Canucks 3, Avalanche 0: Thatcher Demko and defensive diligence make the difference in big win

Bend but don’t break.

For the Vancouver Canucks, who have become more diligent and decisive in defending, it was critical to follow the credo of denial Tuesday at Rogers Arena.

To negate dizzying displays of speed, precise playmaking and finish of NHL scoring leader Nathan MacKinnon, they had to keep the Colorado Avalanche superstar centre from knifing through defenders and doing his difference-maker thing.

It wasn’t easy.

It took everything and everybody for a satisfying and feisty 3-0 win to climb into a tie with the Calgary Flames for the final wild-card playoff position in the Western Conference.

It included a strong performance by Thatcher Demko for his first shutout of the season and a good shutdown effort by Pius Suter’s line. They helped keep MacKinnon and new speedy linemate Martin Necas from turning the ice into their personal playground with wheeling and dealing and almost delivering.

MacKinnon had five shots and nine attempts, while Necas had three shots and seven attempts, but it was also another night where newcomers made another impact.

Whether it was defenceman Marcus Pettersson relishing shifts against MacKinnon and willing to be vocal in the room, or better puck movement, crisper zone entries and patience to make the right plays, it’s been quite the injection of passion and purpose.

“Everybody stuck to the game plan,” said Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet. “I don’t want to overstate it, but (Filip) Chytil and Drew (O’Connor) with their speed and willingness to take the puck to the middle on a rush is a little breath of fresh air.

“You see Chytil take the puck to the middle and that’s when things happen. Just adding those two guys has helped our rush game. We’re smiling. That’s the stuff we need.

“And with both Petterssons back there on defence transporting the puck, it’s how you get the flow going.”

It’s why the Canucks can take a measure of satisfaction from holding the high-octane Avalanche scoreless, even without the get-out-of-jail-free card that is injured Quinn Hughes.

Here’s what we learned as Jake DeBrusk, Brock Boeser and newcomer Drew O’Connor scored for the Canucks, who outshot the Avalanche 31-25, and now face the Sharks on Thursday in San Jose:

Demko delivers in clutch

The Canucks starter got a standing ovation and chant of his name for a sparkling second-period save sequence.

With his club nursing a 1-0 lead, he first denied defenceman Cale Makar, who was set up as the trailer on a play in which Demko got a piece of a rocket wrist shot with his glove. He then had to quickly got post to post to thwart Artturi Lehkonen with a toe save.

The sequence finished with Demko sprawled on his stomach to stop another chance.

There was an early feeling that Demko had found his mojo because he was in the zone. Square and calm and not lurching or lunging for pucks. He relied on structure. He also got a right pad on a Lehkonen power play chance and then denied Jack Drury short-handed chance.

“I was just trying to get a piece of something,” Demko said of saves off Makar and Lehkonen. “It was a big sequence with a lot of bodies flying around and chances, but I thought the guys collapsed really well and we have to get through that.”

And that’s what brought fans to their feet with an ovation and chanting Demko’s name.

“Luckily, there was a TV timeout because I was trying to catch my breath,” chuckled Demko. “It’s great to hear and we’re trying to establish home ice because we take a lot of pride playing here.

“The guys played great because that (MacKinnon) line is tricky to deal with.”

DeBrusk, Boeser bust out

They don’t ask how, they ask how many.

With just one goal in his previous 13 games, DeBrusk was looking for something — anything — to find the back the net. He had a chance in the first period when Elias Pettersson hounded the puck and DeBrusk had a chance at side of the cage.

In the second period, DeBrusk finally struck. When a shot by Filip Hronek deflected high in from of the net, the big winger calmly batted it down and shoved the puck home like he was a kid on a backyard rink in his native Edmonton.

It was DeBrusk’s team-leading 19th goal of the season in 53 games to match the 19 he had in 80 games with the Boston Bruins last season.

“I kind of use a mini-stick anyways,” laughed DeBrusk. “That (goal) was weird. I didn’t know if it was going to count or not (it wouldn’t if he had closed his hand on the puck). It was freak play. I was just trying to raise it (puck) because there were a lot of sticks and congestion.

“I had to keep moving the puck north or it would have been ugly.”

DeBrusk and Carson Soucy also came to assistance of rookie defenceman Elias Pettersson, who found himself in a third-period scrap with Miles Wood.

Boeser then delivered the dagger on a night when it looked like he might be blanked again with three good looks. He then took a cross ice power play pass from DeBrusk and snapped home his 17th of the season. It was another play that came from good and responsible transition.

“We’re playing a lot better defensively and it starts with our breakouts and they’ve been cleaner,” said Boeser. “I?was really proud of the way we played. We knew what their star guys can do in a game and they got some looks, but we kept strong and held the fort. Kudos to all the guys tonight.”

Chytil struts good stuff

We’re not accustomed to seeing this.

Chytil continued to move the motivation meter with speed, smarts and patient puck control zone entries that bought time and space. It put Avalanche defenders on their heels.

In the first period, Chytil took take advantage of more ice time — something he was hard pressed to get with the New York Rangers — and his hard drive to the inside drew a penalty. He then confidently gained the O-zone again, hung on to the puck, and then spun to find the trailer.

It’s the stuff Tocchet has been preaching for months and something Chytil already has in his arsenal. So was coming all the way back early in the second period to break up a play and start the transition.

“When guys are on your back when you have the puck, he doesn’t get rid of it — he holds it,” said Tocchet. “That’s a big thing and hopefully it’s contagious.”

“Fantastic speed, sees the ice well, makes a lot of plays,” added Conor Garland. “A real good pickup. Good zone entries and drive. He’s a winger’s dream.”

When will see Hughes again?

Tocchet has long lauded the will and skill of the Canucks captain to play through pain.

However, the discomfort Hughes felt Friday after delivering heavy offensive-zone check in Dallas and falling awkwardly to the ice — wincing when he attempted his patented spin-and-wheel move to trigger the transition — was telling and worrisome.

Hughes was hopeful the ailment, which could optimistically be a groin strain, or pessimistically an abdominal problem, would subside in 48 hours to play Sunday. He didn’t. And sat out again Tuesday.

Hughes took a twirl with the Canucks skills coach before the morning game-day skate Tuesday, had a brief consultation and left the ice. The Canucks play Thursday in San Jose and host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday before their break.

Hughes talked confidently of being ready for the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament next week. The U.S. faces Finland in its opener Wednesday and Hughes was expected to be in a first pairing with Charlie McAvoy of the Boston Bruins. When Tocchet was asked about that prospect, he was cautious.

“As the days go on, we’ll have to revisit that,” he stated. “He plays a lot of stress games.”

bkuzma@postmedia.com