Vancouver’s preseason matchup against the Edmonton Oilers was intended to provide clarity on several roster competitions, but the evening’s narrative shifted dramatically when centre Filip Chytil suffered an apparent shoulder injury in the first period.
Chytil collided with referee Riley Brace, their feet tangling and sending the forward crashing into the end boards. The impact drove his right shoulder into the boards and snapped his head back, raising concerns of a whiplash injury. He departed after just 4:56 of ice time, and head coach Manny Malhotra confirmed post-game that Chytil was being evaluated for a shoulder injury.
The injury cast a pall over what was supposed to be a key evaluation game for a veteran-laden Canucks lineup facing an Oilers squad that held out its core stars. Vancouver showed early rust, surrendering two first-period goals before finding their footing in the middle and final frames and pressing hard for an equalizer.
The opening period was marred by uncharacteristic sloppiness: fumbled passes, turnovers, missed assignments, and squandered chances. A rare misplay by Filip Hronek saw his rim pass intercepted on the end boards, allowing Isaac Howard to beat goaltender Nikita Tolopilo short-side for the game’s first goal.
“Early, there was a lack of intensity in our game,” Malhotra said. “I don’t want to read too far into this one; it was a combination of a lot of things — execution, the ability to stop plays, being on the wrong side of pucks, caught out of position. Fundamental things with structure that we have to clean up.”
Linus Karlsson provided a bright spot, continuing his strong form from last season’s 15-goal campaign. On a second-period power play, he established position at the net and converted a backhand-forehand move at the top of the crease to cut the deficit to 2-1.
“I just try to focus on the habits I have and get back to it right away,” Karlsson said. “I did that OK today. Get to the net and win puck battles — it’s a lot about timing that I need to get better at. We had a good forecheck today and really tried to help each other.”
Karlsson and Jake DeBrusk, both displaying a nose for the net, finished with four and seven shots respectively. Their efforts provided a textbook example of generating scoring chances by attacking the tough areas. DeBrusk also had a dangerous chance at the top of the crease off a Brock Boeser rebound.
“We were showing some fatigue but I liked some of our adjustments and our forechecking is starting to show what we need to do,” DeBrusk said. “We just need to have a shot mentality. Me and Karly (Karlsson) were using the walls and we just have to find a way to get those plays to the net. We need to play with a little more pace in the O-zone.”
Jonathan Lekkerimaki
The young winger displayed understandable early jitters, fumbling a zone-exit pass and appearing tentative. Coming off shoulder surgery for a torn labrum and rotator-cuff issue, he seemed to be feeling his way on the ice and did not register a shot. Lekkerimaki did initiate the sequence that led to Karlsson’s power-play goal, but a player on the roster bubble needs to show more. His ongoing challenge at the NHL level remains finding open ice, holding his ground, and unleashing his heavy, accurate shot — he has just five goals in 37 career games.
Victor Mancini
Poise, positioning, and pressure are essential for the big defenceman to claim the seventh blue-line spot. On Thursday, he struggled to make simple plays at his own blue line to advance the puck. Even when he pinned an opposing forward against the end boards, he lost possession. Consistency in those crucial defensive details will determine his roster fate, though his one-way contract is a factor. Guillaume Brisebois, meanwhile, remains quietly effective in his own zone and does not panic.
Braeden Cootes
The centre showed a willingness to work the walls with improved strength and hounded the opposition on the backcheck, adding value as a skilled pivot. He managed just one shot and didn’t factor heavily in the faceoff circle, but the Chytil injury may afford him a longer look with the big club.
bkuzma@postmedia.com
