The Stats Behind Game #11: Canucks 5, Ducks 1

Welcome to this edition of the Vancouver Canucks post-game analytics report. This recurring deep dive breaks down the analytics behind each Canucks game as recorded by Natural Stat Trick. In this article, we look back on Vancouver’s most recent 5-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. 

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From an analytics perspective, this may have been the best game the Canucks have played all season. At even strength, they won the scoring chances battle 22-7 while finishing the night with a 9-1 high-danger chances advantage. In short, Vancouver completely dominated the Ducks, not just on the scoresheet but also from an analytics perspective.

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The heatmap for this game is one of the cleanest the Canucks have ever produced. Anaheim generated next to nothing in the “guts of the ice,” while Vancouver made life difficult for Lukáš Dostál all night. In the end, this was the perfect definition of Rick Tocchet hockey, as the Canucks were able to dominate at both ends of the ice.

Vancouver’s best player in this game was easily Quinn Hughes, who finished the night with three assists. During his 14:28 of even-strength ice time, the Canucks held a 9-2 shots advantage and won the scoring chances battle 10-2. Once again, Hughes showed why he deserves to be in the Norris Trophy conversation, as well as why he should receive Hart Trophy votes at the end of the season.

Lastly, it was a strong night for the line of Pius Suter, Elias Pettersson and Conor Garland. During the trios 10:01 of ice time, they produced a goal, held a 6-2 shots advantage and won the high-danger scoring chances battle 2-0. If they can continue to produce and wear down opponents like they did tonight, this could become a trio Tocchet goes back to throughout the season.