team effort , supporting starting goalie Thatcher Demko, resulting in the opening goal of the game against the Maple Leafs.

Canucks were trying, outshooting Toronto 5-1 after five minutes.

Mark Giordano of Toronto and Dakota Joshua of the Canucks were handed out fighting penalties, with Giordano getting the instigator penalty.

Canucks power play did not disappoint as J.T. Miller potted the man advantage goal, his 9th of the season, assists to Quinn Hughes (17) and Elias Pettersson (18) at 5:43.

It was the Canucks 9th time in the first 14 games of the season they scored the opening goal, and they were undefeated when getting the first goal of a game.

Toronto would respond after a Maple Leafs power play ended, as Matthew Knies (4) assists to Tyler Bertuzzi (2) and Max Domi (8) at 8:37 to even the game at 1-1.

Ian Cole would lay a solid hit against Toronto forward Nicholas Robertson after and result in Max Domi and Cole fighting. Domi got the instigator penalty for drawing the fight, putting Canucks on the power play again.

With the man advantage, Canucks regained the lead at 2-1, in the 5th power play multi-goal game in the first 14-games of the early season.

Pius Suter (4) the scorer with assists to Anthony Beauvillier (4) and Filip Hronek (15) at 15:47.

In the middle period, Maple Leafs continued their visit to the Sin Bin with a minor penalty with the game less than two minutes old, but Vancouver would be held without a goal with the man advantage.

Toronto would provide great pressure on the Canucks in front of Demko, and square the game at 2-2, as the started to improve their puck possession in the Canucks end.

William Nylander (20), with assists to John Tavares (10) and Tyler Bertuzzi (3) at 4:53.

With Toronto continuing to stay in penalty trouble, Vancouver continued to get man advantage opportunities but were having problems burying the puck, and were 2 for 6 with the extra man approaching the halfway point of the game, with four consecutive power plays wasted. That would cost Vancouver.

After shutting down a couple Canucks power plays, the Maple Leafs received their 2nd power play of the game, and were looking to take the lead.

Maple Leafs had great looks with the extra man but Canucks goalie Demko kept the home team scoreless on the Leafs power play.

Toronto finally got their first lead of the game at 3-2 as Nick Gregor (2) from Morgan Rielly (10) and Bobby McMann (1) combined for the even strength goal at 14:22.

Vancouver would enter the 3rd period, having lost 13 of the last 16 road games in Toronto, and behind by a goal.

They would have to overcome that history along with not holding and / or extending their lead in the 2nd period.

But Toronto extended their lead to 4-2 instead, in the first five minutes, their 3rd unanswered goal, with Nicholas Robertson, his second goal, assisted by Tie Domi (9) at 4:56.

Toronto made it four unanswered goals, less than five minutes later, David Kampf (1) assists Gregor (1) and McMann (2) at 9:13 to make the final score 5-2 Toronto.