brendan gaunce – CanucksBanter

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andrewchernoff By Andrew Chernoff

September 28, 2016

Vancouver (1-0-1) won its first game of the 2016 preseason schedule with a 5-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers (1-1-0) at home tonight.

Anton Rodin scored the winner on the power play with 4:07 left in the game to lift the Canucks to the victory with Erik Gudbranson scoring a shorthanded empty net goal to seal the game at Rogers Place.

Troy Stecher (1-2=3), Alex Edler (0-3=3), and Anton Rodin (1-1=2) led Vancouver with Brendan Gaunce, Josepth LaBate and Erik Gudbranson picking up goals. Michael Carone and James Sheppard also picked up helpers.

Canucks goalie Ryan Miller allowed two goals and had 15 saves in 30:19 of work before goalie Thatcher Demko came in to finish the game for Vancouver, finishing up with one goal against and 8 saves.

Vancouver outshot Edmonton 29-26, with the Canucks outhitting the Oilers 34-19.

Canucks special teams were 2 for 2 on the power play and 5 for 6 on the penalty kill.

Vancouver was also 29 for 63: 46-percent in face-offs in the game.

The Canucks had eleven players with a positive Corsi For (All Situations) in the game led by Michael Carcone, +9; Jayson Megna +8; Troy Stecher +7. 5-on-5, Vancouver had eight players with a positive Corsi For, led by Michael Carcone and Jayson Megna with a +9; Brendan Gaunce, +6; Olli Juolevi and Alex Biega, +3 each.

For the game, Edmonton finished with a positive Corsi For (All Situations) of +49, Vancouver +47. Both teams 5-on-5, each had a positive Corsi For of +36.

Next Game: September 30, 2016 at Calgary Flames 6 p.m. PST

GAME NOTES

First period:

For the second consecutive game in preseason, Vancouver had the opening goal of the game, a rarity last season.
The opening goal was on the power play, first of the preseason, ending their streak at man advantage futility at 0 for 5.
The Oilers, as San Jose did the night before, came out hard and dominated the game early, out shooting the Canucks 7-2 at one point and controlling puck possession.
Troy Stecher and Brendan Gaunce each had a good opening period, scoring a goal each and Stecher picking up a helper on Gaunce’s goal.
Oilers had a 5 on 3 advantage with 55.9 seconds left in the opening period, and scored to tie the game at 2-2.
Edmonton outshot Vancouver 13-8 in the first period, making it four consecutive periods in regulation play the Canucks have been outshot starting the preseason, giving up 45 while only registering 22 on net.
Troy Stetcher led the Canucks in Corsi For (All Situations) with a +4, with three Canucks at +2 at 5-on-5: Brendan Gaunce, Jayson Megna and Michael Carcone.
Edmonton had a Corsi For (All Situations) of +25; Canucks +12. 5-on-5, Edmonton was a +19 and Vancouver a +9.

Second period:

Canucks continued to stay in penalty trouble in the second period as they received a tripping penalty soon after starting the period, making it three penalties in 3:26 going back to the opening period.
Ryan Miller stopped 15 of 17 shots before being replaced by Thatcher Demko with 9:41 left in the period.
Joe LaBate’s goal in the second period gave the Canucks their third lead of the game.
Oilers made it consecutive periods with a last minute goal, to tie the game at 3-3.
Vancouver outshot Edmonton 9-8 in the period, the first time they have outshot an opponent in a period this preseason, in the second period.
After two period, Michael Carcone led the Canucks in Corsi For (All Situations) with a +4, with Michael Carcone and Jayson Megna at +4 on 5-on-5.
In the period, Vancouver had a Corsi For (All Situations) of +16; Oilers +14. 5-on-5, Vancouver was +13, Oilers a +9.

Third period:

With 12:41 left in the third period, Vancouver was outshooting Edmonton 5-1 and rushing the Oiler net to get scoring opportunities.
Canucks out played the Oilers in the third, getting some excellent scoring opportunities.
Troy Stecher had his second assist of the game on Anton Rodin’s power play goal late in the period. Alex Edler picked up his third assist of the game on the same goal, to go with an assist in the first and second periods.
Canucks had their first shorthanded empty net goal of the young preseason to give the Canucks a two goal cushion for the victory.
Vancouver outshot Edmonton 12-5 in the period.
Canucks had a Corsi For (All Situations) of +19; Oilers +10. 5-on-5, Vancouver was a +14 and Edmonton a +8.

Matt Hendricks #23 of the Edmonton Oilers faces off against Brendan Gaunce #50 of the Vancouver Canucks. CODIE MCLACHLAN / GETTY IMAGES

By Ben Kuzma September 12, 2016

There was a time when the Vancouver Canucks weren’t sure Brendan Gaunce was going to be a player. And there was a time when the versatile forward was in awe of the National Hockey League.

Not anymore. No more wide eyes. More like a steely-eyed resolve.

Not only is Gaunce physically and mentally prepared for a serious roster shot after being one of the final camp cuts last year, his ability to play centre or either wing and bring a better compete level caught the eye of Canucks coach Willie Desjardins.

The 6-foot-2, 207-pound 2012 first-round draft pick has always had the size, but not the edge to project as a consistent bottom-six performer at the NHL level. It’s what brought about the switch from centre to the wing in the minors and made a major improvement in his game because his frame and feistiness are perfectly suited for the Pacific Division.

Brendan Gaunce didn't look out of place when asked to play centre last NHL season. — Brendan Gaunce didn’t look out of place when asked to play centre last NHL season.

And while you could pencil the 22-year-old Gaunce into the opening-night lineup — or bring out the eraser and see him as the 13th forward or back with the Utica Comets — one thing is clear: Gaunce finally gets it on and off the ice.

It wasn’t just making his NHL debut in October at Dallas and scoring his first career goal the next night in Arizona. It wasn’t amassing five shots in a March game at Winnipeg or even playing 20 games at this level. It was about the calm resolve that developed in knowing he can perform properly in a demanding market. It’s a stark departure from hoping to play and giving the opposition too much respect.

“It’s not ‘I think I can do it’ anymore, it’s ‘I know I can do it.’”

“Last year was a big mindset change for me,” Gaunce said Monday following an informal skate at Rogers Arena. “It’s not ‘I think I can do it’ anymore, it’s ‘I know I can do it.’ That was a big thing to get over and I’m ready for it.

“I’m a lot more confident in myself and that’s going to help. That time at the end of the season made me feel like I’m a part of the NHL now and not just watching form the outskirts.”

Gaunce endured injury problems from November to January, playing with a cast on his thumb for four weeks after falling. Playing defence-first comes naturally to him and it will make him more valuable in the NHL. As for the goal scoring, it’s an ongoing process and Gaunce isn’t the first 30-goal junior sniper who has had to tailor his game for the pros.

Bring a 200-foot game and an attitude and Desjardins will punch your ticket to the NHL. Anything less and it’s Utica again.

Willie Desjardins was bouyed by the increased compete level in Brendan Gaunce. — Willie Desjardins was buoyed by the increased compete level in Brendan Gaunce.

What also helps Gaunce is knowing the Canucks must trend younger and that the tough tutelage he got with the Comets under coach Travis Green was worth the grind. His 17 goals in 46 AHL games with the Comets and his plus-12 rating both ranked third on the club, which speaks to productivity and responsibility. It’s also why Green was interviewed for NHL coaching vacancies in Anaheim and Colorado.

“He (Green) really pushes you to be a complete player and help your team win in different ways,” added Gaunce. “He was good for me for that and he also respects you when you do things well. If you work hard, you get ice.”

In the final year of his entry-level deal, you would expect Gaunce to be feeling some level of pressure. Even though his age, size and versatility suggest a no-brainer extension, you never know how it could play out. The fact Gaunce hasn’t even thought about it, speaks to growing maturity.

“It’s not pressure, it’s more excitement,” he stressed. “It’s having a chance to prove yourself and that can pay off at the end of the year and something you can build on. It’s going to be a fun year.”

You can picture Gaunce being a third- or fourth-line left-winger. You can also picture a lot of scenarios depending on camp performances, priorities and injuries. Gaunce doesn’t picture anything, even though there are so many floppable wingers. How the left side plays out could be intriguing.

“I’m just worrying about myself,” he said. “Every guy just needs a chance and that’s how you break into the league. I’m trying to work for my chance and not just get one for free out of the blue. I think I’ve done that and I can help the team win in a lot of different ways. That’s how I’ve played my whole life.”

NOTE: The YoungStars tournament starts Friday at Penticton’s South Okanagan Events Centre. Jason Botchford will be there through the weekend. The Canucks play Edmonton on Friday at 7:30, the Jets Sunday at 2 p.m., and the Flames Monday at 3 p.m.

Source: Brendan Gaunce enters Canucks training camp confident and versatile